MT-SEN: Tester still not ready to announce 2024 Senate plans

[RandySF]

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he’s still undecided on whether to run for re-election in 2024, keeping Democrats in suspense for what will be a close-watched race.

“I’ve got a few things to think about,” Tester said Wednesday, while declining to provide a timeline for his decision other than sometime in 2023.

“Ultimately, in the end, I’ve got a farm that’s been in the family for over 100 years."

“We got to make sure that’s taken care of. We got to make sure that we’ve thought through all the procedures of what’s going to happen over the next eight years. And so once we get through with that, then we can come down and make a decision,” he added.



https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/tester-still-not-ready-announce-2024-senate-plans-rcna68623

[2naSalit]

1. Bet he's been threatened.

[tritsofme]

4. By who?

And to what end?

[2naSalit]

5. He's the only Democrat holding federal office...

From this state, he's up for re-election and, now that the magats have a death grip on the state, both the House Reps are gunning for his seat and with the two of them, Daines (the pther Senator) has been trying to undermine him during his time in the Senate along with his long time business partner, governogreg, Tester may well be getting the heat from magatville. One of the biggest things to threaten in his neck of the woods is his farm, and he has mentioned, specifically, that preservation of his farm is what matters. Someone is threatening his family in that way, sound like to me.

People still disappear around here, he might no be threatened with death but he may be getting threats al the same. A bad grass-fire could take the whole farm out.

I am concerned.

[intelpug]

20. Tester

Tester has been in office for a long time now, like he says he has a farm and he is not getting any younger. Farms are a full time job in themselves and he might have other things he wants to do before he gets any older. A grass fire or the sort could also, and probably would also take out the neighboring farms who are probably republicans. In short the notion that he's wavering because of supposed threats I find to be total bullshit. I've lived here 58 years and seven generations of my family, I think I have a good grasp of peoples attitudes toward politicians here and I doubt there's any crap threats like that would cow John Tester from running again if he really wants and likes the job. P.S By the way, if your not part of the farm ranch culture here just the political culture there are probably some things your not aware of like the fact that if there were a large wildfire or other disaster politics tend to go out the window at that point, even if his neighbors were republican they would no doubt be there for him regardless. I have been involved in about a dozen of these things over the years and nobody ever said '' Wait a minute!'' Are these people Democratic or Republican?

[brooklynite]

8. WHY do people throw out lazy conspiracy theories like this?

"He's been threatened"

So you're saying he's afraid to run for re-election? Any other cowards we should know about?

[honest.abe]

9. Well what if they threatened his family... wife and kids?

Is that still being a coward??

I do believe many are being threatened and the threats are real. I do admire our brave Senators and Representatives who continue serving even under such very difficult and dangerous circumstances. However I also understand those who decide its not worth it.

[brooklynite]

10. "I do believe many are being threatened"

IOW "I have no actual evidence."

And as for "if they threatened his family"...I suspect Senator Tester has more respect for the abilities of the FBI and the DOJ than some folks here do.

Sherrod Brown called me last week to talk about his re-election campaign. Is he braver than Tester?

[honest.abe]

11. You dont think our congress men and women are being threatened??

There have been tons of reports of this happening. Do you not read the news??

[brooklynite]

13. There's a difference between angry rants from conservatives and serious threats.

Every politician gets threats on the phone or in the mail. Its part of the job.

I'll go back to my question: Sherrod Brown is running. Is he not being threatened or is he just braver?

[honest.abe]

14. Maybe you forgot..

-- Gretchen Whitmer
-- Nancy and Paul Pelosi
-- Gabby Giffords
-- Jan 6 , 2021

Please also read this:

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/threats-attacks-members-congress-2022-10-28/

[brooklynite]

15. Maybe I didn't

Gretchen Whitmer didn't quit.

Nancy Pelosi didn't quit.

Gabby Giffords wasn't threatened by the person who shot her.

[honest.abe]

16. Yes, I do admire them for not quiting..

but your previous comment indicates that you didn't think that serious threats were being carried out.

"there's a difference between angry rants from conservatives and serious threats"

Clearly there are crazies out there willing to do harm to our public servants and I do understand if some of our public servants decide it's not worth the risk. You don't think so??

[brooklynite]

17. The fact that our public servants AREN'T deciding its not worth the risk tells me more.

I meet and talk with these people. I know them from previous campaigns. I don't need to dream up conspiracy theories.

[honest.abe]

18. You dont think a single public servant has decided to give it up due to the risk??

[brooklynite]

19. I have no reason to think so.

People who CHOOSE to go into public service, especially in Congress, accept the threats and risks.

[GusBob]

21. The threats dont have to be violence

He is concerned about his ranch which has been in his family for generations, a birthright

Ranching around here is a precarious business. All it would take is one monied interest to say " Sorry Senator, I cant extend your Ag loan, I cant send a guy out for yer combine, cut yer own grain, haul yer own grain, yer grain aint welcome at this train depot, Senator"

Right now though the biggest threat is the drought in these parts

[brooklynite]

22. And that would be a huge political story if it happened.

You're saying 1) that kind of threat wouldn't be reported and 2) it would be impossible to get replacement services?

This is still make up theories.

[GusBob]

23. I'm laughing

You have no idea what country life is like and how Trumpy Big Sandy Montana is. He and his family have to live there and want to live there has they have for generations in a small town community. The very last thing they want or need is a huge political story. Country folk, as a general rule, just want to be left alone. Thats why they live in rural areas.

Things in this neck of the woods have gotten chippy since Trump lost, as a political observer you must be aware of such

Replacement services......he lives in the middle of nowhere. There are zero stoplights in his county, nor the counties to east or west. The county to the North has 6 and then its the border. Whatever replacement services available would have to come from much farther away. As I mentioned farming and ranching is a precarious business with razor thin profit margins. And again from his statement, it sounds like he is worried about the family farm. Can you try and understand that? It is his way of life. A 24 hour, 7 days a week frontier lifestyle. Hell I would bet he never left the state until he became Senator.

In fact, I would bet from personal experience, that flying in and out of remote Montana has become a problem in his professional and personal life. It is extremely difficult these days.

I would completely understand if he retired from the Senate. He doesnt need to be there just to please us.

I have been by his ranch many times. It is very scenic, remote and peaceful country, I am sure he is looking forward to retiring there

[brooklynite]

24. I don't know country life; but I do know politics

…and I know Jon Tester. If you want to convince me that he’s quivering in fear about being unable to run his farm if he doesn’t quietly leave politics you’ll have to do a better job.

[GusBob]

25. Gosh, if he's your buddy why dont you just ask him?

And I didnt say he's quivering in fear

Read the OP again. He is concerned about his family farm clearly indicating there was more than one concern about it he was having regarding it. Im asking you to try and understand that and perhaps why it may be so important to him

My guess, based on living 30 miles from his ranch and spending much time tramping about the countryside, that one of the concerns is the drought, this part of the state is one of the worst pockets in the entire US.

Additionally, a business venture he is peripherally involved in as a supplier just landed a major contract with a large grocery chain. I'd bet he has obligations there.

[Haggard Celine]

2. I like Tester. Hope he stays in for at least one more term.

[montanacowboy]

3. If Tester doesn't run

I can guarantee a crazy bat shit repuke will replace him. Montana is going to the shitter, just look at that POS Governor and all the rest of them. They are destroying Montana.

Gianforte just claimed he and his wife are virgins because they conceived a baby with in-vitro fertilization. Yes the same fucking Gianforte who beat the shit out of a reporter. And a grand carpetbagger to boot.

[2naSalit]

6. And Daines is his business partner.

Governorgreg that is.

I hoe Tester holds on for another term too. But the DNC had better be out here helping get him re-elected.

[Still Sensible]

7. Yes, I believe if he doesn't run

it will very likely flip, and probably to a hyper MAGA asshole. His early polling is challenging I'm sure, it always has been in very red Montana. Unfortunately, I'm guessing it's even more red for the next election, six years since Tester defended his seat in 2018.

Although he won by about 18,000 votes, he was really helped by a 70% turnout in off year 2018, I think the democrats and independents showed up in droves with the dimwit in the White House.

Since Montana is one of the favorite places for the really RW nut jobs of every flavor to move to... it could now be an even harder campaign for Senator Tester in '24.

I was fortunate to have lunch with the senator and a few of my colleagues in OKC when he was chairman of the DSCC. I was a contributor to both his and the DSCC's campaigns.

[In It to Win It]

12. Announce! I'm ready to donate.

[jcgoldie]

26. No way we hold MT without Tester

Will be hard enough in this climate with him running.