Unraveling the Truth: Lobbyist Influence in Montana's Senate Race

In the heated race for the U.S. Senate seat in Montana, the issue of lobbyist influence has taken center stage. As the "Truth Be Told" series delves into the claims made by both candidates, Tim Sheehy and Jon Tester, it becomes clear that the role of lobbyist donations is a complex and nuanced topic that deserves a closer examination.

Uncovering the Influence of Lobbyist Dollars

Lobbyist Contributions: A Closer Look

The debate surrounding lobbyist contributions in the Montana Senate race has been a contentious one. Sheehy's campaign has attempted to tie Tester to lobbyists, claiming that he is the "number-one recipient of lobbyist campaign cash." However, a closer examination of the data reveals a more nuanced picture.According to the nonpartisan research group OpenSecrets, lobbyist contributions are not the dominant force in the current political landscape. Sarah Bryner, the research director at OpenSecrets, explains that in the post-Citizens United era, "lobbyists really are a fairly small portion of the money in politics pie now." While Bryner acknowledges that lobbyist contributions warrant scrutiny due to the nature of their profession, she emphasizes that the overall dollar amount from this source is relatively small compared to other sources of political funding.

The Numbers: Tester and Sheehy's Lobbyist Donations

OpenSecrets tracks two different breakdowns of lobbyist contributions. The first includes money from federally registered lobbyists who have actively lobbied Congress in the last year. In this calculation, Tester emerges as the top recipient for the 2024 election cycle, with $489,440 in contributions. The second calculation, which includes "members of the lobbying industry," places Tester as the number-two recipient, with $495,260 in contributions.In contrast, Sheehy's campaign has received $109,676 from registered lobbyists, according to the first calculation. The second calculation, which only includes the top 20 recipients among Senate candidates, does not list Sheehy, but OpenSecrets estimates that he has raised approximately $147,000 from the lobbying industry overall.It's important to note that these numbers cover the period of 2023 and the first six months of 2024, and do not include the latest round of federal fundraising reports, in which Tester reported raising an additional $32.1 million and Sheehy an additional $9.7 million.

The Broader Context: Lobbyist Donations and Political Influence

Bryner explains that the trends in lobbyist donations remain relatively stable, with contributions typically going to sitting lawmakers, especially those in leadership positions and smaller-state Democratic senators. This is because these lawmakers often lack the local funding sources that their counterparts in larger states can access.While the specific numbers and rankings may change, the overall pattern suggests that lobbyist contributions are not the dominant factor in the Montana Senate race. In fact, the combined fundraising of Tester and Sheehy, which has exceeded $100 million, further emphasizes that money from lobbyists has played a relatively minor role in this high-stakes contest.

Responses from the Campaigns

Both campaigns have responded to the issue of lobbyist contributions. Tester's campaign has accused Sheehy of leveraging his own lobbyist ties for personal gain, stating that he "started his own lobbying shop and buttered up bureaucrats and politicians to line his own pockets." In contrast, Sheehy's campaign has claimed that Tester is "bought and paid for by D.C. insiders" and has "gotten rich the last 18 years by selling off his vote to the highest bidder."These competing narratives highlight the ongoing debate over the role of money in politics and the influence of special interests. As the Montana Senate race continues to unfold, the issue of lobbyist contributions will likely remain a point of contention, with both candidates seeking to shape the public's perception of their opponent's ties to the lobbying industry.