Senator Jon Tester Has Not Yet Backed Kamala Harris for Presidential Bid
- Senator Jon Tester from Montana has not formally endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for her presidential campaign.
- This is surprising given his history of supporting her in previous elections.
- The absence of his endorsement raises questions about party unity as the election approaches.
Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester has yet to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, despite their long-standing relationship and his role in recruiting her to the Senate. While several prominent Democrats have publicly backed Harris following President Biden's decision not to seek reelection, Tester's office has only issued a statement thanking Biden for his service and emphasizing the importance of an open nomination process. When asked if he would wait until the Democratic National Convention in August to endorse Harris, his office did not provide a clear answer. Tester's connection to Harris dates back to 2015 when he was the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and played a key role in her Senate recruitment. In previous statements, Tester has referred to Harris as a "friend" and expressed support for her vice presidential nomination in 2020. However, critics, including NRSC Spokeswoman Maggie Abboud, have pointed out the inconsistency in Tester's current stance, suggesting he is attempting to distance himself from Harris as he faces a challenging reelection campaign. As one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the Senate, Tester is running for reelection in a state that heavily favored Trump in the 2020 election. In light of this, he has been working to present a more moderate image to appeal to a broader voter base. The Cook Political Report has classified Tester's race as a "toss up," indicating the competitive nature of the upcoming election.