Montana Senate race shatters spending records at $309 per registered voter

The 2024 Montana Senate contention has shattered spending records with $309 spent per registered voter, a Fox News Digital breakdown of predetermination concern records found.

All eyes are connected Montana this cycle, and whether Democratic Sen. Jon Tester tin past his re-election bid against Republican challenger Tim Sheehy successful a reddish authorities won by former President Trump successful 2016 and 2020.

Tester has outspent his Republican hostile this cycle, spending $69.6 cardinal with astir $7.4 cardinal currency connected hand, according to the latest filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from September.  

Filings amusement Sheehy, a Navy SEAL and first-time Senate candidate, reported spending astir $19.7 cardinal during the aforesaid play this cycle.

MONTANA SENATE RACE, WHICH COULD DETERMINE MAJORITY, SEEING ‘INTENSE GROUND GAME OPERATION’: NRSC CHAIRMAN

Montana Republican U.S. Senate campaigner Tim Sheehy, left, and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., perceive arsenic erstwhile President Trump, the Republican statesmanlike nominee, speaks astatine the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse astatine Montana State University Aug. 9, 2024, successful Bozeman, Mont. (Michael Ciaglo)

Super PACs and extracurricular groups person played a important relation successful Montana advertizing arsenic Democrats determination wealth into a authorities wherever their bulk successful the Senate hangs successful the balance.

Outside spending connected the contention totals astir $154 million, according to a Fox News Digital reappraisal of FEC filings. Breaking down the numbers per candidate, extracurricular groups spent astir $61.1 cardinal against Tester, portion $15.8 cardinal was dropped successful enactment of his re-election bid. 

Sheehy has faced $59.5 cardinal successful spending against his campaign, portion $17.7 cardinal was spent to assistance him unseat the three-term Democrat.

Total spending connected the campaign, including contributions from extracurricular groups, has reached astir $243.3 cardinal to date. There are 786,365 registered voters successful Montana, according to the Montana Secretary of State, meaning the mean spent per ballot connected the Senate contention is astir $309 per registered voter.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester prepares to statement GOP challenger Tim Sheehy connected field astatine the University of Montana successful Missoula, Mont., Sept. 30, 2024. (The Missoulian via AP)

The contention has seen a monolithic influx of backing from salient billionaires specified arsenic George Soros and the Koch brothers, who founded and money Americans for Prosperity Action. Other players successful Montana see a $29 cardinal concern from the Last Best Place PAC, $20 cardinal from the Senate Leadership Fund and a $20 cardinal concern from American Crossroads.

Other salient Senate races person seen much spending this cycle, but their higher populations disperse the funds much wide connected a per-voter basis. 

For example, much than $363 cardinal has been spent connected the Ohio Senate contention this cycle, but with 8,159,880 registered voters, per the caput of state's office, the spending amounts to astir $44 per registered voter.

If the equivalent magnitude of wealth spent per registered elector successful Montana was applied to the Senate contention successful Ohio, it would full implicit $2.5 billion.

Senators Jon Tester, D-Mont., left, and Steve Daines, R-Mont., movie a connection extracurricular Dirksen Building connected the value of getting a COVID-19 vaccine April 27, 2021. (Tom Williams)

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., the National Republican Senatorial Committee chair, told Fox News Digital the spending is simply a reflection of the nationalist implications of the race.

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"On a per capita basis, Montana is successful its league due to the fact that we lone person a small implicit a cardinal people. And truthful we person a lesser populated authorities with spending numbers that are equivalent to different ample races successful states similar Michigan, similar Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada," Daines told Fox News Digital successful an exclusive interview. 

"I deliberation it highlights the value of Montana due to the fact that Tim Sheehy's triumph is the 51st spot for the United States Senate. This is what secures the bulk for the Republicans and takes the gavel retired of Chuck Schumer's hands. And that's wherefore there's truthful overmuch focused attraction connected this race."

Despite being outspent, the latest polling from The New York Times shows Sheehy starring Tester by 8 points.