Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii): ‘Jon fights hard for Montana Tribes’

The Democratic leader of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is standing up for one of his colleagues amid controversy over racially-tinged remarks made by a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.

In a September 2, 2024, post on social media, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) shared a Native News Online story about Republican Tim Sheehy, who has repeatedly linked Native people to alcohol while campaigning in Montana. The Democratic lawmaker drew a contrast between the GOP candidate and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), who is running for re-election, 

"Jon sits on the Senate Committee with plenary authority over the relationship between native people and the U.S. Government and I’m the Chair. No one cares more or fights harder for his tribes than Jon Tester," Schatz said in the post. "This race is huge for that reason."

In a separate post, Schatz shared a fundraising link for Tester's re-election campaign and again made a distinction between Tester and Sheehy, who is a newcomer to political office.

"Jon is from Montana so he doesn’t talk about anyone like that - especially not the members of the 12 tribal nations in Montana," Schatz wrote.

"Jon fights hard for Montana Tribes and doesn’t talk about them like he just got off a private jet from California," Schatz said, calling out Sheehy for his out-of-state ties.

Tester, who is seeking a fourth term in office, has not publicly posted about Sheehy's remarks, which were first published in audio form on August 29 by Char-Koosta News, owned and operated by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The Montana Democratic Party has not publicly responded either.

Sheehy has not addressed his remarks, which were recorded at four different campaign events. He described Native people as being "drunk at 8am" and claimed that beer cans have been thrown at him while on the Crow Reservation, home to the Crow Tribe.

Cook Political Report rates the race between Sheehy and Tester as a "Toss Up."