Laurenz Busch Chronicle Staff Writer
Jan 3, 2025
With family in tow, Tim Sheehy was sworn in as Montana’s newest senator Friday, marking his official start as the face of Big Sky Country in Washington, D.C., while maintaining optimism and humility for the job.
On the floor of the U.S. Senate, Sheehy — joined by his wife, Carmen, and their four kids — raised his right hand and laid his left on a Bible as Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office.
“Do you solemnly swear that you will defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance,” Harris asked during a ceremonial reenactment.
“I do,” Sheehy said.
The newly minted senator from Gallatin County joined his chamber colleagues for the reenactment with Harris, which is standard and occurs after each senator takes the oath.
And so, Sheehy has officially launched in the role of senator. In an interview with the Chronicle on Friday, he consistently pulled the conversation away from himself and back to the people.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the office, I don’t own the Senate seat, I’m simply a steward of it for as many years or terms as I’m here,” Sheehy said. “Just being in that chamber and getting sworn in reminds me that this office is a very significant position to hold and that I hold it temporarily for the betterment of the people of Montana and the country.”
Sheehy, who ousted former Sen. Jon Tester in November’s election, has since spent his time building his staff to ensure a smooth transition for constituents, which he continues to prioritize outside of his legislative goals.
“We have to make sure that our Senate office is as responsive as possible to constituent needs, (from) veterans’ issues to people’s passports being delayed,” Sheehy said. “That’s not really a legislative issue, that’s more of a constituent service and a customer service-oriented one.”
Legislatively, Sheehy announced in late December that he was picked to serve on three Senate committees: Veterans’ Affairs, Armed Services and Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Those three will likely provide Sheehy with a more direct influence and the ability to have an impact in Montana.
In the commerce committee, Sheehy said he would focus on inflation and address the housing affordability crisis, which he clarified is a “national issue.”
Recently, Sheehy wrote an opinion article on the dangers of wildfires and how the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, helmed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, could streamline and de-bureaucratize firefighting efforts through private partnerships.
“I’m talking to some of our Senate colleagues from across the country who are all frustrated by the wildfire paradigm that’s harming our country,” he said Friday. “They want to see it done better and more efficiently.”
The 119th Congress will be the first time since 2007 that Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky won’t be the Republican’s Senate leader. He stepped down in November and is succeeded by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
Sheehy didn’t directly address Thune or mention whether he supported him in the confidential Senate vote in November. He instead reiterated a message that despite his respect for long-serving legislators, he believes it’s time for a change and a new generation to take charge.
“We need to start getting new ideas, fresh ideas, fresh blood on both sides of the aisle,” Sheehy said. “We’re staring down the barrel of some pretty monumental challenges as a nation,” mentioning the immigration crisis, inflation, and a potentially looming debt crisis.
“It is an honor to be part of this historic day for Montana,” Daines said in a statement. “On Day One, Senator Sheehy and I will get to work enacting President Trump’s agenda.”
When asked whether Montanans should expect to see him around, Sheehy said he’ll be back in the spring, while his next 60 days are consumed with cabinet nominations, certifying the election results of former President Donald Trump, and getting his office, staff and responsibilities squared away.
“The schedule put out by leader Thune is pretty aggressive, so I’ll be back in the springtime and hopefully seeing folks a lot more but for the next 60 days, we’re going to be head down and getting things done,” he said.