PAID DIGITAL AD CAMPAIGN: Maryland Matt Rosendale is “All Hat,” No Cattle
Damning Ad Featuring Real Montana Farmers and Ranchers Talking About Fake Rancher Rosendale
Billings—This week, the campaign for Big Sandy farmer and United States Senator Jon Tester launched a new six-figure digital ad buy, exposing how Maryland Matt Rosendale misled Montanans by claiming to be a rancher—despite never owning any cattle. Check out the digital ad and website at www.allhatmatt.com.
For months, Rosendale has campaigned on his “rancher” experience, despite hardly ever referencing that experience prior to this run for office. Public records showed that the wealthy East Coast developer bought a $2 million Montana ranch, but he has never reported actually owning any cows and doesn’t have an active livestock brand.
He doesn’t appear to have ever used the cattle brand that came with the purchase of the land, and he allowed the brand to expire at first opportunity. He even filmed an ad featuring cows and a red barn—neither of which appear to exist on his own property.
When asked to explain, Rosendale did what he does best: refused to comment. In fact, Rosendale doesn’t even appear to know the difference between a farmer and a rancher.
“Matt Rosendale has spent months dodging questions about the fact that he misled Montanans about his ‘rancher’ experience,” said Christie Roberts, campaign manager for Montanans for Tester. “Rosendale can play dress up in his brand-new Carhartt jackets and pose in front of other people’s red barns, but it won’t cover up his record of hurting Montana farmers and ranchers. Rosendale really is ‘all hat, no cattle.’”
Rosendale has continued to support trade policies that are bad for Montana agriculture, such as tariffs. Montana farmers and ranchers have already suffered the consequences of the Rosendale-supported trade war.
Rather than take their concerns seriously, Rosendale went on national television to say that he was okay with Montana agriculture being used as a bargaining chip, stating that farmers’ suffering is “all part of this negotiation process.”
As the Senate’s only working farmer, Jon Tester knows what it takes to make a living on the land in Montana. Every day, Tester relentlessly advocates for farmers and ranchers in the Senate.
Tester has successfully fought back against attempts to close Farm Service Agencies, eliminate rural development leadership, and cut funds for critical agriculture research facilities. Recently, Tester fought for a Farm Bill that works for Montana farmers and ranchers, including critical provisions that protect crop insurance and invest in rural communities.
Tester has also fought to cut down on burdensome regulations for farmers and ranchers, and has protected them from unfair international trade policies.
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