A former Navy SEAL from Montana named Tim Sheehy (R) is “answering the call to serve” and has launched a 2024 bid for a Senate seat in the state, looking to boot Democrat incumbent Senator Jon Tester who is seen as extremely vulnerable in the upcoming race.

Sheehy is also a very successful businessman and a firefighting pilot.

“From inflation to our border to our deficit, America is ready for change. And I think it’s time for a new generation of leaders to step up,” Sheehy told Fox News Digital in an interview making his announcement on Tuesday. “Leaders who understand servant leadership, which is putting the mission before yourself, and leaders who understand how to get results.”

“I think Americans are feeling underrepresented. They’re tired of a government that they don’t feel is working for them,” he stated after being asked why he decided to run against Tester.

(Video Credit: Tim Sheehy)

Sheehy’s race will be one of the most closely watched ones in 2024 because it could potentially determine whether Republicans regain the majority in the Senate.

“One thing I learned in a foxhole in Afghanistan or the belly of a submarine, is when the chips are down there is really only one political party – and that’s American,” the young Republican firebrand proclaimed.

Sheehy served in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, and the Pacific region. He received the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism in Combat and a Purple Heart. He owns several businesses and is married to his wife, Carmen Sheehy, a Marine who served in Afghanistan. They have four children.

“I joined the military right out of high school and did several deployments overseas,” Sheehy said during the interview. “And after I was wounded, I started my company and created a lot of jobs here. And those jobs are all still in service of this country, fighting wildfires and building critical protective gear for our troops.”

#MTSen pic.twitter.com/1BDerZNA3h

— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) June 27, 2023

“We’re in one of the lowest participation rates in history of veterans in Congress. And that’s a huge problem. We want to get combat veterans in and those who understand service back to help fix this government and get things working right,” he noted.

Sheehy is the CEO of veteran-founded Bridger Aerospace, a Montana-based company that builds aerial firefighting aircraft. He remarked that forest management and wildfire suppression is currently “held back by bureaucracy.”

He told Fox News Digital that instead of the federal government dictating land management with “2,000 mile away environmental policies that put a chain and a padlock around our resources and around our forests,” preventative wildfire decisions should be handled locally, using “common sense land management policy that’s rooted in local governance and business principles.”

The veteran also helped grow Ascent Vision Technologies and owns Little Belt Cattle Company, which is a local beef production company.

BREAKING: Tim Sheehy has formally announce his run for Senate against Jon Tester in Montana @SheehyforMT.

Sheehy is a Navy SEAL and the C.E.O of Bridger Aerospace. According to a press release from him, he’s created over 200 Montana jobs.#Mtpol #Mtnews pic.twitter.com/u2x2VGQp32

— Bradley Warren (@bradmwarren) June 27, 2023

“One thing that I’ve done with my businesses is create good, high-paying jobs here in the state,” he asserted. “These aren’t jobs that are dependent on out-of-state visitors or out-of-state revenue. These are jobs that exist here in our state that are creating careers in our state. And I think that’s a very important trajectory we want to put our state economy on.”

“Whether it’s our deficit, whether it’s the southern border or our kid’s education, Montanans don’t want more federal government in their lives every day,” the young conservative said adding that he’s hoping to bring Montanans “commonsense government that runs like a business.”

Tester is a lone Democrat among a solid ballot of Republicans in the state of Montana. Change is about to come to Big Sky Country.

“I actually don’t think Montana has gotten redder,” Sheehy interestingly commented. “I think the Democrat Party has left Montana. I think Montanans have always been socially conservative, hardworking people that have a mindset of accountability and get’er done.”

For Montana voters, the choice could not be more stark. A Democrat dirt farmer who blindly votes the party line. Or a Republican former combat Navy Seal who has created companies and jobs in Montana. Say NO to Democrat insanity and choose liberty instead. Vote Tim Sheehy for… pic.twitter.com/O0PtyImivM

— UltraMAGA Hillbilly (@TruthingtonPost) June 27, 2023

The problem is that in a state that is based on morality, hard work, and independence, Tester wants “more government, not less” according to Sheehy.

“Democrats made their blueprint for America incredibly clear during COVID, and that is more government, not less,” he told Fox News. “Jon Tester has been in lockstep with that vision his whole life. And now I think it’s going to be hard for him to run away from that path because it’s very clear.”

“Montanans can know that I’ve laid everything on the line for this country. I’ve been wounded in combat. I’ve led hundreds of missions and put it all on the line for all Americans, Republicans, and Democrats,” the Republican candidate contended.

“We have serious challenges as a nation, and I think we need serious people who want to bring common sense solutions to actually move the country forward,” Sheehy said. “I think Americans and Montanans, who are an incredibly practical people, they just want things to get done, and they want a leader who can actually bring common sense solutions to some of our serious problems.”

Still can’t believe Montana has Tester as a senator. Montana FFS.

— Kendall Morris (@ksmorris23) June 27, 2023

The Montana businessman laid out in a press release his “positive vision for the future of our country” that includes standing “against Jon Tester and the Democratic Party’s agenda of inflation, open borders, criminals over cops, drugs and violence in our communities, and a woke culture impacting our classrooms and military bases.”

“Jon Tester has been in office for nearly a quarter of a century, and he’s lost sight of our Montana values,” he declared. “Like any good politician, Jon talks one way but votes another. Montanans have had enough of these career politicians who are full of empty promises and are not representing our Montana values. It’s time for a new generation of leadership to rebuild America.”

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