He came to Thompson Falls to meet with a packed hall of energetic voters, telling his supporters the “average” person needs to get involved in the election process.

And warning them, that apathy could derail Republican plans to replace two-time incumbent Sen. Jon Tester this fall. 

Tim Sheehy, a retired Navy SEAL and businessman who lives in Bozeman, said he was delighted with the large turnout at the Thompson Falls Senior Center last week. 

“I’m glad to see so many people showing up for these rallies,” Sheehy told the crowd. “It is going to take a team effort to win. One of the main challenges we face is apathy on the part of voters. We all have to get involved, even the so-called average person, and stand up and fight for this great country.”

Sheehy said the government is no longer “working for the people. No one is being held accountable” for Democrat policies.

And he took a swipe at Tester, whom he accused of producing and running “ridiculous ads.”

“He (Tester) keeps attacking me on the public lands issue,” Sheehy said. “The public lands belong to you, the people, not radical bureaucrats and whacko environmentalists.”

Such comments brought roars of approval from the more than 220 people who attended the rally. Trump hats and shirts were in generous supply among the attendees. 

“Trump is leading in Montana by more than 20 points in the polls,” Sheehy said.  “Our latest polls indicated we are up by two points in the race for Senate. We need to make sure President Trump has senators and congressmen he can work with.”

And with energetic support from the crowd, he went after Democrats' fiscal policies, including a pointed comment about the amount of “liberal spending” for immigrants in the country illegally compared to veterans.

“We are spending twice as much on illegals than on veterans, many of whom are homeless,” Sheehy claimed. “That doesn’t sound like veteran care to me. Tester also attacks my service to my country, and he has never spent a day in uniform.”

Tester is chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Sheehy touted his military service, which included a stint as commander with a SEAL unit during which he saw combat and “bloody battles.” 

Sheehy also spoke in favor of changes to the education system, including expanded school choice, noting he and his wife, Carmen, a former Marine Corps officer, have been home schooling their four children. 

“The most important thing we have is raising our children,” he said. “Too many public schools are teaching kids to be ashamed of their country. The U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are on the walls of our home school.”

Before concluding his approximately 45-minute speech he shared his thoughts on border security.

“We used to have the most secure border in our history,” he claimed. “I will work to close the border on my first day in office. We are spending billions of dollars on the programs and impact of illegal immigrants on our hospitals and other systems. 

“Jon Tester has been supporting President Biden on the policies that have created this situation,” he said. “He’s not the moderate he tries to say he is. If he was a moderate, we wouldn’t have the open border we have now.”

Sheehy moved to Montana in 2014. He owns the aerial firefighting business Bridger Aerospace.

Before standing in line to meet attendees, Sheehy reiterated his call for government accountability.

“We will return accountability,” he promised. “I have the power of saying no.  I’m frustrated and pissed off by the way things have been when it comes to accountability. We all have to stand up to save this country.”

Thompson Falls resident Tony Ferguson was among those who waited in a long line to shake Sheehy’s hand and comment on his speech. 

“I thought what he said was wonderful,” Ferguson said. “We need him in the Senate, he tells it like it is.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Richard Magofflin, also from Thompson Falls. 

“I like his ideas and his plans,” he said.  

Plains resident Angela Muse and her husband, Tracy, also liked what they heard but left disappointed they didn’t get to meet Sheehy after the speech. 

“We liked and agreed with everything he had to say and what he stands for,” Muse said. “It was hard to hear him at times ... There wasn’t enough room in there.  I agree that Tester has to go.”

    A crowd gathers at the Thompson Falls Senior Center last week during Tim Sheehy's campaign rally. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)