Rosendale quits Senate race after less than a week

Less than a week after he announced his candidacy Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., suspended his controversial race for U.S. Senate against primary opponent Tim Sheehy and general election opponent incumbent Jon Tester.

The suspension of his campaign came after a week of criticism by fellow Republicans who have broadly made the case that Sheehy, a wealthy businessman and veteran, is in a better position to take on Montana's long-time Democratic senator. Sheehy has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Indeed Rosendale cited Trump's endorsement as a primary reason for the suspension of his campaign after the announcement was made Thursday afternoon, saying he is loyal to the president, and his endorsement of Sheehy makes any victory unlikely.

"I have been forced to calculate what my chances of success would be with Trump supporting my opponent," he said in a statement to Montana Free Press. " ... By my calculations, with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep."

Despite the suspension of his campaign, Rosendale continued to criticize the Republicans who encouraged him to stay out, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who, along with Montana's Republican Sen. Steve Daines, had wanted a clear field for Sheehy.

"I was fighting against Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican establishment in Washington. But I felt like I could beat them, as the voters do not agree with them choosing who would be the next U.S. senator from Montana," he said.

After Rosendale announced he was leaving the race, Sheehy praised Rosendale's work in the House.

"Matt, Montana is grateful for your service and for showing Washington, D.C., what it means to hold the line on reckless spending. I know working together we'll win this race and defeat Jon Tester," Sheehy posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Rosendale's candidacy had been widely anticipated by the political world for months before it was announced, and criticism from the right had been widespread, though not universal.

The announcement drew the ire of figures like Daines who said Rosendale should be building influence through seniority in the House, not trying to take on Tester, who he'd already lost to in 2018.

Rosendale said after speaking with Daines this week, and after Trump's endorsement of his opponent, they came to the mutual conclusion that this is for the good of the party.

Daines said on social media that he's glad Republicans can now focus their resources on a single candidate to defeat Tester.

"I appreciate Matt's many years of service to Montana. It will take all Republicans working together to defeat Jon Tester in November," Daines posted on X.

Republican Brad Johnson, a former Montana secretary of state and Public Service Commission chair, also has declared himself a candidate for the Senate.

Libertarian Sid Daoud of Kalispell also is a candidate in the race.

Democrats in Montana have taken the opportunity to criticize Sheehy, with Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Sheila Hogan saying she's confident that Tester "will wipe the floor with Sheehy" after Rosendale's announcement.

"Rosendale spent months making the case that Tim Sheehy has no place representing Montana in the Senate and he was right. Sheehy is an out-of-state tech millionaire completely out of touch with Montana's way of life," Hogan said Thursday.

The PAC American Bridge 21st Century that is backing Tester bashed both Republicans in response to Rosendale's statement.

"Mitch McConnell has single-handedly picked Tim Sheehy to be the GOP's Senate candidate in Montana - giving Montanans no say in the matter. But the reality is this was a Sophie's choice," American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Sarah Abel said in a statement. "Both Matt Rosendale and Tim Sheehy are out-of-state, out-of-touch, fake ranchers who will never win a U.S. Senate race." 

Tester's campaign had not responded to requests for comment by print deadline this morning.