Montana's Jon Tester and the Battle for Rural America

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Eric Redman
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In 1970, I was a young aide to Senator Warren G. Magnuson (D-WA), a high-ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, when Senator Mike Mansfield (D-MT), the Senate’s Majority Leader, walked into Magnuson’s office. I rose to leave, but Mansfield graciously motioned for me to stay.

Mansfield had a simple request. “Maggie,” he said, “I wonder if you can help me out. Unemployment is bad in Montana this year, I’m running for re-election, and I’m hoping you’ll get some money to accelerate construction of I-90. Not more money in total, you understand. Just more money to provide extra jobs this summer.”

“Why sure, Mike,” replied Magnuson. “If that’s what you want. But as far as I can tell, I-90 is just the way that people who start out as your constituents end up as my constituents.”

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Opportunities west and east along I-90 have continued to drain Montana of its young people, who generally lean Democratic. Montana’s extraordinary attractions and large tracts of available land have drawn in wealthy Americans from all over the United States. The in-migrants are mostly Republicans, and – it seems – MAGA Republicans at that. These offsetting outflows and inflows spell trouble for three-term Democratic Senator Jon Tester, facing an uphill struggle to hold onto Mansfield’s former seat.

https://www.postalley.org/2024/10/19/montanas-jon-tester-and-the-battle-for-rural-america/