Montana Senate candidates Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Tim Sheehy (R) clashed in a heated debate on Monday night, with Tester seeking to defend his seat as the last remaining Democrat in high office in the state.
The debate highlighted the stark contrast between the two candidates on issues such as abortion, border security, and foreign policy. Tester attempted to tie his campaign to a November ballot initiative that would enshrine abortion rights in Montana’s constitution, while Sheehy expressed his opposition to the measure and claimed that Tester’s support for a bill to protect abortion access would allow for “abortion up to and including the moment of birth.”
Sheehy also repeatedly blamed Tester and the Biden administration for the increased illegal immigration at the southern border, citing the border crisis for higher housing costs, increased consumer prices, and more. Tester sought to distance himself from the Biden administration’s immigration policies, saying “I’ll be the first to tell you President Biden has not done a good job on the southern border.”
The two candidates also disagreed on the issue of Israel, with Tester stating that Israel should be able to protect itself and Sheehy underscoring his military background and blaming the Biden-Harris administration for the chaotic global situation.
Sheehy was also pressed on his previous derogatory comments about Native Americans, which he acknowledged were insensitive but refused to apologize for. Tester slammed Sheehy for his comments, saying “apologies matter and how you treat people matter.”
Throughout the debate, Tester sought to paint Sheehy as an outsider to the state of Montana, highlighting his opponent’s recent arrival and purchase of a large ranch. Sheehy defended his dedication to the state, saying “we put down roots here and we started a company, created hundreds of jobs to invest in the betterment of our community.”
The debate was marked by tense exchanges and personal attacks, with both candidates seeking to sway undecided voters in a state where Trump won by 17 percentage points. The outcome of the election is likely to have significant implications for the balance of power in the Senate.
