"Montana's Hard-Right Lawmaker Threatens Republican Senate Plans"

Montana Republicans aim to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in the 2024 election, but face internal division as conservative U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale enters the race against party leaders' wishes. Rosendale's grassroots support clashes with Senate Republican leaders' backing of a former Navy SEAL, potentially undermining the party's strategy to take control of the Senate. The primary battle could drain Republican funds and alienate independent voters, with Tester's vulnerability increasing in a state that has shifted sharply right in recent years.