Exclusive—Matt Rosendale: Montanans ‘Sick and Tired of Jon Tester’s Double-Talk’ on Sanctuary Cities

Rancher and state auditor Matt Rosendale told Breitbart News in an exclusive statement on Monday that Montanans “are sick and tired of Jon Tester’s double-talk” on sanctuary cities.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) said at a press conference on Sunday that he opposes sanctuary cities. However, he suggested that defunding sanctuary cities would serve as a “mistake.”

“I’m opposed to sanctuary cities,” Tester said. The Montana Democrat then added that restricting federal funds from sanctuary cities and states would be a “mistake” that would hurt public safety. Tester also voiced concern about President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall, worrying about the cost and effectiveness of a border wall on America’s southern border.

Rosendale, the Montana Senate Republican nominee, supports President Trump’s border wall.

Rosendale slammed Sen. Tester’s flip-flopping on sanctuary cities in a statement to Breitbart News, saying, “Jon Tester continues to tell Montanans one thing and then votes the other way when he’s back in Washington D.C. Tester says he opposes sanctuary cities, but when you look at his liberal voting record, he’s voted three times against ending sanctuary cities. The people of Montana are sick and tired of Jon Tester’s double-talk, and it’s time we put an end to his political games.”

In February, several red-state Democrats, including Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Joe Donnelly (D-IN), voted for an amendment to end sanctuary cities. Sen. Tester did not vote for that amendment to end sanctuary cities.

Tester also voted against ending sanctuary cities in October 2015 and in July 2016.

In an interview with Breitbart News in June, Rosendale said that Sen. Tester “is not a moderate Democrat, he is part of the swamp.”

Rosendale’s conservative accolades earned him the endorsements of Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mike Lee (R-UT), as well as over 30 Montana state officials.

“He [Tester] came around and tried to act like he was a good ‘ol boy from Montana and yet the vote record shows that he’s a very loyal vote for Chuck Schumer,” the Montana Republican added.