Montana

Trump heads to Montana today, one of the most competitive — and expensive — 2024 Senate races

From CNN's David Wright

Former President Donald Trump heads to Montana today to give Republicans a boost in one of the most competitive – and expensive – 2024 Senate races.

It’s one of just two Senate races where the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Jon Tester, is seeking reelection in a state Trump carried in 2020 (the other, Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio). Here, Republicans quickly coalesced around GOP nominee Tim Sheehy, an entrepreneur and former Navy Seal, avoiding an internecine primary.

Sensing the stakes, both parties have poured money into the contest, spending tens of millions on early advertising and booking airtime in the coming fall months, making it the second most expensive Senate race of the cycle.

Montana Senate race surges past $216 million in ad spending: According to AdImpact data, the race has drawn a total of more than $216 million in ad spending, including future reservations, trailing only Ohio, where both parties have combined to spend more than $322 million buying ad time. Democrats have outspent Republicans about $117 million to $98 million, counting all the Montana ad buys.

Of that total, $95 million has already aired, and Democrats have outspent Republicans by about $56 million to $39 million in the Montana race so far. About $121 million worth of advertising remains to air, and it’s split about evenly between the parties, Democrats with about $61 million in future reservations, and Republicans with about $60 million.