'Plane crasher' vs. 'Maryland Matt': Dems might get dream matchup in GOP primary

Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale has essentially stopped pretending that he's undecided about seeking a rematch against Sen. Jon Tester—to the consternation of the Republican establishment, and to the delight of Democrats.

"I'm going to win the primary," Rosendale told white nationalist Steve Bannon in a Thursday podcast appearance. "I will be the nominee for the United States Senate in Montana."

The congressman's team quickly said that he was speaking only hypothetically about what would happen if he "were to run," but no one else seems to be treating an eventual launch as a mere hypothetical. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz recently tweeted, "Send @MattForMontana to the US Senate!" and is campaigning with his House colleague across the state Friday and Saturday. Bannon himself also said at the end of his interview that he "may have a very special announcement next week with Congressman Rosendale."

The NRSC and its chief—Montana's junior senator, Steve Daines—have long made it clear that they want wealthy businessman Tim Sheehy as their nominee instead of Rosendale, who lost his 2018 battle with Tester 50-47. Democrats, by contrast, would love to have another shot at Rosendale, a far-right lawmaker who was one of the eight House Republicans who voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy.