Montana’s senior U.S. Sen. Jon Tester took the stage in Missoula on Wednesday night with his own personal rockstar sidekick to launch a string of events rallying around the incumbent in the nation’s most consequential Senate race.
The conversation between Tester, Pearl Jam bass player Jeff Ament and moderator Hank Green, a YouTube personality and author, took place as Democrats nationally gathered for the third night more than 1,300 miles to the east in Chicago to nominate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the party’s vice presidential nominee.
Though he only made a passing mention to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential race was on Tester’s mind when asked what’s at stake in this fall’s election, emphasizing the importance of his own contest against Republican Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL.
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Tester stated, “Mine isn’t the important one, it’s the one at the top. There’s democracy at stake, there’s rural America at stake, there’s how we treat one another at stake. There’s a lot at stake.”
Tester has not endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris but emphasized the importance of the election, comparing the current state of the country to the Cuban missile crisis.
Regarding his opponent, Tester criticized Sheehy’s stance on public lands and healthcare, highlighting the potential consequences of Sheehy’s proposed policies.
Tester also discussed the election as a critical moment for Montana, emphasizing the significance of knowing the state and its values.
Wednesday night’s discussion highlighted Tester’s familial ties and rural roots, with a focus on the importance of community relationships in rural America.
Tester addressed housing affordability and the need for solutions to make housing more accessible, emphasizing the importance of affordable education as well.
Reflecting on the impact of political spending on public service, Tester expressed concern over the amount of money being poured into political campaigns, stressing the need for accountability.
Tester referenced the record-breaking spending in his race, calling for reforms to address the excessive influence of money in politics.
— Reporter Carly Graf contributed to this story.
Holly Michels is the head of the Montana State News Bureau. You can reach her at holly.michels@lee.net
