Even though Montana is a northern state with a border with Canada, the focus in the state’s U.S. Senate race has been on issues related to the southern U.S. border with Mexico.
Republican challenger Tim Sheehy has aligned himself with former President Donald Trump, advocating for the completion of the border wall. Sheehy, like many Republicans in Montana and nationwide, has made this a key issue in his campaign.
It also serves as an opportunity to connect incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester with President Joe Biden. With Biden’s border policies drawing criticism and labeled as a crisis by the GOP, Sheehy aims to link Tester to those policies.
Tester has distanced himself from the president and emphasized his efforts to hold the administration accountable, as seen in his recent vote against the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The Montana Senate race is closely watched and could impact control of the chamber. Both campaigns and outside groups have already spent significant amounts on ads and reserved airtime for the coming months.
One Nation, a dark money group known for issue advocacy, has aired an ad linking Tester to Biden on the border issue and portraying Tester as inconsistent in his positions.
The ad references a 2006 debate where Tester opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants but later voted in favor of a bill allowing some immigrants to apply for legal status. Tester’s voting record on immigration has been a focal point of criticism.
Tester’s campaign has emphasized his work with Republicans on border security, particularly in targeting fentanyl traffickers. He has co-sponsored bills to address fentanyl supply chains and enhance border security measures.
Sheehy has criticized Tester’s alignment with Biden on the border issue, calling for stronger border security measures and accusing Tester of enabling an influx of migrants at the southern border.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester on a visit to the southern border outside McAllen, Texas, in March 2019.
Tester has voted for various measures aimed at enhancing border security and addressing the fentanyl crisis, working on bipartisan bills with Republicans on these issues.
Tester has opposed certain attempts to tie border wall funding to unrelated legislation, emphasizing the need for practical and effective border security solutions.
Montana’s connection to the southern border comes through its struggles with fentanyl trafficking and the reliance on migrant labor in sectors like agriculture.
Issues related to the southern border, like fentanyl trafficking and migrant labor, have been key points of focus in Montana’s political landscape, shaping the rhetoric and policy stances of candidates in the state.
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