Montana GOP Senate nominee Tim Sheehy said young women are “single-issue voters” on abortion and young voters are “indoctrinated” to support liberal causes, according to audio of the candidate speaking at campaign events last year.
The audio reveals additional comments that Sheehy made at campaign stops in 2023 beyond the previously reported ones he made mocking Crow Tribe members. These newly reported comments concern abortion, which has been a rallying issue for supporters of abortion rights and a potential vulnerability for Republicans following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Sheehy is heard saying at one point that he met with a group of younger voters a few months prior to talk about various issues, and one of them was abortion because that is the “No. 1 concern” for women ages 19-30.
“That’s all they want to talk about. They are single-issue voters. And it’s all about pro-choice, pro-choice. Well, ‘Republicans are pro-life. They want to, they want to take my rights away and lock me up and throw me in prison.’ And I said, well, are you familiar with, with what the Democrats’ position is on abortion?” Sheehy said.
He cited the Women’s Health Care Act of 2021, which passed the House but failed to advance in the Senate and which is supported by Sheehy’s opponent, incumbent Sen. Jon Tester (D). Sheehy claimed the bill would protect abortion access “up to and including the moment of birth” and protect doctors who perform abortions after birth.
“That’s not an abortion after they’re born, it’s called murder. Like, that is the position of the American Democrat Party,” he said. “That’s the most extreme abortion legislation in the world, bar none.”
Sheehy’s remarks were first reported by the Char-Koosta News.
The legislation would not legalize abortion up through birth but rather prevent the government from prohibiting abortion access before the point of viability, which is usually around 24 weeks of gestation. It would also prevent government interference after viability if a medical provider deems it necessary to protect the life or health of the mother.
Tester slammed Sheehy’s comments in a statement on the social platform X, saying the Republican was criticizing young women for “caring about their freedom to make their own decisions.”
“Tim Sheehy believes Montana women can’t think for themselves. I think that’s total bull. Women know their health and their bodies better than any out-of-state millionaire,” he wrote.
A spokesperson for Sheehy’s campaign said Tester is “in full desperation mode and the liberal media in DC is falling for it hook, line and sinker by pushing a fake story because they know if we are talking about Tester’s votes that have given us record-high inflation, soaring home prices, and a wide-open southern border he would be losing more than he already is.”
“Tim has been crystal clear that he is pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. Full stop,” the spokesperson said.
“What we should be discussing is that every time Tester could have supported the commonsense Born Alive Survivors Act, which would require medical professionals to intervene if a baby survives a botched abortion, Tester sided with radical liberals and voted no,” the spokesperson continued. “That is the extreme position here and why Tester knows he is toast come November.”
Sheehy’s comments mirror ones that Ohio GOP Senate nominee Bernie Moreno made calling many Democrats, especially suburban women, “single-issue voters” on abortion, which he said is “a little crazy.”
Former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley slammed Moreno for those comments, saying “Are you trying to lose the election?”
A Moreno spokesperson said the comments were a “tongue-in-cheek joke” about the media acting like the only issue women care about is abortion.
Sheehy had previously been heard making derogatory comments about Crow Tribe members, saying at a fundraiser that he liked to rope and brand cattle with them, because it is “a great way to bond with all the Indians while they’re drunk at 8 a.m.”
Sheehy acknowledged at a debate with Tester that the comments were “insensitive” but refused to apologize.
The Montana Senate race is one of the most hotly contested in the country and could determine which party controls the Senate next year. If Republicans flip Tester’s seat, along with an almost certain pickup in West Virginia, that could be all that’s needed to take over the majority.