The Libertarian Who Could Hold the Key to the Senate – Newsweek
Libertarian Sid Daoud might have a slim chance of winning the U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in Montana in the 2024 election.
But the exceptionally tight race could determine overall control of the closely divided Senate and that could mean that the IT worker and state Libertarian Party Chair stands to play a pivotal role in shaping America's political future. Just as a third-party candidate could yet help shape the presidential ballot this year, the same goes for some some key congressional races as well.
"I think one of the things that has surprised me the most in recent years is that I'm actually stuck in the rational middle," Daoud told Newsweek.
"I always thought of myself as some kind of radical person that wanted to get back to our Constitution, wanted to do things that maybe wasn't the norm, but I'm finding that I'm stuck in the middle with a bunch of folks that have been kind of left behind by the two big parties," he said.
With Senator Joe Manchin's retirement, West Virginia may go red this year, meaning, Democrats could control 50 seats in the Senate. But to reach that, Democrats must defend seats in the swing states of Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as well as the red states of Ohio and Montana.
Although Montana voted for former President Donald Trump by a more than 16-point margin in 2020, its Democratic Senator, Jon Tester, won in 2018 by a margin of over three and a half percentage points. He will be running for his fourth term and currently appears poised to face Bridger Aerospace CEO and ex-Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, who is vying to represent the Republican Party.
One of the most recent available polls, from J.L. Partners in August, found Tester trailing Sheehy 46 percent to 42 percent, but that was before Daoud entered the race in November.
James Johnson, co-founder of the polling firm said that 38 percent of respondents identified as independentuniquely high for any stateand that Daoud might draw more votes from the Republican candidate, especially if voters feel emboldened to vote for a third-party candidate because Montana is so firmly Republican on the presidential ballot.
"There's potential for that third party effect to have a slightly higher impact in Montana," Johnson told Newsweek.
By analyzing the data to identify libertarian-minded voters through isolating those who reported school choice, government spending, and second amendment rights as their top priorities, Johnson found that such individuals constituted 17 percent of those polled and that among that group, Sheehy led Tester 57 percent to 30 percent.
Much may depend on the issues that resonate in the election. Democrats are seeking to put abortion rights near the top of their 2024 messaging after apparent success on that issue in 2022 midterms, and that could also mean that those who support limited government could turn away from Republicans.
"In Montana, we don't like people telling us what to do, especially the federal government," Tester told Newsweek. "What the Republicans are doing with choice, telling people that they're going to make health care decisions for them, I don't think it sells in Montana."
Sheehy did not respond to Newsweek's request for comment, but according to his campaign website, the former Navy SEAL, who was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medal, is "proudly Pro-Life." His political positions largely align with his party's national platform, but his pro-military and anti-abortion positions conflict with the libertarian views of Daoud.
Eric Raile, a political science professor at Montana State University, told Newsweek that if abortion is framed as a rights issue, it might resonate more in Montana than elsewhere.
"Prior to Roe v. Wade, the parties had different positions on abortion, and the Republican position was really more of a libertarian one that government shouldn't be involved in regulating that sort of thing. That's a long time ago at this point, and maybe that memory is gone, but it was part of the libertarian way of thinking."
Daoud, who's met Tester and views him as a "genuine person" and "amicable" listener whom he respects, considers abortion one of the few subjects where the two have common ground.
"Personally, I believe that life begins at conception," Daoud said, "but the one thing that doesn't put me in line with everybody else that gives that narrative is that I don't believe that government has any place in this decision."
The Republican-controlled Montana legislature attempted to effectively bar third party candidates from the Senate race last spring by introducing a bill that would have altered the primary to ensure that only the two top vote getters advanced to the general election. Daoud and Montana Democrats spoke out against the effort and lawmakers ultimately shelved the bill.
Conventional wisdom states that libertarians pull more votes from Republicans, but Daoud said he's not out to spoil either major political party's chances and believes that a desire from Americans to embrace third party candidates offers him a real chance at flipping the seat.
Daoud is a strong critic of the two-party system and believes the major parties have spent too much time engaging in polarizing feuds. As a veteran who opposes American involvement in foreign wars, he also sees that as a differentiator from the other candidates alongside his determination to curb government spending.
Raile said that while Montana prefers limited government, the nationalization of politics and rise of political polarization make for a less independent electorate that is more likely to place party affiliation above policy considerations.
Rural America has become intertwined with the populist platform of the Republican Party under Trump, and Montana ranks among the country's most rural states. These trends have been on the rise for some time, but the independent streak of Montana has allowed Tester to defy the odds.
However, since Tester's 2018 reelection, Montana's population has grown from nearly 1,062,000 people to roughly 1,123,000 people, according to USA Facts, an almost 6 percent change. While Raile said the data on this trend isn't firm, anecdotally, many of these people are so-called conservative refugees from blue states, people who generally adhere to Republican Party values over traditional Montanan independence.
"A lot of Montanans like to think of themselves as being independent," Raile told Newsweek. "When you ask people, a big chunk of the population in Montana will say that they're political independents, but their behavior often tells a different story. So, I think there is this streak of 'leaving us alone,' but I think it's become politicized, and so I think it's really more of a conservative anti-federal government streak at this point."
Montana nonetheless receives more federal funds than it pays in taxes. Due to this dynamic, Tester said voters want legislation like the Farm Bill, which outlines U.S. agricultural policy and provides funding to farmers, to pass.
Daoud said that he'd "love" to have Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale, a member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus and potential challenger to Sheehy, join the Libertarian Party, saying "he votes very much like a libertarian."
Rosendale has opposed Ukraine funding and increases to the federal budget. Given that he represents half the stateMontana holds two seats in the Houseit appears likely that some Rosendale supporters would back Daoud's candidacy.
While Rosendale would not say whether he believes his supporters would favor Daoud over Sheehy, he told Newsweek "it's very flattering" that Daoud would like to see him join the Libertarian Party and said he enjoyed hearing that the "independent thinkers from around the state support me."
In addition to combating the state's possible shift to the right, Tester faces the additional burden of running during a presidential election year. While Tester has done so before, winning in 2012 with Obama at the top of the ticket, the popularity of Trump and unpopularity of BidenReal Clear Politics has Trump winning 49-28 percent in the statewill no doubt affect the race.
Furthermore, the rising national debt, grim public polling around the economy, and record migration numbers at the border all stand as issues that the Republican Party will leverage.
Raile said after his 17 years in the Senate, challengers to Tester would try to paint him as a Washington selloutTester is the Democratic Party's second highest recipient of lobbying contributions, according to Open Secrets.
However, the Montana Democrat denies being influenced by lobbying money. Tester cultivates a down-to-earth character, overseeing the farm that has been in his family for generations alongside his Senate duties, dropping the occasional expletive and poking fun of the fact he has only two fingers on his left hand after a childhood accident grinding meat.
Tester said he acknowledges that Daoud's values will resonate for many in freedom-loving Montana too.
"They're all libertarians. I mean, Democrats, Republicans, they're all libertarians in the end," he said.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
See the original post:
The Libertarian Who Could Hold the Key to the Senate - Newsweek
- Will the Trumpification of the Libertarian Party Actually Hurt Donald Trump? - The Dispatch - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- 'The Zionists Always Get Their Way': Libertarian Party of Michigan Posts Antisemitic Cartoon Depicting Jews as Puppet ... - Algemeiner - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- How FreedomWorks Paved the Way for Trumpismand for Its Own Demise - The New Republic - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- The Tea Party Movement Died With a Whimper - The Dispatch - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- R.F.K. Jr., Invited to Libertarian Convention, Seeks Trump Debate - The New York Times - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Knapp: No, Trump and Kennedy aren't Libertarian candidates - Bay to Bay News - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Long (Political) Covid - Kevin D. Williamson - The Dispatch - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- No, Trump and Kennedy aren't libertarian candidates - Restoration NewsMedia - Restoration NewsMedia - May 13th, 2024 [May 13th, 2024]
- Libertarians at odds over Donald Trump headlining their convention - The Washington Post - The Washington Post - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenges Donald Trump to debate at Libertarian Convention - The Associated Press - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Trump's MAGA takeover of the Libertarian Party - The Boston Globe - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- The Libertarian Party Crackup - by Tyler Groenendal - The Bulwark - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Cartoon: The 24 Types of Libertarian - Daily Kos - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Trump should debate RFK Jr at the libertarian convention - Washington Examiner - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Four Obstacles Facing Libertarian Proponents of Border Controls The Future of Freedom Foundation - The Future of Freedom Foundation - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Trump and RFK Jr. are both set to address the Libertarian convention. Kennedy wants to debate. - MarketWatch - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Trump's Libertarian Convention Speech a 'Head-Scratcher'for the Libertarians - The American Conservative - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Trump Talks to Libertarians - Splice Today - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- What was the tea party? What is Trumpism?: On populism and FreedomWorks - Washington Examiner - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Donald Trump Will Speak at the Libertarian Convention. It's Not as Weird as It Sounds. Mother Jones - Mother Jones - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Donald Trump courts an increasingly friendly Libertarian Party - Semafor - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Why is Trump really speaking at the Libertarian conference? RFK Jr's polls - The Independent - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump will speak at the Libertarian National Convention as he woos independent voters - The Associated Press - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump to address Libertarian Party convention - The Hill - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Is the Libertarian Party Too Bigoted Even for Trump? - The Daily Beast - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump will speak at the Libertarian National Convention as he woos independent voters - KEYT - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump to address Libertarian National Convention this month - SRN News - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump, Wooing Libertarian Voters, Agrees To Speak at Party's Convention as Concern Waxes on the Right Over RFK Jr. - The New York Sun - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Donald Trump speaking at Libertarian national convention Deseret News - Deseret News - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump to speak at Libertarian National Convention - Washington Examiner - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump will speak at the Libertarian National Convention as he woos independent voters - PinalCentral - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump will speak at the Libertarian National Convention, addressing a party linked to Kennedy Jr. - Indiana Gazette - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- US libertarian party says Trump accepted invite to address national convention - United News of India - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump to speak at Libertarian National Convention - Just The News - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Trump will speak at the Libertarian National Convention, addressing a party linked to Kennedy Jr. - Times Daily - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Donald Trump Courts Libertarian Voters at National Convention - The Stock Dork - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- The Spectacular Implosion of the Libertarian Party Mother Jones - Mother Jones - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- RFK Jr. says he wont run as Libertarian - The Hill - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Opposing random searches and upholding Libertarian principles - The West Volusia Beacon - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- UFC Fighter Delights Very Online Libertarians With Shoutout to Ludwig von Mises in Victory Speech - The New York Sun - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Is RFK Jr. a good fit for the Libertarian party? - UnHerd - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. flirts with the Libertarian nomination - POLITICO - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- One Hundred Days of Libertarian Populism in Argentina - The American Conservative - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- RFK Jr. in talks to run on the Libertarian Party ticket to ease ballot challenges - Washington Examiner - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- When Will the Libertarian Party Have Its Moment? - Econlib - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- RFK Jr. in talks to run on the Libertarian Party ticket to ease ballot challenges - Colorado Springs Gazette - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- Opinion | 100 Days of Javier Milei - The New York Times - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- Libertarians and Socialists and Jill SteinOh, My! - The New Yorker - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- The Libertarian Party: Too Principled to Win? - Econlib - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- A Brief History of The Spark: A Journal of Contemporary Anarchist Thought - CounterPunch - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Libertarian Greg Tlapek provides alternative choice in District 147 House race - Southeast Missourian - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Review: Sheriff in 'Fargo' Gives Libertarians a Bad Name - Reason - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Libertarian legal nonprofit takes over New York lawsuit alleging discrimination against white men - Green Market Report - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Where Does the Term Libertarian Come From Anyway? | Jeffrey A. Tucker - Foundation for Economic Education - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Could the Libertarian Party nominate RKF Jr.? - NewsNation Now - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Libertarian Views / Father Amorth, Exorcist - Coast To Coast AM - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- RFK JR still flirting with Libertarian Party run? Third parties seek ballot access - The Hill - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Nate Silver: Libertarians Are the Real Liberals - Reason - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- The (Libertarian) Case for Slavery Reparations - Foundation for Economic Education - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Libertarian view of bill aimed at independent Kansas candidates: It's about GOP election losses - Kansas Reflector - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Learning From History: The Pitfalls of Prohibition Then and Now - Libertarian Party - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- How Texans can vote in the Green or Libertarian party conventions - KSAT San Antonio - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Struggling To Get on Ballots, RFK Jr. Teases Running on a Libertarian Party Ticket - The New York Sun - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- RFK Jr. Open To Libertarian Party Run - The Daily Wire - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Argentina's new libertarian president and unions are headed for a showdown - NPR - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Chair of Lake County Libertarian Party appointed to St. John Economic Development Committee - The Times of Northwest Indiana - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- 'Slum priests' slam new libertarian government in Pope's native Argentina - Crux Now - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- A Police State Is Not Libertarian The Future of Freedom Foundation - The Future of Freedom Foundation - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Smug world elites should fear this chainsaw-wielding libertarian - he has exposed them - The Telegraph - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Matt Welch: What's Wrong With Populism? - Reason - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Libertarians form an official political party in Maine - Press Herald - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Libertarian party in Maine qualified for upcoming presidential elections - WGME - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Libertarian Party of Iowa Makes History with Presidential Straw Poll at Iowa Caucus - KSOM - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- A Beacon of Activism and Liberty for Modern Libertarians - Libertarian Party - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Argentinas far-right libertarian president warns in Davos, the West is in danger - Peoples Dispatch - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Chase Oliver Libertarian Party Iowa caucus result - 11Alive.com WXIA - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Libertarian Party is confirmed as qualified party in Maine - FOX Bangor/ABC 7 News and Stories - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Libertarians in the desertan update - OnlySky Media - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Libertarian Party of Iowa announces the winner of its statewide Presidential caucus - KIMT 3 - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Jennifer Burns: Why Milton Friedman Matters More Than Ever - Reason - December 23rd, 2023 [December 23rd, 2023]
Tags: