Businessman and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy announced Tuesday that he is seeking the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in Montana that is considered a must-win for the GOP.

Mr. Sheehy, the CEO of Montana-based aerial firefighting company Bridger Aerospace, is the first Republican to enter the closely-watched race to take on longtime Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Tester, who is one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the upcoming election cycle. 

“I’ve proudly fought for our country to defend our freedoms, and I’m once again answering the call to serve,” Mr. Sheehy said. “I will fight to bring real leadership to Washington to save our country and protect our Montana way of life.”

Montana’s Senate race is one of three national races — the others are West Virginia and Ohio — with Democratic incumbents vying for survival in GOP-leaning states. Mr. Tester is the only Democrat in Montana to hold a statewide office. 

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines of Montana endorsed Mr. Sheehy’s bid for the seat that could clinch a GOP majority in the narrowly-split Senate.

Read more from the original publication HERE.