Montana Sen. Tester announces run for re-election in 2024

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., introduced he’ll search a fourth time period for the U.S. Senate.

Some see that race drawing loads of consideration nationally in a presidential election yr.

Tester has grow to be a well-known face in Montana politics, first elected as a U.S. senator in 2006, and successful re-election in 2012 and 2018.

“Tester enters this race in fairly good place for a number of causes,” stated Mike Dennison, former MTN chief political reporter. “He is popular with individuals throughout each side of the aisle. He is a reasonably senior Democrat now in Congress.”

Dennison says the announcement from Tester comes a lot sooner than bulletins prior to now forward of any potential challengers.

“The apparent selections are going to be our two Congressmen,” Dennison stated. “(Rep.) Matt Rosendale,( R-Mont.). ran towards Tester in 2018. I feel he is clearly positioned himself to run once more. After which (Rep.) Ryan Zinke, (R-Mont.), I have never talked to Mr. Zinke lately. I don’t know what he is pondering. However I feel he is a really bold man. I would not be shocked if he runs too”

“I am undecided that there is an apparent Republican challenger but,” stated Dr. Paul Pope, MSU-Billings affiliate professor of political science. “However we’re greater than a yr out from the first so there’s ample time for a challenger to pop up.”

Pope stated whereas Tester has a bonus as an incumbent, the slim Democratic margin within the U.S. Senate could pose challenges.

“Democrats have 23 seats to guard and Republicans solely have 11,” Pope stated. “So it will be so much more durable and costlier for Democrats to retain the Senate than for the Republicans to take the Senate.”

Dennison stated Tester has already raised $3 million and expects him to boost greater than the $20 million he raised in 2018.

And fellow Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., provides one other component as chair of the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee.

“It is considerably distinctive that we’ve got a senator in the identical state actually gunning to defeat his fellow senator,” Dennison stated.

“You are going to see a rise within the spending for 2024 higher than what you noticed in 2020,” Pope stated.

“It should be a vastly costly race, in all probability one of the costly within the nation,” Dennison stated. “We’re speaking over $100 million goes to be spent. Plenty of media consideration on plenty of races.”