Former President Donald Trump is set to visit Montana today to lend his support to Republicans in what is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested Senate races of 2024. The state's Democratic incumbent, Sen. Jon Tester, is seeking reelection in a state that Trump won in 2020, making it a key battleground.
Republicans in Montana have rallied behind GOP nominee Tim Sheehy, an entrepreneur and former Navy Seal, thus avoiding a divisive primary battle. The stakes are high, with both parties investing heavily in the race. Tens of millions of dollars have already been spent on early advertising, and more airtime has been booked for the upcoming fall months.
The Montana Senate race has become the second most expensive Senate race of the cycle, with ad spending exceeding $216 million. This figure includes future reservations and is only surpassed by Ohio, where a staggering $322 million has been spent on ad time by both parties.
Democrats have outspent Republicans in the Montana race, with a total of $117 million compared to $98 million. Of the $216 million spent so far, $95 million has already been aired. Democrats have a lead in spending, having allocated $56 million compared to Republicans' $39 million.
Looking ahead, there is still approximately $121 million worth of advertising yet to air. Future reservations are split evenly between the two parties, with Democrats holding $61 million and Republicans with $60 million in reservations.
