Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy and Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Tester engaged in a heated debate on Sunday, marking their first public confrontation in a contest that could sway the balance of power in the Senate. Sheehy, positioning himself as an outsider who moved to Montana to start a business, faced criticism from Tester over concerns about rising property taxes driven by wealthy newcomers.
Tester accused Sheehy of exacerbating housing shortages and escalating taxes for Montana residents due to increased home values. In response, Sheehy blamed Democrats for economic pressures faced by households, citing inflation and insufficient actions by Tester and President Joe Biden.
