Rep. Rosendale Quits Senate Race After Trump Backs Rival

Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale has decided to withdraw from the Montana Senate race, just days after announcing his candidacy to challenge retired Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy for the seat. Sheehy, who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, now stands as the favored candidate in the race.

Rosendale attributed his decision to drop out to Trump’s endorsement of Sheehy, stating on X (formerly known as Twitter) that without Trump’s support and due to a “lack of resources,” the challenge ahead was too daunting. Trump, who had previously endorsed Rosendale, expressed respect for him in a Truth Social post and left open the possibility of endorsing him in future congressional races.

The decision to withdraw came after discussions with Montana’s Republican Sen. Steve Daines, who agreed that stepping aside would be the best strategy for Republicans to regain the Senate majority. Rosendale indicated that he had not yet decided whether he would seek reelection to the House of Representatives.

The Montana primary election is scheduled for June 4, with the general election in November expected to be fiercely contested. The outcome of the Senate race in Montana is critical for Republicans, who need just two additional seats to reclaim the Senate majority. The race is currently viewed as a tossup.

In 2018, Trump endorsed Rosendale in his bid against incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. Despite Trump’s support, Tester secured a third term by defeating Rosendale by approximately 3.5 percentage points. Montana has been a reliably Republican state, with Trump winning it by over 16 points in the 2020 presidential election.

Rosendale, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has taken strong stances against abortion rights and was among the lawmakers who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. He also voted in favor of removing former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October.

As Rosendale returns to Montana to contemplate his next steps with his family, the political landscape in the state remains uncertain. With the primary election looming, Republicans are eager to secure a strong candidate to challenge Sheehy and potentially flip the seat in their favor.