TESTER, Jon, a Senator from Montana; born in Havre, Mont., on August 21, 1956; graduated College of Great Falls 1978, farmer; teacher; member, Big Sandy school board 1983-1992 (chairman 1986-1991); Montana State senate 1999-2006, serving as minority whip 2001-2003, minority leader 2003-2005, president 2005-2006; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 2006; reelected in 2012, and again in 2018, and served from January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2025; chair, Committee on Indian Affairs (One Hundred Thirteenth Congress [February 12, 2014-January 3, 2015]); chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (2015-2017), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (One Hundred Seventeenth and One Hundred Eighteenth Congresses); was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Senate in 2024.
