2024 Senate: Montana
Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 9:07 pm
Helena Ind. Rec.: GOP lawmakers target Tester re-election bid with 'jungle primary' bill:
The theory being that a top-two-only general election will motivate third-party members to vote for the Republican candidate (or stay home).
This bill is for only the Senate and only 2024. In other words, it is aimed at Tester.The last Democrat occupying a statewide office in Montana may have an even tighter path to re-election in 2024, under legislation advanced by Republican state lawmakers Monday night.
Senate Bill 566 would establish a top-two primary election for U.S. Senate next year, when Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is up for re-election. It passed an initial vote 27-23 with no Democratic support on Monday, and must clear a final vote in the Senate to move to the House.
It would establish a version of a “jungle primary,” in which every candidate, regardless of party, runs in the same primary election. The top two vote-getters would advance to the general election, meaning third parties would almost certainly be kept off the ballot.
The theory being that a top-two-only general election will motivate third-party members to vote for the Republican candidate (or stay home).