Jon Tester shares message of support from Native actress Lily Gladstone

Award-winning Native actress Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet / Nez Perce) is turning out the vote for Democrat Jon Tester as he seeks re-election to the U.S. Senate.

Gladstone endorsed Tester at a rally in Missoula, Montana, on November 2, 2024. In a video shared by his campaign, she explains why she is supporting the long-time member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

"You know, really, the only politician that I will turn out for in such a way is this guy because he turns out for us," Gladstone says of Tester. "He's turned out for Indian Country historically for decades."

"At this point, there's a reason that he's been in the Senate seat for so long, and we can't take that for granted," Gladstone continues. "It's so important that we keep him there. The power of our vote collectively, as a people, we know, is a very powerful and important one. Indian Country, in Montana particularly, we kind of determine the outcome."

Tester, who is seeking a fourth term in office, is facing Republican Tim Sheehy, a newcomer to Montana politics. Despite Sheehy's derogatory and controversial statements about Native people and women, he has mounted a strong challenge with the support of high-ranking Republicans -- many of them who have served in the Senate alongside Tester.

During the Montana PBS debate on September 30, 2024, Tester challenged Sheehy to apologize for repeatedly linking Native people to alcohol during the campaign. Sheehy has refused to do so, even as tribal leaders and other groups and advocates have called for an apology.

As the campaign has come to a close, Tester has shared posts of his trips to Indian Country on social media. They include stops on the Blackfeet Nation, the Flathead Reservation, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Rocky Boy's Reservation and the Fort Belknap Reservation.