(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Democratic Sen. Jon Tester's bid for reelection could come down to how he handles public lands issues, Pro's Kevin Robillard reports. Close to one-third of the land in Tester's home state of Montana is under federal government ownership, and the Democratic senator hopes to use it to keep on board those who voted Trump - including hunters, hikers, snowmobilers and ranchers. "Public lands is one of the great equalizers. It's part of who we are," Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock told Kevin. "It doesn't matter what our political beliefs are, it's a core part of our lives."
Tester's strategy is part of a larger effort by Democrats in the West to emphasize lands. Bullock emphasized it in his reelection bid in 2016 and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, who is expected to easily win reelection in 2018, started his reelection bid with a video focused heavily on public lands issues. And Democratic strategists think it can help them in states throughout the interior west. "There a lot of people here who are single-issue voters, and that issue is public lands," said Nick Gevock, the conservation director at the Montana Wildlife Federation.
