2024 Montana Senate Voters Guide
Tim Sheehy (R) vs Jon Tester (D)
The Candidates
Ban. “I am proudly pro-life.” Democrats seem “to be bent on murdering our unborn children.” Supports a ban from “when a baby can feel pain.” “Any further limits must be left to each state.” Supports IVF.
Legal. “The woman and her family” should decide, consulting “with her minister and her doctor.” Opposed an abortion ban at 20 weeks. Sponsored a bill to protect abortion rights nationally.
No. Humans have no “appreciable impact” on global warming. “The climate has always been changing…. Stand strong against the radical climate cult agenda.” Supports “responsibly” developing “all forms of American energy.” In 2023 removed climate change references on the website of his aerial firefighting company.
Yes. “As a third-generation farmer, I know firsthand how climate change affects Montana. From wildfires to droughts to floods, we must address this issue.” Voted for $369 billion in climate and clean energy initiatives. Supports multiple energy sources including coal with carbon emission capture.
“Cops are good, criminals are bad.” Opposes “soft-on-crime policies, anti-cop policies, defund the police.” Will approve only “pro-law enforcement and pro-rule of law” judges and cabinet members.
Supported funding to hire more officers. The police have “my strong support.” The 2020 Republican reform bill did not “address the problems” such as chokeholds. Voted for a bipartisan bill to support rehabilitative programming and fix sentencing laws.”
Decrease. Will “end the out-of-control spending.” Montanans “don’t want more government in their lives.” Calls for less government oversight to “empower… businesses to succeed.”
Increase. Helped craft the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, investing in Montana’s roads, bridges, airports, high-speed internet, & water systems. Secured millions in federal aid to “Montana farmers and ranchers.”
Yes. Would “end the woke social agenda infecting our schools…. Let’s focus on the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic.”
No. Sponsored a 2015 bill banning “harassment and discrimination against” LGBTQ students. Sponsored a bill to establish a loan-forgiveness program to recruit Native teachers in tribal schools and another to fund Native language education. As a former public school teacher, calls public education “our nation’s great equalizer.”
Unclear. When asked by a reporter, declined to comment.
Yes. Congratulated Biden and Harris on their “momentous victory.”
Mostly tighten. “Keep public lands in public hands.” Supports federal action to protect rivers and conserve parks, wildlife, and land. “Every Montanan has the right to a clean and healthful environment.” Opposed Biden coal plant regulations. “We rent this Earth from our kids. It’s best we don’t screw it up.”
Decrease. “Return healthcare to pure privatization.” “More government control of our health care has only made things worse.” Obamacare caused “higher premiums.” Would protect people with pre-existing conditions.
Increase. Voted for Obamacare. Voted to cap Medicare insulin costs at $35/month and let Medicare negotiate lower prices from drug companies. “Montanans shouldn’t have to choose between Rx drugs and putting food on the table.” Expand rural telehealth.
Called the 2024 bipartisan border security bill “political theater.” Would axe the Department of Homeland Security. “Secure our border, finish the wall, and… end… illegal immigration.” No DACA position found.
Voted for 2023-2024 bipartisan Senate border security bill to tighten asylum laws and hire more border guards. Said Biden’s border policies had “failed.” Supports DACA; “breaking a promise to these children… is not the solution.”
No position found.
Easier. Sponsored the PRO Act protecting employees’ rights to organize and collectively bargain. “Hardworking Montanans deserve the respect to negotiate directly with the company that is calling the shots.”
Likely limit. “Boys are boys, girls are girls.” “Men in girls’ sports is insane.” “Stop things like drag queen story time from replacing the Lord’s Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance in our classrooms.”
Expand. Sponsored a bill to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination. Voted to recognize same-sex marriages. “We must” fight “for the fundamental rights,” including “the civil rights of LGBTQ+” people.
No position found.
Likely legal. Sponsored a bill for medical marijuana research for veterans with chronic pain or PTSD. Sponsored a bill protecting banks serving legal marijuana businesses.
No position found.
Yes. In 2021: “the minimum wage needs to come up.” Start with “10, 11 buck an hour as a base level” and “extend it out a ways before it hits the $15 figure.” “We have just got to be careful, so we don’t put our small business in a bad situation.”
No. Supported the Supreme Court’s decision striking down Biden’s proposal to forgive some student loan debts: “Take a loan, pay it back.” No position found on interest rates.
Mixed. Voted against Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to “cover the tab.” In 2013 voted to lower student loan interest rates.
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