Jon Tester warns Democrats have a weak, unclear message but believes the party could still make substantial midterm gains, comparing the moment to 1932. He urges Democrats to adopt clear, concrete policies on cost of living, inflation, housing, college affordability and alliances, and to distribute messaging responsibilities across the caucus. Tester, who lost his seat in 2024, says he will not run again and prefers farm life and podcasting while pushing for accountability on immigration and DHS actions.
Jon Tester: Democrats' Message Is Weak — But 1932-Style Midterm Gains Are Possible
Jon Tester, the former Democratic senator from Montana, warned that Democrats suffer from a weak and unclear message but argued the party could nonetheless be positioned for a major midterm gain — a surge he compared to 1932. In a wide-ranging interview with Semafor, Tester urged Democrats to get specific on economic and domestic priorities while broadening who speaks for the party.
Tester Sees Big Electoral Opportunity
Tester said the political climate could produce dramatic Democratic gains. "It has the potential of being 1932 all over again, quite frankly," he told Semafor, arguing that voters are increasingly frustrated with the status quo.
Message Needs To Be Clear And Concrete
Despite the opportunity, Tester criticized the party’s communications and strategic clarity. A former Senate Democratic campaign chief, he called the party’s message "horrible" and urged leaders to present a concrete, voter-focused platform addressing the cost of living, inflation, housing, college affordability and U.S. relationships with allies.
"Be aggressive with a good platform on cost, inflation, housing, college, our relationships with our allies, all that stuff. But they really haven’t done it yet," Tester said.
Advice For Democratic Leadership
Tester advised Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to delegate more of the messaging work across the caucus. "You got some really, really powerful people that are good communicators in your caucus," Tester said, suggesting the message should be delivered by many voices rather than a few.
On His Future: Done With Electoral Politics
After losing his seat in 2024 to Republican Tim Sheehy, Tester said he will not run again for statewide or national office. Now 69, he said he’s content running his Montana farm full-time and co-hosting a podcast with journalist Maritsa Georgiou. "I spent 18 years there. It was a good 18 years, I worked my ass off," he said, adding that it is time for a new generation in Congress.
Immigration, Accountability And A DHS Fight
Tester strongly criticized some of the Trump administration’s enforcement tactics, calling the administration’s justifications for certain measures in Minnesota "total horseshit." He framed the current fight over DHS funding and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as an effort to demand accountability, even if a lapse in DHS funding might not fully stop the administration from reallocating resources.
"I don’t know that it’s going to do anything, because the president has the ability to move stuff around, whether it’s legal or illegal... What I say is, it sends a message," Tester said, arguing that Congress must signal it will hold the administration accountable.
Tester acknowledged that border-security concerns played a role in his 2024 loss and remain politically salient in many states: voters support stronger border control, he said, but are uneasy with some aggressive interior-enforcement tactics that "don’t pass the smell test."
Life After the Senate
Tester appears comfortable stepping back from elected office. He said he receives many messages from viewers asking how he would vote on current issues; he now replies that he has not been in the Senate for nearly a year. Tester emphasized he is focused on farming and public conversation through his podcast rather than seeking another campaign.
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