Staff Reports
In a shocking turn of events, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) faced defeat as he dropped out of Montana’s Senate primary race after failing to secure the coveted endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Rosendale, a staunch conservative and member of the Freedom Caucus, had been eyeing the Senate seat for months, but his hopes were dashed when Trump threw his weight behind Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL. The news left Rosendale reeling, and the congressman promptly suspended his campaign, citing the insurmountable obstacle of Trump’s endorsement of his primary opponent.
Rosendale’s failure to secure Trump’s endorsement comes as a blow to his campaign, as he had branded himself as the candidate with the closest ties to the former president. Despite touting his unwavering support for Trump’s agenda, he was left out in the cold when Trump threw his weight behind Sheehy, leaving Rosendale with an uphill battle to secure victory in the Montana Senate race.
The tension between Rosendale and Trump had been brewing for some time, with the Montana congressman refusing to accept a phone call from Trump during the House speakership fight and being one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Efforts to win over Trump’s endorsement appeared to be in jeopardy after Rosendale’s promotion of a run-in he had with Trump, which irked Trump’s advisers and seemingly dented his chances of securing the coveted endorsement.
Despite Rosendale’s claims of a strong relationship with Trump, it seems that high-ranking Republican officials ultimately persuaded the former president to endorse their hand-picked candidate, leaving Rosendale high and dry in his bid for the Senate seat. The Republican National Senatorial Committee had worked tirelessly to recruit Sheehy, leading to speculation that Trump’s endorsement was orchestrated to undercut Rosendale’s Senate bid.
The NRSC, led by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), made it clear that it is more willing to take sides in Republican primaries, indicating a departure from its previous approach in the 2022 cycle. With the NRSC offering endorsements to several candidates, including Sheehy, it appears that Rosendale was left out in the cold, despite his conservative credentials. Trump’s alignment with the NRSC’s strategy undoubtedly dealt a significant blow to Rosendale’s campaign, and it appears that the party is rallying behind more electable candidates with Trump’s endorsement in a bid to secure Republican success in the upcoming Senate elections.
As Rosendale’s campaign hangs in the balance, the Republican party stands at a crossroads, with the GOP celebrating the ousting of a rebellion-minded candidate in favor of a more aligned contender for the Montana Senate race. With the favorable Senate election map in 2024, Republicans are poised to regain the majority in the U.S. Senate, and with Trump and McConnell’s alignment, the GOP is on the path to an unstoppable victory.
