Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) has been making calls to House conservatives asking for money for a future Senate run, per multiple GOP lawmakers and Republican insiders. The filing deadline is less than two months away.
Rosendale has also been dialing up vendors for campaign materials and eyeing potential staff hires, sources said.
One Freedom Caucus member told us they already donated to Rosendale. The contribution goes to Rosendale’s House campaign, which can then be used for a Senate race if Rosendale jumps into that race.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) confirmed Rosendale reached out to him, but he has not yet donated. Norman told us he plans to support Rosendale.
Rosendale is a vocal member of the House Freedom Caucus and is one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
But Senate GOP leaders are strongly opposed to Rosendale’s potential candidacy, seeing as how he already lost to Democrat Jon Tester in 2018. Senate Republican leaders and the NRSC have thrown their support to Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and wealthy business executive.
Here’s Aashka Varma, Rosendale’s deputy chief of staff:
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) will be in Bozeman, Mont., on Friday for a rally with Rosendale, according to the Daily Caller.
— Mica Soellner and John Bresnahan
