Montana's heated Senate race reached a pivotal moment during the final debate between Republican challenger Tim Sheehy and Democratic incumbent Jon Tester. Held in Missoula on September 30, 2024, the debate touched on key issues that could decide control of the Senate. Throughout the debate, Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, aggressively attacked Tester’s record, particularly on immigration, healthcare, and public lands, raising questions about whether this debate may have marked a turning point in the closely watched race.
During the debate, Sheehy tied Tester directly to the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border, which Sheehy blamed for an influx of illegal immigrants and a rise in crime, including fentanyl-related deaths across the country. He asserted that the border had been secure under Trump and accused Tester and his Democratic colleagues of opening it wide to illegal crossings. Tester, while agreeing that the Biden administration’s border policies had been flawed, defended his own record by referencing a bipartisan bill aimed at improving border security and expediting asylum claims that failed due to lack of Republican support.
Senate candidate, Tim Sheehy: “I said enough of this BS, we’ve got to save this country!” pic.twitter.com/vJ1OM5eHH4
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) August 10, 2024
On healthcare, Sheehy criticized government involvement, accusing Tester of supporting a system that drove up costs while reducing access, particularly in rural Montana. Sheehy highlighted his belief in privatizing healthcare services and reforming the Veterans Affairs system, criticizing the inefficiencies and underfunding of veteran care under the current setup. He argued that Tester’s support for federal healthcare subsidies was failing veterans, stating that building more VA clinics without adequate staffing would not solve the systemic problems. Tester fired back, claiming that privatizing healthcare would hurt Montana’s seniors, veterans, and rural communities who depend on Medicare, Medicaid, and Indian Health Services.
Another heated topic was abortion, where Tester accused Sheehy of holding extreme views. Tester portrayed his opponent as out of step with Montana voters, criticizing Sheehy’s anti-abortion stance and his past comments that labeled abortion as “murder.” Sheehy, while standing firm in his pro-life stance, stated that he would respect whatever decision Montana voters make regarding a state-level initiative on abortion rights.
Tim Sheehy Appears To Have Doctored A Senate Campaign Ad | HuffPost Latest News https://t.co/a4aRvyvzI5
— Sheryl Post (@ProudDoggieMom) October 1, 2024
Public lands also became a flashpoint, with Tester accusing Sheehy of wanting to privatize Montana’s public lands. Sheehy, a former board member of the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), was linked to past comments by the group advocating for the privatization of public lands. While Sheehy downplayed these connections, stating that those positions no longer reflect the group's current stance, Tester emphasized that the potential privatization of public lands would hurt Montana's outdoor recreation economy.
Sheehy also worked to distance himself from previous controversial comments he made about Native Americans, which had surfaced earlier in the campaign. While Sheehy took responsibility for the insensitive remarks, Tester pressed him for a public apology, which Sheehy stopped short of giving.
As the debate closed, both candidates remained sharply divided on these critical issues. Sheehy’s military service and strong conservative platform, coupled with his performance in the debate, have invigorated his campaign and attracted significant attention from national Republican donors. On the other hand, Tester continues to present himself as a moderate Democrat willing to break from his party, particularly on issues like immigration and Israel.
With Election Day fast approaching, Sheehy's standout debate performance could significantly shift the dynamics of the race, which is seen as critical for Republicans hoping to regain control of the Senate. Whether this debate will prove decisive remains to be seen, but Sheehy’s aggressive stance and Tester’s defensive posture have undoubtedly escalated the stakes in what is now one of the most closely watched races in the country.
