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This page shows the contributions made to Montana Senate in 2018. For more information click through to the page.

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Campaign Committee Fundraising, 2013 - 2018

Total Raised vs. Average Raised

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Source of Funds (Campaign Committee), 2013 - 2018

*Includes contributions from other candidate committees.

NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2013 - 2018 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically on 11/05/18 for Fundraising totals, Source of Funds and Total Raised vs Average, and on 10/26/18 for Top Contributors and Industries. ("Help! The numbers don't add up...")

The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organizations' PACs, their individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.

Why (and How) We Use Donors' Employer/Occupation Information
METHODOLOGY
Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: info[at]crp.org

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Sen. Jon Tester - Campaign Finance Summary

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Fundraising profile for Sen. Jon Tester - Montana

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University of Montana (UM) students used the "M" that is written on the side of Mount Sentinal in Missoula to spell the word "IMPEACH" ahead of President Trump Donald John Trump Soros rep: Fox News refuses to have me on Rihanna vows that her songs will never again play at Trump's 'tragic rallies' Midterm vote to set cyber agenda MORE 's visit on Thursday night.

A group of sophomores who are not affiliated with any political groups hadn't finished the display before school administrators ordered them to take it down, KPAX News reported.

The friends said they wanted to send a message, so they used the letter "M" representing the university that is cemented on the side of the mountain.

After rolling out a Red, White, and Blue "LIAR" on the opposite mountain ahead of a Trump rally, the UM "M" has now been turned into "iMPEACH" #mtpol #missoula, #mt #liar #impeach pic.twitter.com/l7ZTEBAdBd
- David Gilder (@davidgilder) October 18, 2018

Cathy Cole, UM's vice president of enrollment and strategic planning, told the station that the school's removal of the sign was not motivated by politics.

"Not that we don't support freedom of speech - because of course, we do. But we do have policies that prohibit anyone from posting on live vegetation on campus," Cole said.

"And anyone putting up anything that is of a display nature they have to get a permit for and the students didn't have that. So there's a lot of liability that goes with that and we just want to make sure that everybody is safe," Cole added.

The students told the outlet they they had researched the laws about putting up the display on Mount Sentinal, which is technically public works, before putting up the signs.

The university owns more than 600 acres on the front of the mountain so people must follow their policies, the outlet noted.

The "IMPEACH" display is one of two anti-Trump displays that went up ahead of the president's campaign rally.

Protesters spelled the word "LIAR" on the side of Mount Jumbo, using the "L" that represents Loyola Sacred Heart Catholic High School.

Maggie Williams and Betty Tschudi organized the protest and told The Missoulian newspaper that about 50 volunteers signed up for shifts to sit near the display throughout the day.

Just one of the messages to Trump as he flew into Missoula.
Our hills also said to him
"Impeach" behind UM and
Dump Trump on the hill next to a garbage dump.
Missoula Resists Bigly pic.twitter.com/1lHFfXjpU0
- Ms. Truthiness (@MsTruthiness) October 19, 2018

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University of Montana students spell out 'IMPEACH' on mountain ahead of Trump visit

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University of Montana (UM) students used the "M" that is written on the side of Mount Sentinal in Missoula to spell the word "IMPEACH" ahead of President Trump's visit on Thursday night.

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With Mount Jumbo's "L" transformed into the word "LIAR" and scores of people taking to the streets across Missoula, protesters peacefully unleashed their dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump Thursday.

The president was visiting Missoula, a small blue island in a big red sea, to campaign for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Matt Rosendale, who is seeking to unseat two-term Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat.

Trump has long preached about venom and rowdiness from the "intolerant left," but that rhetoric ramped up considerably after allegations against then-nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh came to light and caught the nation's attention.

To avoid reinforcing that line, protesters in Missoula overwhelmingly avoided Trump's rally and focused on a rally and march to cast ballots in the city.

Loretta Cooper, 79, of Seeley Lake drove with friends to support Tester, who she said has "supported our military and firefighters and people of Montana.''

Cooper attended the "Love Trumps Hate" rally at Missoula's Playfair Park along with hundreds of others. The protest started with community members gathering at 2:30 p.m. and ended at 6 p.m. when protesters marched to the polls. While a bongo drum circle played in the background and volunteers registered people to vote, Cooper explained why she made the journey.

"I don't think (Trump) is a good leader," she said. "I don't think he's honest and I think he's probably put the United States in a very difficult position."

Jess Robbins brought her 7-year-old son, Gus, and his friend to the rally, with signs made by the kids. Robbins said the event, in its separation from the Trump rally, represented the pivot needed in politics.

"We tend to vilify Trump in our house but I think lately it's been about trying to come together as a community," she said. "We just thought this sounded way more positive and in line with the values we want to promote with our kids."

Joan Wall of Missoula attended the same rally with a sign that read "This unpaid protester says Trump WILL LIE!!! about this truth."

"It's my civic duty to protest," she said. "I'm tired of the myriad lies I've read about in the Washington Post and the New York Times. I feel that as a concerned citizen I must be here.''

Erin Erickson, the founder and director of Missoula Rises, helped organize the rally. Trump, she said, "has a history of engaging in hateful and divisive rhetoric and we felt that it was necessary to respond to that through a community-positive event so that the nation can see what Missoula is really like."

Erickson said the secondary reason for organizing the rally was to educate voters and improve turnout, with buses shuttling attendees to the polls so people could register or cast their ballot.

Missoula Mayor John Engen also urged attendees to vote. "This is democracy in action," Engen said. "This is grassroots, people coming together and acknowledging the power of the ballot box and recognizing that if we don't vote, we don't change."

As the sun started falling, the crowd marched from Playfair Park down Bancroft Street and into the county fairgrounds, where a few protesters dropped their ballots into a ballot box outside the elections building.

Some, however, did take their protests to the airport. Brihannala Morgan and Bethan Cotton were among a group of about seven protesters who lined up on Highway 10.

"We wanted to make sure that even though there's a big protest across town that people who are actually showing up to the rally also saw that there's a strong voice against Trump and his policies," Morgan said.

Morgan said she disagrees with Trump on numerous policy issues.

Cotton said the police and traffic control personnel were extremely friendly, but they also got "the finger" from a few people headed to the Trump rally. Some told the protesters to "get a job," she said.

"That's funny because we're all fully employed," she said. "Also it's ironic because they're on a bus headed to a rally in the middle of a weekday."

Cotton and Morgan estimated about half the drivers waved and gave them the "thumbs up" sign.

"One shuttle bus driver gave us the thumbs up every time," she said.

The Western Montana chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America got to work early Thursday with "DUMP TRUMP DSA" spelled out on Waterworks Hill on the morning of the president's visit. The lettering was soon taken down.

Meanwhile, a giant peach appeared above the "M'' on Mount Sentinel, which soars over the University of Montana campus. In case anyone missed the meaning, people later spelled "Impeach'' using the "M.''

Another group of protesters climbed Mount Jumbo Thursday morning to place 60-foot-tall red, white and blue letters next to the mountain's "L'' to spell the word "LIAR" in a message large enough to be seen from Missoula International Airport, where Trump spoke.

Maggie Williams and Betty Tschudi had the idea to organize the protest, which grew through an email chain to include about 50 volunteers who signed up for shifts to sit by the letters throughout the day.

"We chose "LIAR" because it felt like the strongest word," Tschudi said. "It's unbelievable how many times he lied and says things about people that aren't true. And we needed something that started with a L."

Many protesters said it was important to them to exercise their First Amendment rights.

"The reason that I'm out here today is that as a writer, I feel that one of my most important duties is to speak truth to power," said Caroline Patterson, one of the protesters. "And as a citizen, I feel that it's really important to exercise my First Amendment rights and one of those rights is to protest."

Photos: Protesters gather before Trump visit to Missoula

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Protesters turn Mount Jumbo "L'' into "LIAR'' as others march against Trump visit to Missoula

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With Mount Jumbo's "L" transformed into the word "LIAR" and scores of people taking to the streets across Missoula, protesters peacefully unleashed their dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump Thursday.

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UPDATE: We're learning that the apparent homicide happened Wednesday afternoon and that the victim is a white male in his 20s or 30s with several gun shot wounds to the body.

UPDATE: We're learning that the apparent homicide happened Wednesday afternoon and that the victim is a white male in his 20s or 30s with several gun shot wounds to the body.

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Trump to hold 4th Montana rally in support of Rosendale

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HELENA, Mont. (AP) - President Donald Trump is returning to Montana to hold his fourth rally in support of Republican Senate candidate Matt Rosendale. Trump's and Rosendale's campaigns announced th...

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News > Pacific Northwest
UPDATED: Sat., Nov. 3, 2018, 4:32 p.m.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana leads a crowd in a cheer during a rally in Helena, Mont., on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Tester, a Democrat is running for re-election against Republican challenger Matt Rosendale. (Matt Volz / AP)

BILLINGS - With President Donald Trump clamoring to defeat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and conservative groups spending heavily against him, the Democrat is falling back on a well-worn strategy in his pursuit of a third term: make the election about Montana, not Washington, D.C.

Trump's feud with Tester, triggered by the lawmaker's opposition to Trump's choice for Veterans Affairs secretary, has blossomed into an all-out presidential campaign to install Republican Matt Rosendale. Trump is making a record fourth visit to Montana on Saturday.

Instead of fighting back, Tester has sought to ingratiate himself with Trump's supporters, reminding them of legislation on veterans that he sponsored and the president signed and touting his understanding of the state as a lifelong resident and farmer.

Tester avoids almost any mention of Trump in campaign speeches. He speaks about health care and Republican proposals to make it harder to get coverage for pre-existing conditions. He talks about protecting public lands in the state, while demonizing his opponent as "Maryland Matt," a real estate developer from Maryland who falsely claims to be a rancher.

"Look, Montanans know who I am: They know I'm a lifetime Montanan, they know I understand rural America, they know I understand public lands and not privatizing them, they know I understand the importance of public education," Tester said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Matt Rosendale isn't any of that."

Rosendale, Montana's state auditor and insurance commissioner, has looked to score points by using the GOP playbook - plugging a hardline immigration stance and highlighting Tester's opposition to Trump's Supreme Court nominees. But his primary strategy seems to be riding the president's coattails.

"How can you argue about the tax cuts and the benefits being provided to the people of Montana and the nation?" Rosendale said during an interview. "We're seeing national security in a better place. We're starting to work on securing our southern border. ... These are things that are working for people across the state and across our nation."

A Rosendale victory would give Montana an all-GOP congressional delegation and could cement the party's control of a closely divided Senate.

Rosendale, 58, moved to Glendive, Montana, with his wife and three sons in 2002. He won a seat in the state Legislature in 2010. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 2014, became state Senate majority leader the next year and was elected in 2016 as state auditor.

Tester, 62, is married with two children. He took over his family's farm in the town of Big Sandy after college and taught music at an elementary school. He was elected to the state Senate in 1998 and the U.S. Senate in 2006. In 2012, Tester beat back a challenge from a Republican congressman.

Libertarian Rick Breckenridge rounds out Tuesday's Senate ballot. He hasn't been actively campaigning and on Thursday threw his support behind Rosendale. The move caught Libertarian leaders off guard and was disavowed by the party's chairman, Francis Wendt, who said Rosendale was weak on personal privacy protections.

The GOP is hopeful the move will prevent a repeat of Tester's 2012 re-election, when a Libertarian candidate peeled away enough votes that they could have changed the outcome if they had gone to the Republican.

Trump's appearance Saturday in Belgrade will mark the most visits to Montana by any sitting president. He took a personal interest in the race after Tester released allegations of workplace misconduct against Trump's first nominee for VA secretary, Ronny Jackson, who withdrew from consideration in April.

Jackson has denied the allegations and they are being investigated by Pentagon officials.

At Saturday's rally, Trump railed against Tester for three minutes for attempting to "ruin" Jackson, "the most clean-cut, wonderful person that' you've ever met," the president said.

"He tried to destroy him, and I've never forgotten," Trump said. "It's honestly one of the reasons I've been here so much."

The president's attentions have helped boost a candidate who wasn't the GOP's first or even second choice to take on the two-term incumbent. The White House blitz in Montana also included multiple trips by the president's son, Vice President Mike Pence and a parade of Republican senators.

The visits have fired up interest in the race but that could backfire if it motivates voters who disapprove of the president, said David Parker, a political analyst at Montana State University.

"They're putting all their chips on the table with the Trump brand," Parker said, adding that Rosendale's campaign had no choice, with Tester outraising him 4-to-1 in donations.

Outside groups and donations to the candidates have reached $60 million, a record for Montana politics.

In Rosendale's view, Tester embodies the same corrupt Washington establishment that the Democrat pledged to change when he first ran in 2006. Tester now ranks as one of the top recipients of cash donations from lobbyists among all members of Congress, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

"How can you stand there 12 years ago and say that I won't be encumbered by lobbyists, and this is the number one recipient?" Rosendale said of Tester. "People spend too much time in Washington, D.C., and they become intoxicated with the power and privilege that's presented to them."

Tester has made a name for himself as a proponent of campaign finance reform and says the amount of money going into the race is out of his control.

"Look, this is the landscape," Tester said. "The difference is, I will push and I will work hard for campaign finance reform. I think it hurts our democracy badly."

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Sen. Jon Tester pushes to make race about Montana, not Trump

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With President Donald Trump clamoring to defeat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and conservative groups spending heavily against him, the Democrat is falling back on a well-worn strategy in his pursuit of a third term: make the election about Montana, not Washington, D.C.

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If your name does not appear on the register at that polling place, in order to vote in the election you must go to the county election office, update your registration information and cast a ballot based on your updated residence address, or go to your old polling place and vote one last time at the old polling place.

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How does your Montana vacation play out?

When you Montana, you discover a feeling that can only be found here. To Montana is to live fully, to experience authenticity, to awaken your inner adventurer. So come, Montana with us, and take in the essence of a place affectionately known as "the last best." A place that's as welcoming as it is wild. A thing that'll change you forever.

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Montana's Official Tourism, Travel & Vacation Info Site

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Montana is untamed, wild and natural. Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks are just the beginning; in between discover spectacular places, people and things to do.

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Jon Tester, Senator for Montana - GovTrack.us

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Legislative profile for Sen. Jon Tester [D-MT], the Senator from Montana

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Matt Means Business

Matt Rosendale, 58, is a Trump conservative, straight shooter, and a fighter for Montana. He is the son and brother of U.S. Marines.

Matt and his wife, Jean, have been married over 32 years and have three sons, Matthew Jr., Brien and Adam. They all graduated from Dawson County High School. Matt and Jean are active in their community and church.

Matt and Jean have been living at their Glendive ranch for nearly 20 years. They chose to make Montana home because they love and share Montana values, where faith, family and community, are still important. On their ranch, Matt spent many long hours working on the land and helping his neighbors brand and herd cattle, haul crops from the field, and rebuild fences after a prairie fire ripped through. Matt knows the value of hard-work and the importance of being there for your neighbors.

In 2010, Matt was recruited by his neighbors in Glendive to run for the Montana Legislature because of his conservative values and no-nonsense style. They asked him to reduce spending and regulations, defend our gun and property rights, and always defend the sanctity of life and that's exactly what he did while serving in Helena.

In 2014, Matt was elected by his Montana colleagues in the State Senate as the Majority Leader. In February of 2016, Matt announced his candidacy to be Montana's State Auditor. Despite being outspent 4:1, Matt won by nearly 8 points.

As State Auditor, Matt cut his office operating costs by 23% and when Montana's budget was in crisis last year, he refused a pay increase when every other elected state official - Republican and Democrat - took one. Matt's also working to lower the cost of health care and prescription drug prices and provide more affordable health care options to Montanans.

As one of the five members of the Montana State Land Board, Matt has been recognized by his colleagues as an expert in land use and management and has fought tirelessly to protect and improve access to our public lands. Over the last year and a half, he's worked to grant easements and authorize land purchases to nearly 45,000 acres of previously hard-to-reach areas that are now accessible for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities for generations to come.

Matt's listened to the people of Montana and they mean business about protecting our public lands, opposing a federal lands transfer, and responsibly expanding access and recreational opportunities - and he completely agrees with them. Matt will always fight to protect and defend our public lands and keep them in public hands!

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Matt Means Business Matt Rosendale, 58, is a Trump conservative, straight shooter, and a fighter for Montana. He is the son and brother of U.S. Marines. Matt and his wife, Jean, have been married over 32 years and have three sons, Matthew Jr., Brien and Adam. They all graduated from Dawson County High School.

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U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Montana -- Official Campaign Website

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Jon Tester is a third-generation Montana dirt farmer who brings his Montana values with him to the U.S. Senate.

Every day, whether Jon is on his farm, traveling the state to meet with Montanans, or on the job in Washington DC, we can count on him to defend the Montana that three generations of his family have called home. That's why Jon won't ever stop holding government accountable, fighting for veterans and improved schools, infrastructure, and jobs. And it's why Jon is relentless in defending Montana from outsiders coming into our state hell-bent on buying our elections, taking our public lands, and chipping away at our personal freedoms. Every day, Jon is defending Montana.

Jon Comes from Montana

Jon was born in Havre in 1956. He grew up on land in Chouteau County that his grandparents homesteaded in 1912 - and he grew up with their values, too. A meat grinder accident cost Jon three fingers at age 9, but a childhood steeped in family agriculture gave him the values that have defined his career.

Jon first saw Sharla Bitz - who also came from a Montana farm family - sitting in a church pew. They became high school sweethearts, and got married during Jon's senior year at the University of Great Falls.

After Jon graduated with a music degree, he taught music at F. E. Miley Elementary School in Big Sandy. Around the time Jon and Sharla's daughter Christine was born, the Testers moved back to his grandparents' farm and butcher shop. Their son, Shon, was born a few years later. Jon and Sharla continue to work the land in Big Sandy.

A History of Defending Montana

When the Testers' neighbor decided to retire from the Montana Senate, Jon, fed up with huge rate hikes following the disastrous deregulation of Montana's energy industry, ran for the seat - and won. And in 2005, fed up with rampant corruption and irresponsible decision-making out in Washington, Jon decided to run for the U.S. Senate - and won.

Jon, a longtime champion of transparency, immediately made history as the first member of Congress to post his daily public schedule on his website. He helped pass sweeping ethics reform, and then went beyond those rules and banned all gifts, meals, and travel from lobbyists for himself and for his staff. He barred any staffers who become lobbyists from lobbying him or being rehired. Jon's record on transparency has earned him the title, "Montana's advocate for accountability."

As a United States Senator, Jon doesn't just hold himself accountable, he holds all of Washington accountable. He stands up to special interests, calls out government waste when he sees it, and even takes on his own party when he believes it's the right thing to do for Montana. He's tussled with bureaucrats, held the VA's feet to the fire, and relentlessly defended Montana.

Jon has worked hard to deliver for Montana families. He is a strong defender of Medicare and Social Security, a strong supporter of quality public education and access to affordable health care, and a strong advocate for rural America and Montana's unique way of life.

Jon continues to relentlessly travel the state. Jon is the only member of the Montana delegation to host regular in-person town hall meetings. Jon's held Farm Bill listening sessions, Veterans listening sessions, and brought cabinet members from three administrations to Montana.

Getting Things Done for Montana

Jon takes the feedback he hears from Montanans and brings it to Washington. Jon has had 18 bills signed into law by President Donald Trump. Jon's bills have increased accountability in Washington, cracked down on bad actors at the VA, and delivered on rural priorities for Montana.

Jon's not done getting things done for Montana. He continues to push Washington to deliver for Montana.

Whether it is in Washington, back on the farm, or in meetings across Montana, Jon will always relentlessly defend our Montana way of life. After all, with his trademark flattop haircut ($12, including tip), Jon Tester has always been a Montanan.

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Jon Tester is a third-generation Montana dirt farmer who brings his Montana values with him to the U.S. Senate. Every day, whether Jon is on his farm, traveling the state to meet with Montanans, or on the job in Washington DC, we can count on him to defend the Montana that three generations of his [...]

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University of Montana students spell out ‘IMPEACH’ on mountain ahead of Trump visit

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University of Montana students spell out ‘IMPEACH’ on mountain ahead of Trump visit

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"L" into "LIAR as others march against Trump visit to Missoula

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"L" into "LIAR as others march against Trump visit to Missoula

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However, Rosendale will give Tester a run for his money. Even with the lack of abundant funding, Rosendale has full and total support from President Trump, who's voice carries a whole lot of weight in today's politics. Tester has distanced himself from other party figures, so support from big names isn't there.

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I believe that although Montana is swinging ever to the right, Tester will win the election for Senate. To begin with, he has better funding and has already been established as a competent Senator. Also, his centralist ideology better conforms to the state as a whole, as swinging too left or too right is not as good. Combined with the general hate for Trump that has hit the state (such as in Missoula), I feel that it will be close, but Tester will win.

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Rosendale has received funding from America First Action, American Bankers Assn and other groups for a total of $5.16 million

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This page shows the contributions made to Montana Senate in 2018. For more information click through to the page.

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Tester has received funding from the League of Conservation Voters, Blackstone Group, Votesane PAC and other groups for a total of $19.23 million.

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Campaign Committee Fundraising, 2011 - 2016

Total Raised vs. Average Raised

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Source of Funds (Campaign Committee), 2011 - 2016

*Includes contributions from other candidate committees.

NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2011 - 2016 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically on 05/18/17 for Fundraising totals, Source of Funds and Total Raised vs Average, and on 10/26/18 for Top Contributors and Industries. ("Help! The numbers don't add up...")

The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organizations' PACs, their individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.

Why (and How) We Use Donors' Employer/Occupation Information
METHODOLOGY
Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: info[at]crp.org

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Sen. Jon Tester - Campaign Finance Summary

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Fundraising profile for Sen. Jon Tester - Montana

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Trump plans to make a 4th trip to Montana in order to support Rosendale. This trip will set a record for most presidential trips to Montana. Rosendale has come under fire by Tester for his stance on ownership of public lands, health care, and funding for veterans.

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Even with Rosendale receiving all of Trumps praise and approval, Tester still tries to distance himself from mainstream party figures to maintain his roots as a centrist. However, he's being supported by actor and part-time Montana resident, Jeff Bridges.

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"Republican Poll Shows Tight Race for Montana Senate"

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"Republican Poll Shows Tight Race for Montana Senate"

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For said poll, Rosendale was up 2 points, within margin of error, in a republican poll conducted in August. The poll was conducted with 600 likely voters, 40% of which used their cell phones to record their answers. The survey had a margin of error of ±4 percentage points.
This could be credible, however, the poll did come from Republican Party, so no doubt it's swayed.

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Republican Matt Rosendale led Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester by 2 points, within the margin of error, in a Republican poll of the race conducted this month.

Rosendale, the Montana auditor, was ahead, 47 percent to 45 percent, in the survey conducted by WPA Intelligence for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Five percent were undecided. Rosendale won the GOP nomination in June to take on Tester, who's running for his third term. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Tilts Democratic.

WPAi also tested the favorability of both candidates. Forty-four percent of likely voters had a favorable impression of Rosendale, while 46 percent had an unfavorable view of him. Forty-nine percent had a favorable view of Tester, while 46 had an unfavorable view of him.

The poll surveyed 600 likely voters from Aug. 20-22, with nearly 40 percent over cell phones. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

President Donald Trump carried Montana by 20 points in 2016, and the WPAi survey found 54 percent of respondents approved of the job he is doing, while 44 disapproved.

Rosendale's two most recent ads only feature footage of Trump speaking at a rally in the state earlier this year. The candidate never speaks, except to approve the message at the end.

The NRSC's independent expenditure arm launched its first TV ad in the state in mid-August. It compared Tester to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on a range of issues.

A subsequent TV ad, released on Aug. 24, zeroes in on immigration and national security. WPAi's survey showed that 24 percent of likely voters - the largest share - identified illegal immigration as "the single most important issue they would like to see a candidate for the U.S. Senate address." The next largest share (16 percent) pointed to health care, followed by the economy (11 percent).
Watch: What Midterm Election? Trump Is Already Campaigning for 2020 Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.

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Republican Poll Shows Tight Race for Montana Senate

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Republican Matt Rosendale led Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester by 2 points in a Republican poll of the race conducted this month.

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Tester will be fighting an uphill battle as Montana is leaning ever more to the right. He claims to want to "make race about Montana, not Trump," after coming under fire by the President for opposing his choice for Veterans Affairs secretary.

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Jon identifies as a moderate Democrat.

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Matt, as stated on his website, is a "Trump conservative" or in other words, a conservative Republican.

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To vote in Montana, you must be:

Be registered as required by law.

Be 18 years old or older on or before the next election.

Be a citizen of the United States.

Have lived in Montana for at least 30 days.

You cannot vote if you've:

become a convicted felon serving a sentence in a penal institution.

been judged in a court of law to be of unsound mind.

You must go to the polls to vote

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The Senate race in Montana in 2014 was between Republican Steve Daines and Democrat Amanda Curtis. Daines won with 57.9% of the 369,826 total turnout.

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How does your Montana vacation play out?

When you Montana, you discover a feeling that can only be found here. To Montana is to live fully, to experience authenticity, to awaken your inner adventurer. So come, Montana with us, and take in the essence of a place affectionately known as "the last best." A place that's as welcoming as it is wild. A thing that'll change you forever.

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Montana's Official Tourism, Travel & Vacation Info Site

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Montana is untamed, wild and natural. Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks are just the beginning; in between discover spectacular places, people and things to do.

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Montana is a state in the Northwestern United States. It is know for it's outdoors and wide open spaces. It's often referred to as "Big Sky Country."

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Currently, the two seats in the Senate are held by Democrat Jon Tester and Republican Steve Daines.

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Matt Means Business

Matt Rosendale, 58, is a Trump conservative, straight shooter, and a fighter for Montana. He is the son and brother of U.S. Marines.

Matt and his wife, Jean, have been married over 32 years and have three sons, Matthew Jr., Brien and Adam. They all graduated from Dawson County High School. Matt and Jean are active in their community and church.

Matt and Jean have been living at their Glendive ranch for nearly 20 years. They chose to make Montana home because they love and share Montana values, where faith, family and community, are still important. On their ranch, Matt spent many long hours working on the land and helping his neighbors brand and herd cattle, haul crops from the field, and rebuild fences after a prairie fire ripped through. Matt knows the value of hard-work and the importance of being there for your neighbors.

In 2010, Matt was recruited by his neighbors in Glendive to run for the Montana Legislature because of his conservative values and no-nonsense style. They asked him to reduce spending and regulations, defend our gun and property rights, and always defend the sanctity of life and that's exactly what he did while serving in Helena.

In 2014, Matt was elected by his Montana colleagues in the State Senate as the Majority Leader. In February of 2016, Matt announced his candidacy to be Montana's State Auditor. Despite being outspent 4:1, Matt won by nearly 8 points.

As State Auditor, Matt cut his office operating costs by 23% and when Montana's budget was in crisis last year, he refused a pay increase when every other elected state official - Republican and Democrat - took one. Matt's also working to lower the cost of health care and prescription drug prices and provide more affordable health care options to Montanans.

As one of the five members of the Montana State Land Board, Matt has been recognized by his colleagues as an expert in land use and management and has fought tirelessly to protect and improve access to our public lands. Over the last year and a half, he's worked to grant easements and authorize land purchases to nearly 45,000 acres of previously hard-to-reach areas that are now accessible for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities for generations to come.

Matt's listened to the people of Montana and they mean business about protecting our public lands, opposing a federal lands transfer, and responsibly expanding access and recreational opportunities - and he completely agrees with them. Matt will always fight to protect and defend our public lands and keep them in public hands!

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Matt Means Business Matt Rosendale, 58, is a Trump conservative, straight shooter, and a fighter for Montana. He is the son and brother of U.S. Marines. Matt and his wife, Jean, have been married over 32 years and have three sons, Matthew Jr., Brien and Adam. They all graduated from Dawson County High School.

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Matt Rosendale was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1960. He's held office in the Montana Senate, Montana House of Representatives and is currently the Auditor of Montana. He is a Republican.

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U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Montana -- Official Campaign Website

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Jon Tester is a third-generation Montana dirt farmer who brings his Montana values with him to the U.S. Senate.

Every day, whether Jon is on his farm, traveling the state to meet with Montanans, or on the job in Washington DC, we can count on him to defend the Montana that three generations of his family have called home. That's why Jon won't ever stop holding government accountable, fighting for veterans and improved schools, infrastructure, and jobs. And it's why Jon is relentless in defending Montana from outsiders coming into our state hell-bent on buying our elections, taking our public lands, and chipping away at our personal freedoms. Every day, Jon is defending Montana.

Jon Comes from Montana

Jon was born in Havre in 1956. He grew up on land in Chouteau County that his grandparents homesteaded in 1912 - and he grew up with their values, too. A meat grinder accident cost Jon three fingers at age 9, but a childhood steeped in family agriculture gave him the values that have defined his career.

Jon first saw Sharla Bitz - who also came from a Montana farm family - sitting in a church pew. They became high school sweethearts, and got married during Jon's senior year at the University of Great Falls.

After Jon graduated with a music degree, he taught music at F. E. Miley Elementary School in Big Sandy. Around the time Jon and Sharla's daughter Christine was born, the Testers moved back to his grandparents' farm and butcher shop. Their son, Shon, was born a few years later. Jon and Sharla continue to work the land in Big Sandy.

A History of Defending Montana

When the Testers' neighbor decided to retire from the Montana Senate, Jon, fed up with huge rate hikes following the disastrous deregulation of Montana's energy industry, ran for the seat - and won. And in 2005, fed up with rampant corruption and irresponsible decision-making out in Washington, Jon decided to run for the U.S. Senate - and won.

Jon, a longtime champion of transparency, immediately made history as the first member of Congress to post his daily public schedule on his website. He helped pass sweeping ethics reform, and then went beyond those rules and banned all gifts, meals, and travel from lobbyists for himself and for his staff. He barred any staffers who become lobbyists from lobbying him or being rehired. Jon's record on transparency has earned him the title, "Montana's advocate for accountability."

As a United States Senator, Jon doesn't just hold himself accountable, he holds all of Washington accountable. He stands up to special interests, calls out government waste when he sees it, and even takes on his own party when he believes it's the right thing to do for Montana. He's tussled with bureaucrats, held the VA's feet to the fire, and relentlessly defended Montana.

Jon has worked hard to deliver for Montana families. He is a strong defender of Medicare and Social Security, a strong supporter of quality public education and access to affordable health care, and a strong advocate for rural America and Montana's unique way of life.

Jon continues to relentlessly travel the state. Jon is the only member of the Montana delegation to host regular in-person town hall meetings. Jon's held Farm Bill listening sessions, Veterans listening sessions, and brought cabinet members from three administrations to Montana.

Getting Things Done for Montana

Jon takes the feedback he hears from Montanans and brings it to Washington. Jon has had 18 bills signed into law by President Donald Trump. Jon's bills have increased accountability in Washington, cracked down on bad actors at the VA, and delivered on rural priorities for Montana.

Jon's not done getting things done for Montana. He continues to push Washington to deliver for Montana.

Whether it is in Washington, back on the farm, or in meetings across Montana, Jon will always relentlessly defend our Montana way of life. After all, with his trademark flattop haircut ($12, including tip), Jon Tester has always been a Montanan.

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Jon Tester is a third-generation Montana dirt farmer who brings his Montana values with him to the U.S. Senate. Every day, whether Jon is on his farm, traveling the state to meet with Montanans, or on the job in Washington DC, we can count on him to defend the Montana that three generations of his [...]

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Jon Tester was born in Havre, Montana in 1956. He was elected to the Montana Senate in 1998 and the US Senate in 2006 as a Democrat.