EXCLUSIVE — A veterans outside group is launching a seven-figure television and digital ad buy in Montana, slamming Rep. Matt Rosendale’s (R-MT) record on veterans issues while in Congress as he pursues a Senate run in Big Sky Country.
The group, called Veterans On Duty, released the ad, titled “Our Veterans Deserve Better,” on Thursday, claiming the Montana congressman fails to support veterans and uses “them for political games.”
“He voted against pay raises for our troops and opposed ending vaccine mandates,” a narrator says in the 30-second commercial. “Here in Montana, he blocked programs to make it easier for vets to get the care they need, the homes they deserve, and the opportunity they were promised.”
The ad is referring to Rosendale’s December vote against the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorized the biggest pay raise for troops in more than two decades. Rosendale objected to the measure after he expressed concerns the bill didn’t do enough to block the Pentagon’s diversity initiatives as well as its abortion travel and transgender healthcare policies.
“Unfortunately the D.C. cartel, comprised of Senate Democrats, Senate Republicans, and Joe Biden, rewrote this legislation to use our military to implement their radical agenda by including taxpayer funding for abortion, gender reassignment surgeries, drag shows on military bases, and Green New Deal provisions,” Rosendale said following the vote. “This legislation also stripped my amendment, which would have prevented American citizens from being indefinitely detained without charge or trial.”
The ad’s claim on vaccines appears to be directed at Rosendale’s “no” vote on the 2023 NDAA, which ended the military’s COVID-19 mandate. A Rosendale spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment, but a press release from his office similarly cited “woke” provisions in the legislation.
Rosendale announced his Senate run last week, entering a primary to eventually take on vulnerable incumbent Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), a Democrat whom he previously lost to by 3 points in 2018. His failed run has fueled concerns from national Republicans over his viability in another general election race. Institutional support has instead gone to Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL.
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“This is just the beginning. Veterans On Duty will invest substantial resources to ensure that our veterans, service members, and their families maintain a voice in Washington,” said Jeremy Hunt, chairman of VOD. “When politicians like congressman Rosendale fail to provide the support we need, it’s our duty as Veterans to speak up.”
Outside groups have already made early ad reservations in Montana, where Tester is facing what could be his most difficult reelection campaign yet in a state former President Donald Trump easily won twice. So far, Montana has seen $89.4 million in ad spending from groups on both sides of the aisle, the most of any state, according to AdImpact.
