In a surprising turn of events, House Speaker Mike Johnson has reportedly withdrawn his endorsement for Rep. Matt Rosendale in the upcoming US Senate race in Montana, according to two sources privy to the matter. This information was relayed to several Republicans on Thursday morning.
Johnson had previously discussed his plans with a senator and a congressman. This unexpected reversal follows an earlier report by Punchbowl that Johnson was gearing up to support Rosendale, a move that sparked immediate backlash, according to sources.
This decision would have placed Johnson in direct conflict with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, both of whom are backing Republican candidate Tim Sheehy in his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in a race deemed critical for the GOP’s quest to regain Senate control.
There is growing concern among Republicans that Rosendale, a staunch right-wing Republican with a history of statewide losses, could jeopardize their chances of securing the seat in November if he wins the primary. While Rosendale has not officially announced his Senate candidacy, he is expected to do so shortly.
In a statement to CNN, Johnson’s team confirmed that while the Speaker will contribute to Rosendale’s campaign, he will refrain from making any official endorsements. “The Speaker has committed to sending a contribution to Congressman Rosendale, as he has for other House colleagues and friends, but he has not made any endorsements in Senate races,” said Greg Steele, the communications director for Johnson’s political team. “He is singularly focused on growing the House majority.”
Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, confirmed that he had discussed the Speaker’s plans with him. This story will be updated as more developments come to light.