Republican Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy was recorded in 2023 saying that the party needs to do a better job at winning over young women, who he claims have been “indoctrinated” on the issue of abortion. Sheehy expressed frustration that young women are seen as single-issue voters on abortion and falsely claimed that the Democratic Party supports killing babies shortly after they’re born. The audio matches quotes recently reported by a Montana news outlet.
Sheehy’s opponent, Democratic incumbent Jon Tester, criticized Sheehy’s remarks, calling him out of touch with Montanans and accusing him of wanting politicians to have the final say over healthcare. Sheehy’s campaign defended his position on abortion, stating that he is pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. They also criticized Tester for not supporting the Born Alive Survivors Act.
The Montana Senate race is highly contested and could determine which party controls the Senate. The Republican Party needs a net gain of two seats to take control, or one if former President Trump wins the White House. Abortion-related measures are on the ballot in 10 states in the upcoming election, with Democrats using the issue to mobilize voters. Sheehy’s comments are similar to those made by another Republican Senate candidate in Ohio, Bernie Moreno, who also criticized suburban women for being single-issue voters on abortion. A spokesperson for Moreno described his remarks as a joke about how the left and media portray women voters.
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