Sheehy reports $2.8M fundraising haul in Montana Senate bid

Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy raised more than $2.8 million during the third quarter in his bid to unseat Sen. Jon Tester (D), his campaign announced Tuesday. 

The campaign said in a release that it raised most of that total, $2.2 million, from donors’ contributions, while $650,000 was from personal contributions and loans. It has $1.1 million in cash on hand. 

“Thanks to the outpouring of support from grassroots conservatives, we’re in a strong position to win and finally beat Jon Tester in 2024,” Sheehy said in the release. “Our campaign is growing stronger every day, and it’s clear the people of Montana want a new generation of conservative leadership to represent them in Washington. Together, we’re going to finally retire Jon Tester, take back the Senate, and save our country.” 

The announcement came ahead of the mandatory Federal Elections Commission requirement for federal candidates to report their fundraising numbers for the third quarter by Oct. 15. 

Tester’s campaign raised more than $5 million during the third quarter, bringing his cash on hand to more than $13 million.

Sheehy is a former Navy SEAL and Marine who founded a company called Bridger Aerospace. He received encouragement from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, to throw his hat in the race and has been endorsed by Montana Sen. Steve Daines, the NRSC chair. 

He launched his bid in July and is the favorite of many Republicans for the nomination. 

But speculation has remained that Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), who ran against Tester and lost in 2018, will run again for the seat. A poll from August found Rosendale leading Sheehy in a hypothetical matchup by 30 points.