Republican Senator-elect Tim Sheehy cited the current state of the government for why Montana residents voted for him on Election Day, as “common sense” carried him over the finish line.
Sheehy won the election against three-term Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) in a hotly contested race, giving Montana Republicans control of its Senate seats, the governor’s mansion, and both legislative chambers at the same time. Sheehy reflected on the “hard work” that went into his campaign, and suggested his victory came in part from voters wanting their government to put them first.
“It’s not too much for the American people to ask that their government put the interest of our people first,” Sheehy said on Fox News’s Fox & Friends. “And I think when you ask why we won so handily, I think that’s what it comes down to, is common sense. Our message was based on ‘let’s bring common sense back to our government.’ Montanans want a secure border, safe streets, cheap gas, cops are good, criminals are bad, boys are boys, girls are girls. And that kind of message where policy initiatives and identity politics, I think, falls to the side when people say, ‘I just want a government that does its job, makes my life better, and gets out of my way.’”
The senator-elect was then asked about border security and whether the Republicans would prioritize it in the Senate in the same way many of them did on the campaign trail. Sheehy contended that there has been a lot of back-and-forth in closing and opening the border since it is in the hands of “the executive” branch, and called for legislation to secure the border “in perpetuity” to require future presidents to keep border security up.
The topic of who will replace outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was also raised, as McConnell’s retirement was announced back in February. Due to Sheehy being “a first time candidate,” he decided to wait on picking his preferred replacement and instead wait until he determines which candidate supports “common sense.”
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On X, Tester wrote that serving as senator had been “the honor of my lifetime,” adding that he would “always be proud” to call Montana his home. Tester was first elected in 2006, with Tuesday night marking the end of his 18-year Senate career.
Thank you, Montana. Serving as your senator was the honor of my lifetime. This is the greatest state in the greatest country in the world and I’ll always be proud to call Montana my home.
— Jon Tester (@jontester) November 6, 2024
The election between Sheehy and Tester was the costliest in Montana’s history and the most expensive Senate race on a per-vote basis in U.S. history. Around $250 million was spent between Democrats and Republicans in a state with a population of just over 1.1 million.