Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy ousts 3-term Sen. Jon Tester in Montana Senate race

Former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy has beaten three-term Democrat Sen. Jon Tester successful the Montana Senate race, flipping a cardinal contention arsenic Republicans are acceptable to instrumentality back control of the Senate, the Associated Press projects. 

His triumph increases the Republican bulk successful the Senate to astatine slightest 52, per the Associated Press projections. 

All eyes were connected the Big Sky State's competitory Senate contention that saw three-term Senator Tester, the lone statewide Democrat elected successful Montana, facing erstwhile Navy SEAL and businessman Tim Sheehy. 

Early connected successful the cycle, the Montana race was deemed 1 of Republicans' champion pickup opportunities and 1 of Democrats' astir susceptible seats of the 2024 cycle.

Sheehy launched his Senate bid exclusively with Fox News Digital successful June 2023, calling for "a caller procreation of leaders to measurement up" successful Congress successful his bid to oust the reddish authorities Democrat.

MONTANA SENATE RACE COULD BE GOP'S BEST BET TO TIP BALANCE OF POWER

Sen. Jon Tester, left, and Republican Senate campaigner Tim Sheehy. (Getty Images/Sheehy for Senate)

The Navy SEAL rapidly received the backing of salient GOP members aft announcing his candidacy, including Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and John Barrasso of Wyoming.

Before entering the governmental scene, Sheehy served successful Iraq, Afghanistan, South America and the Pacific region, receiving the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism successful Combat and a Purple Heart. On apical of owning respective businesses, the seasoned shares 4 kids with his Marine seasoned wife, Carmen Sheehy. 

MONTANA MIGHT DECIDE THE SENATE

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Sheehy, who helium described arsenic an "American Hero," successful February, aft Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale launched a short-lived bid for the seat.

U.S. Senate campaigner from Montana Tim Sheehy speaks during the 2nd time of the 2024 Republican National Convention astatine the Fiserv Forum successful Milwaukee connected July 16, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

Tester, a erstwhile schoolhouse teacher, was archetypal elected to the Montana Senate successful 2006. The Democrat owns a household workplace successful Big Sandy wherever helium lives with his wife, Sharla.

Tester has taken a much mean stance connected issues during his clip successful the Senate, openly breaking with the Biden-Harris medication connected respective issues passim the years. The Democrat withheld an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris aft she became the party's nominee.

Tester outraised Sheehy passim the predetermination cycle, but the latest polling starring up to Election Day recovered that the Republican nominee was starring the race.

Just 2 months up of Election Day, 2 apical governmental handicappers shifted the Senate contention successful Sheehy's favor. 

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

The Cook Political Report, an autarkic nonpartisan elections handicapper, precocious shifted the contention from "toss-up" to "lean Republican," portion Sabato's Crystal Ball astatine the University of Virginia's Center for Politics moved the contention to "leans Republican."

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Democrats were protecting 23 Senate seats this cycle, much than treble the fig of Republicans who are defending 10 seats successful the chamber.