Speaker Johnson Set to Endorse in Montana Senate Race … Oops, Never Mind

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was all set to endorse Rep. Matt Rosendale for Senate in his Montana race. Then the blowback came and Johnson changed his mind.

It sounds like Johnson’s backtracking happened quickly. Johnson informed several Republicans this morning that he will endorse Rosendale. He spoke to a senator and a member of the House. Punchbowl reported about the speaker’s decision early Thursday morning. Then all of a sudden, stories surfaced that Johnson will not endorse Rosendale in the Senate race after all.

The blowback on Johnson was swift. It turns out that Johnson’s endorsement would have been seen as going up against the preferred candidate of the NRSC and Mitch McConnell. It is a top priority for Republicans to flip the Senate and frankly, the NRSC has chosen an excellent candidate. 

The buzz started on Wednesday when two people close to Rosendale said that he plans to run for the Senate seat currently held by Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat. The announcement was (is) expected to come this weekend during a gathering of the state Republicans. 

Here’s the thing – it has been striking to see Montana Republicans move so quickly to support Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and a Montana businessman. This puts a whole new light on the June 4 primary.

Rosendale represents Montana’s 2nd congressional district in the House. He first ran for the seat, Montana’s at-large congressional district, in 2014. He was unsuccessful. Then he ran for the Senate in 2018. Again, he was unsuccessful. He won the House seat in 2020. The seat is Montana’s second House seat, coming in the 2020 census. He won the 2nd congressional district seat in 2022. 

Sheehy is a businessman, not a politician. He has struck a note with Montana voters. It’s been encouraging to see Montana Republicans rally around his candidacy, especially when so many state Republican parties are in disarray. Concerned Veterans for America, a veteran advocacy group endorsed Sheehy today. 

“As a decorated combat veteran who completed several deployments and countless missions overseas, Tim Sheehy understands the struggles our nation’s heroes face when they come home after serving their country,” said Chris Enget, CVA Action senior adviser in Montana, in a statement first shared with the Washington Examiner. “Unlike Senator Jon Tester, Sheehy won’t be a rubber stamp for President Biden’s failed agenda.”

“We obviously have really wanted to see an upgrade in Montana. Sen. Tester has been very much a hindrance to the things that we see are important for veterans and for the economy both,” added Russ Duerstine, CVA Action’s senior adviser, in an interview. “And even though he originally had supported the Mission Act, veterans and military family members have been impacted negatively by him undercutting access standards and community to care for veterans. And so many of our veterans are just stuck in this, this bureaucratic socialist medical system.”

Montana, a red state, voted for Trump by 16 points in 2020. It’s time to oust Tester and send another Republican to the Senate from Montana. This race is one of the most-watched in the 2024 cycle. Tester is looked upon as vulnerable and Republicans are focusing on his seat.

Trump signed the bipartisan VA Mission Act into law in 2018. It scrapped the Choice Program and streamlined the process for access to community providers. CVA Action is the largest grassroots group in the U.S. that advocates on behalf of veterans. 

Trump has not endorsed in this race. He has had a rocky relationship with Rosendale. Rosendale snubbed a phone call from Trump during the speakership fight last year. Rosendale has endorsed Trump’s presidential bid, though.

Johnson is a Trump ally. He likely was doing what he thought he should do – support one of his rank-and-file members. It’s not a coincidence that the endorsement is seen in response to Rosendale’s vote on an emergency $17.6B Israel aid bill, though Rosendale previously said the package would need corresponding budget cuts.

Regardless of what you think about Mitch McConnell, the choice by the NRSC sure looks like a solid one. As I said, Montana Republicans quickly rallied around Sheehy. Montana Senator Steve Daines chairs the NRSC, making the drama a little spicier. 

Rosendale lost to Tester in 2018. Why take the chance again when a new candidate is willing to run? He doesn’t have any political baggage and is a solid conservative. 

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), along with Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) have also endorsed Sheehy.

“We have a primary race that we really wanted to see who has the best opportunity to defeat Sen. Tester in the fall. We think it’s Tim Sheehy,” Duerstine said.

“And he not only has incredible credentials himself, he’s positioned I think, in our mind, to give us the best chance of delivering an upgrade in Montana.”

“I think highly of Rosendale. But honestly, it has a lot to do with the ability to win,” Duerstine further added.

That’s the key. Republicans need to win and pick up that Senate seat. We don’t need another year of a Democrat-led Senate. 

Tester is the only Democrat holding a statewide office in Montana. 

So, Johnson has backed down but he will help with financial support for Rosendale.

In a statement provided to Politico after news of the endorsement reversal broke, Johnson’s communications director Greg Steele said: “The Speaker has committed to sending a check from his leadership PAC to Congressman Rosendale, as he has for other House colleagues and friends, but he has not made any endorsements in Senate races.”

“He is singularly focused on growing the House majority,” Steele added.

 We’ll see if Rosendale goes ahead with his bid for the Senate. Something tells me he will move forward. Republicans have a way of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.