Far Right Extremist Matt Rosendale Drops Out Of Montana Senate Race Just Days After Announcing

MAGA Mike endorsed Rosendale and then withdrew the endorsement the next day

Yesterday, McConnell, who supports businessman Tim Sheehy said “We will be involved in the Montana primary.” Trump also endorsed Sheehy even though he’s ideologically more in sync with Matt Rosendale, a MAGA extremist. McConnell controls the Senate Leadership Fund, which has reserved $50 to elect Sheehy.

If McConnell was trying to scare Rosendale out of the race, it worked. Less than a week after he declared— and just hours after McConnell indicated he would spend to defeat him— he dropped out of the race. Ally Mutnick, Olivia Beavers and Burgess Everett wrote that “The shocking reversal from the conservative congressman is a boon to national Republicans, who are backing veteran Tim Sheehy and are eager to avoid a damaging primary. ‘As everyone knows, I have planned to run for the US Senate and to win both the primary and the general election,’ Rosendale said in a statement. ‘However, the day I announced, President Trump then announced that he was endorsing a different candidate. By my calculations, with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep,’ he said.” His full statement:

Instead of one of those phony statements from politicians, here’s my statement on why I’m withdrawing my candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

As everyone knows, I have planned to run for the US Senate and to win both the primary and the general election. However, the day I announced, President Trump then announced that he was endorsing a different candidate.

I have long been a supporter of the President, and remain so. But I have been forced to calculate what my chances of success would be with Trump supporting my opponent. This race was already going to be tough, as 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.

However, by my calculations, with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep. I spoke with Sen. Daines earlier this week and we both agree that this is the best path forward for Republicans to regain the majority in the U.S. Senate.

There are 8 Republicans who have declared their candidacies for his seat, which is in the deep red rural eastern part of the state. (Partisan lean is R+30.)  There has been some speculation that former Congressman Denny Rehberg was getting ready to jump into the race. Right now the president pro tempore of the state Senate, Ken Bogner, is running

Politico reported that “Rosendale has not decided whether he will run for reelection to the House and said only that he ‘will prayerfully consider what is next’ as he returns to Montana to be with his family." He's popular with other members of the Freedom Caucus but few of his more normal colleagues hold him in high regard. The most disappointed by his announcement yesterday were Tester and the DSCC.