AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the Montana presidential and state primaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — The general election for a race that could determine the Senate majority begins right after Montana voters lock in their nominees in Tuesday’s primaries.

The center of the political storm in Montana is the U.S. Senate race, in which Democrat Jon Tester is running for reelection. Republican leaders including Sen. Steve Daines, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial committee, are supporting Tim Sheehy for the GOP nomination. Sheehy, a retired Navy SEAL who has the personal wealth to help pay for an expensive challenge to Tester, faces two other candidates on the ballot.

Rep. Matt Rosendale’s attempt to join the race was quickly rebuffed when former President Donald Trump endorsed Sheehy the day that Rosendale announced he was running for Senate, too. Rosendale dropped out of the race less than a week later, announcing his intent to run for reelection instead. At that point, however, Republicans had already lined up to run for his open House seat. Now, Rosendale isn’t running for office in 2024 at all.

State Auditor Troy Downing is among the candidates in a crowded primary to replace Rosendale, as are former Rep. Denny Rehberg and several others. Meanwhile, the other member of Montana’s congressional delegation, Rep. Ryan Zinke, is running for reelection, as is Gov. Greg Gianforte.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Upside-down American flag reappears as a right-wing protest symbol after Trump’s guilty verdict </bsp-custom-headline>