Democratic super PAC involved in Montana GOP Senate race, mirroring 2022 strategy
A New Super PAC Targets Republican Contender in Montana Senate Race
A new super PAC with ties to Democrats is making waves in the Montana GOP Senate primary, taking aim at leading Republican contender Tim Sheehy as he seeks to unseat Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT).
This early effort is reminiscent of the strategy employed by Democrats in the 2022 election cycle, where they worked to undermine more electable GOP candidates in order to boost those that Democrats believed they could easily defeat.
The super PAC, Last Best Place, was registered with the Federal Election Commission in early September and has already invested over $1.6 million in TV ads, according to AdImpact.
Sheehy, the CEO of Bridger Aerospace and a former Navy SEAL, has been the primary target of the PAC’s attacks. They have criticized him for accepting a forgivable loan in the Paycheck Protection Program.
The PAC’s filings reveal that their registered bank is Amalgamated Bank, which is also the preferred bank for the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic groups.
FCC records show that the ad was purchased by a media buyer called Mountain Media Agency, which shares an address with Old Town Media, a media buyer used by Democratic Party campaigns.
The treasurer of the PAC is listed as David M. Lewis, who shares the same name as a former Republican in the Montana legislature. Lewis stated that Last Best Place PAC is operating within federal regulations and declined to address questions about any potential affiliation with Democrats.
“Montanans deserve to know the truth about Mitch McConnell’s millionaire candidate – especially when he spends those millions to hide who he really is,”
Lewis said in a statement. “The truth is Tim Sheehy walked away from a loan, dodges Montana taxes, and profits off government contracts. He doesn’t understand our state and is the last person we need representing us in the Senate.”
The PAC is not required to disclose its donors until 2024.
Sheehy is currently the main candidate in the Republican primary and is considered the front-runner to challenge Tester. However, there are expectations that Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) may enter the race, which Senate GOP Leadership is wary of as they believe it could jeopardize their chances of winning the seat.
In 2018, Rosendale ran against Tester and lost, causing concern among Republicans that his entry into the race could result in a loss of a potentially winnable seat.
It appears that Democrats are attempting to influence the Republican primary through their connections with the super PAC, similar to their actions in the 2022 midterm elections when they spent millions to boost “weak Republicans” whom they believed they could easily defeat.
For instance, in the Republican primary, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D-IL) campaign and the Democratic Governors Association spent $35 million on ads attacking a more centrist primary opponent, ensuring that the conservative candidate, Darren Bailey, would secure the nomination.
According to FiveThirtyEight, Democrats were successful in six out of the numerous races they intervened in.
“Chuck Schumer and his allies are spending millions supporting Matt Rosendale,”
a GOP strategist working on Senate races told the Washington Examiner. “Rosendale’s proven track record of losing to Jon Tester, anemic fundraising, and brutal Maryland accent are all the qualities Schumer likes to see in a candidate.”
On Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, Rosendale defended the PAC’s actions, stating that they were simply “telling the truth” about Sheehy.
“Because some Democrat organization is taking shots at the national committee’s poster boy,”
Rosendale said on the podcast. “How in the world they can transmit that into or project that onto me? That’s what it was all about.”
When asked about his association with the PAC, Rosendale denied any involvement, emphasizing that the accusation was baseless.
“I think that any accusation that or insinuation that I am in any way affiliated with associated with or participating with a Democrat super PAC is absolutely asinine and ridiculous,”
Rosendale said.
When questioned about his potential entry into the Senate race, Rosendale stated that he is considering it and will use the Christmas break to discuss it with his family.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Sheehy for comment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
What are the allegations made by the Last Best Place PAC against Tim Sheehy, and how do they believe it disqualifies him from representing Montana?
They believed would be easier for their candidates to defeat. By targeting Tim Sheehy, they are hoping to weaken his chances of challenging Senator Jon Tester in the general election.
The Last Best Place PAC, which has ties to Democrats, has already invested a significant amount of money in TV ads to target Sheehy. Their main criticism of him revolves around his acceptance of a forgivable loan in the Paycheck Protection Program. They allege that Sheehy is not fit to represent Montana due to his financial decisions and his alleged evasion of Montana taxes.
The PAC’s registered bank, Amalgamated Bank, is also the preferred bank for the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic groups. Furthermore, the media buyer that purchased the ad shares an address with Old Town Media, a media buyer used by Democratic Party campaigns. These connections raise suspicions about the true affiliations of the Last Best Place PAC.
David M. Lewis is listed as the treasurer of the PAC and shares the same name as a former Republican in the Montana legislature. Lewis claims that the Last Best Place PAC is operating within federal regulations but declined to answer any questions regarding potential affiliations with Democrats.
The PAC is not obligated to disclose its donors until 2024, further contributing to the uncertainty surrounding their true intentions and support.
While Sheehy is currently the leading candidate in the Republican primary, there are rumors that Rep. Matt Rosendale may enter the race. Senate GOP Leadership is concerned about this possibility as they fear it could jeopardize their chances of winning the Senate seat. In 2018, Rosendale ran against Tester and lost, leading Republicans to worry that his entry into the race could result in a loss of a potentially winnable seat.
It is evident that the Democrats are trying to influence the Republican primary by utilizing their connections with the Last Best Place PAC. This tactic mirrors their actions in the 2022 midterm elections, where they spent considerable sums to boost weaker Republican candidates. By targeting Sheehy, they hope to weaken his chances and pave the way for a more favorable candidate in the general election.
Overall, the involvement of the Last Best Place PAC in the Montana Senate race highlights the influence of super PACs in shaping political dynamics. It also raises questions about the transparency and ethics of their operations, as well as the potential impact on the democratic process.
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