Jon Tester

American politician and farmer (born 1956)

Jonathan "Jon" Tester (born August 21, 1956) is the senior United States Senator from Montana, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Jon Tester
United States Senator
from Montana
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Serving with Steve Daines
Preceded byConrad Burns
Succeeded byTim Sheehy (elect)
Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byRichard Blumenthal
Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
In office
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017
LeaderHarry Reid
Preceded byMichael Bennet
Succeeded byChris Van Hollen
Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
In office
February 12, 2014 – January 3, 2015
Preceded byMaria Cantwell
Succeeded byJohn Barrasso
President of the Montana Senate
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
DeputyDan Harrington
Preceded byBob Keenan
Succeeded byMike Cooney
Member of the Montana Senate
from the 15th district
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by???
Succeeded byJim Peterson
Member of the Montana Senate
from the 45th district
In office
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by???
Succeeded byJim Shockley
Personal details
Born (1956-08-21) August 21, 1956 (age 68)
Havre, Montana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Sharla Bitz
EducationUniversity of Great Falls (BA)
WebsiteSenate website

Tester was first elected to the Senate in 2006, beating Republican incumbent Conrad Burns in one of the closest Senate races of that year. He won re-election in 2012 against Rep. Denny Rehberg in another close race.

Tester previously served as the president of the Montana Senate and worked as a music teacher and farmer. He became the senior Senator in 2014 when Max Baucus resigned to become U.S. ambassador to China.

Tester lost his re-election campaign to Republican businessman Tim Sheehy in November 2024.

At the age of nine, he lost the middle three fingers of his left hand in a meat-grinder accident.[1]

References

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  1. Klein, Joe. "The Democrats' New Populism". Time. July 2, 2006.

Other websites

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