Filibuster's future could ride on Tester if he pulls off Montana win - Washington Examiner

Jon Tester is in the midst of perhaps the toughest political fight of his decadeslong career as the chamber’s most vulnerable member.

The Montana Democrat is one of the last lines of defense in his party to preserve the filibuster.

Tester lost his middle three fingers in a meat-grinder accident at his father's butcher shop.

Montana Democrat Jon Tester is on track to be the Senate majority-maker after November 's election.

Tester unseated Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) by less than 1% in 2006 , won reelection in 2012 to Rep. Denny Rehberg by 3.5% in 2012 , and in 2018 emerged with the same margin against Rep. Matt Rosendale , who at the time was state auditor.

The burly, foul-mouthed farmer who sports a flat-top haircut oozes a trait that longtime friends and Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle say has been his key to success.

Tester regularly focuses on key policy issues like agriculture and infrastructure.

Tester cited the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law , which he helped craft, and his 2022 PACT Act as his greatest legislative achievements.

The two will appear on the same ballot for the first time, complicating Tester ’s ability to peel off crucial split-ticket voters.