Tester says he's excited on bid for re-election

Eight days after Montana voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots for President-elect Donald Trump and Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said Wednesday he is excited about campaigning for re-election in 2018.

“To be honest with you, I think it is going to be a lot of fun for me setting the record straight, making sure that when folks put out mistruths that we can set the record straight,” Tester said during a telephone press conference.

“It’s probably going to be a tough election, but it’s something I really look forward to,” he added.

Tester confirmed Friday in an interview with MTN News that he plans to run for a third six-year term to the U.S. Senate.

Senate Democrats will face a difficult electoral climate in 2018, as they fight to hold onto 23 seats, while Republicans only have to defend eight.

A story Wednesday in The Hill listed Tester’s seat as one of 10 vulnerable seats that year.

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., was the only Republican on that list.

Tester said Montana voters have a long history of splitting their tickets, such as last week when incumbent Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock won a second term, despite both a tough challenger in Republican Greg Gianforte and Republican victories in other races.

“Montana folks tend to get to know you and they vote for the person more than the party,” he said.

Tester was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 when he narrowly unseated three-term Republican Sen. Conrad Burns with 49 percent of the vote to Burns’ 48 percent.

He was re-elected in 2012 with 49 percent of the vote over the 45 percent received by his challenger, six-term Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg.