Republican Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale leads incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester by five points in a hypothetical matchup, a new poll obtained by the Daily Caller shows.
Rosendale would hold 46% support in a general election against Tester, the poll conducted by OnMessage Inc. shows, while Tester would garner 41%. OnMessage Inc. surveyed 600 Montana voters from Feb. 18-21, including an oversample of 100 GOP primary voters. The poll has a margin of error of 4%.
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OnMessage Inc. also found that Rosendale would lead fellow Rep. Ryan Zinke in a hypothetical primary matchup, 36%-26%. Neither congressman has declared a challenge to Tester, although Rosendale has not denied interest in a potential bid.
“Jon Tester does not represent the people of Montana, and has not done so for many years,” Rosendale told the Daily Caller in February. “He has fallen into the swamp trap and he must be replaced in ’24. I think that the people of Montana are going to take the next twelve months or so and decide which Republican that they want to represent them and replace Jon Tester.”
Rosendale was the GOP nominee the last time Tester stood for reelection. The Democrat won by 3.5 points in 2018. (RELATED: Despite Media Claims, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester Votes With Biden More Than 99% Of The Time)
Tester announced in late February that he will seek a fourth term in the Senate. He is one of three Democratic senators to represent a state that Donald Trump won by ten points in 2020. The other two, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, are also up for reelection in 2024.
The Club for Growth, which spent $2.6 million in support of Rosendale in 2018, will support him again if he ultimately runs in 2024.
“If he decides to run, we’d want to support him again, because we know his record,” group president David McIntosh told reporters.