Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) announced on Wednesday that he will run for reelection in 2024, a win for Democrats as the party seeks to defend a seat in the Republican-leaning state.
In a statement on Twitter, the 66-year-old said one of his campaign’s goals includes demanding that the government stand up for veterans and “lower costs for families.”
“Montanans need a fighter that will hold our government accountable and demand Washington stand up for veterans and lower costs for families,” Tester said. “I will always fight to defend our Montana values.”
It’s official. I’m running for reelection.
Montanans need a fighter that will hold our government accountable and demand Washington stand up for veterans and lower costs for families. I will always fight to defend our Montana values. Let’s get to work.
— Jon Tester (@jontester) February 22, 2023
Tester was first elected to the Senate in 2006, defeating then three-term incumbent Republican Sen. Conrad Burns by only a few thousand votes. His second election in 2012 was also close.
In 2018, he was reelected to a third term despite former President Donald Trump having campaigned against him. Tester defeated Republican candidate Matt Rosendale by about 3.5 points.
In past elections, Tester stressed a handful of issues such as agriculture, health care, reproductive choice, and support for veterans. Tester, who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, sponsored legislation that expanded health care services for millions of service members exposed to toxic smoke from burn pits at military bases.
According to Federal Election Commission filings, Tester’s campaign had raised more than $4 million in cash since his 2018 reelection and had almost $3 million remaining as of early 2023.
Democrats now hold a 50-49 edge in the Senate, but the party faces a more difficult map in 2024, with more seats up for grabs and having to defend multiple seats in areas where Trump won the most votes in 2016 and/or 2020.
In a statement released by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the committee criticized the incumbent senator after formally announcing his 2024 candidacy.
“The Tester-Biden agenda has given Montanans rising crime, higher taxes, and an open southern border that is flooding communities with deadly fentanyl. Montanans are going to send Joe Biden’s favorite Senator packing in 2024,” said NRSC spokeswoman Maggie About.
In December 2022, Tester indicated that he was not sure if he would run for reelection, describing the decision as “a big undertaking,” while adding that “it’ll be a discussion that I have with my family over the holidays.”