Jon Tester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jon Tester
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Official portrait, 2014
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| United States Senator from Montana |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Conrad Burns |
| Succeeded by | Tim Sheehy |
| Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Jerry Moran |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Moran |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – February 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Blumenthal |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Moran |
| Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Leader | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Michael Bennet |
| Succeeded by | Chris Van Hollen |
| Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee | |
| In office February 12, 2014 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Maria Cantwell |
| Succeeded by | John Barrasso |
| President of the Montana Senate | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Deputy | Dan Harrington |
| Preceded by | Bob Keenan |
| Succeeded by | Mike Cooney |
| Member of the Montana Senate | |
| In office January 4, 1999 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Loren Jenkins |
| Succeeded by | Jim Peterson |
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Raymond Jon Tester
August 21, 1956 Big Sandy, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Sharla Bitz
(m. 1978) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | College of Great Falls (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Raymond Jon Tester (born August 21, 1956) is an American politician and farmer. He served as a U.S. Senator for Montana from 2007 to 2025. Before that, he was the president of the Montana Senate from 2005 to 2007.
Tester is a member of the Democratic Party. He is known for being the most recent Democrat to hold a major statewide or congressional job in Montana. He also served in the Montana Senate from 1999 to 2007.
He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006. He won against the Republican, Conrad Burns, in a very close race. He was reelected in 2012 and 2018. In 2024, he ran for a fourth term but lost to Republican Tim Sheehy.
Contents
Early Life, Education, and Farming
Jon Tester was born in Havre, Montana. He was one of three sons of Helen Marie and David O. Tester. His family has been farming in Chouteau County, near Big Sandy, Montana, since 1912.
When he was nine, he had an accident with a meat grinder and lost three fingers on his left hand. In 1978, he earned a degree in music from the University of Providence.
After college, Tester taught music for two years. Then, he returned to his family's farm and butcher shop. He and his wife still run the farm today. In the 1980s, they started using organic farming methods. Tester also spent five years as the chairman of the Big Sandy School Board.
Serving in the Montana Senate (1999–2007)
Becoming a State Senator
Tester was first elected to the Montana Senate in 1998. He represented the 45th district. Before this, he worked on the Big Sandy school board for ten years.
In 2001, he became the minority whip. This is a leader who helps gather votes for their party. He was reelected in 2002 with 71% of the votes. In 2003, he became the minority leader.
Due to new district maps, he moved to the 15th district in 2004. In 2005, Tester was chosen as the president of the Montana Senate. This is the main leader of the state's upper legislative house.
Key Achievements in Montana
When Tester became Senate president, it was a big change for Montana Democrats. It was the first time in over ten years they led the Senate. Tester could not run for State Senate again because of term limits.
He helped create a prescription drug program. He also brought back a program to promote products "Made in Montana." He supported a law to help develop renewable energy. Tester also worked on a bill that greatly increased funding for public schools.
Committee Work in Montana
While in the Montana Senate, Tester served on several important committees:
- Senate Finance Committee (2001–2004)
- Senate Agriculture Committee (2000–2005)
- Senate Rules Committee (2003–2005)
- Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee (2005)
Serving in the U.S. Senate (2007–2025)
His Elections to the U.S. Senate
In 2005, Tester decided to run for the U.S. Senate. He challenged the Republican Senator Conrad Burns. Tester won the Democratic nomination in June 2006. He promised to "end secret meetings with lobbyists."
In November 2006, Tester defeated Burns in a very close election. Tester received 49.2% of the votes, and Burns received 48.3%.
Tester ran for reelection in 2012. He faced Republican U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg. This election was very important for both political parties. Tester sometimes disagreed with his own party on issues like the Keystone XL oil pipeline. However, he supported the Affordable Care Act and financial reforms.
Tester won reelection in 2012. He received 48.6% of the votes, while Rehberg got 44.9%.
In 2018, Tester won a third term. He defeated Republican Matt Rosendale. Tester received 50.3% of the votes. This was the first time he got over 50% in a Senate election. President Donald Trump visited Montana several times to try and help Rosendale win. However, Tester won due to strong support from Native Americans, women, and young voters.
In 2023, Tester announced he would seek a fourth Senate term. This election was very important for Democrats to keep control of the Senate. Montana is a state that often votes Republican. Tester tried to show he was independent from President Joe Biden. He even called for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election. In the 2024 election, Tester lost to Republican Tim Sheehy. He received 45.5% of the vote, and Sheehy received 52.6%.
His Work in the U.S. Senate
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In 2009, Tester was given a seat on the Appropriations Committee. This committee decides how the government spends money. In 2013, he became chairman of a subcommittee focused on banking and investments.
On January 6, 2021, Tester was in his office when supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. He and his staff had to be moved to a safe place. He called the event "a despicable and dangerous attack on our democracy." He also called it "a coup by domestic terrorists."
Important Committees
In the U.S. Senate, Tester served on several key committees:
- Committee on Appropriations (which controls government spending)
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Committee on Indian Affairs
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs (where he was the chairman)
What are his Political Views?
Tester is seen as a moderate Democrat. This means his views are often in the middle, not too far left or right. A newspaper once described him as a "pro-gun, anti-big-business prairie pragmatist." This means he supports gun rights, is against big businesses, and focuses on practical solutions.
He sometimes voted differently from other Democrats. For example, he supported the Keystone XL oil pipeline. But he also voted with his party on major issues like the Affordable Care Act and financial reforms.
LGBT Rights
Tester has supported rights for LGBT people. In 2010, he voted to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This rule prevented openly gay people from serving in the military.
In 2013, he announced his support for same-sex marriage. He said he believed it protected "the rights and freedoms of every married couple." In 2022, he voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. This law protects same-sex and interracial marriages.
Economy and Jobs
In 2011, Tester was one of two Democratic senators who tried to stop a bill called the American Jobs Act. He was worried that the new spending might not create enough jobs.
In 2018, he supported a bill that changed some banking rules. He believed it would help small and regional banks lend money more easily.
Immigration
In 2010, Tester voted against the DREAM Act. This bill would have created a path to citizenship for some children of undocumented immigrants. He said he did not support laws that give citizenship to people who are in the country illegally.
However, in 2017, he criticized President Trump's plan to end DACA. DACA protected young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. Tester said it was "ill-informed" and would "rip families apart."
Health Care
Tester supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He voted for it in 2009.
In 2017, he suggested that Democrats should consider a single-payer health care system. He also said that health care needed changes. He believed that Democrats and Republicans should work together to fix the system.
Supreme Court Votes
Tester voted to confirm Supreme Court nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
He voted against President Trump's nominees Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. He voted to confirm President Biden's nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Citizens United Ruling
Tester did not agree with the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling. This ruling allowed companies and unions to spend unlimited money on political groups. He believed it was bad for American democracy. He even suggested changing the Constitution to reverse the decision.
Environment
Tester has worked on environmental issues. He tried to pass a bill that would protect 700,000 acres of wilderness. This bill also aimed to create jobs in the timber industry.
He has supported funding for carbon capture technology. This technology helps reduce carbon emissions. He also supported full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Act. This act helps protect national parks and public lands.
Guns
Tester owns guns. The NRA Political Victory Fund gave him a high rating in 2012 for his support of gun rights. However, this rating went down in 2018.
He supports making it easier to export guns. He believes this would help U.S. gun makers and create jobs. In 2016, he voted against a bill that would require background checks for all gun sales. But he voted for a bill to ban gun sales to people on the terrorist watch list.
Privacy
Tester has expressed concerns about privacy. He opposed parts of the PATRIOT Act. This law allowed the government to collect a lot of data. He also voted against confirming some officials who supported these data collection rules.
In 2015, he joined other senators in a long speech (filibuster) against renewing the PATRIOT Act.
Veterans Affairs
As a leader on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tester raised concerns about a nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The nominee later withdrew.
Impeachment of Donald Trump
Tester voted to convict President Trump during both of his impeachment trials.
Personal Life
Jon Tester married Sharla Bitz in 1978. They have three children. He is part of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana).
Before he was elected to the Senate, Tester had always lived close to his farm in Montana. He still owns and works on his farm. He also has a home in Washington, D.C. He is known for bringing his own meat from his farm to Washington.
Images for kids
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Jon Tester's signature from 2005.
See also
In Spanish: Jon Tester para niños
