Montana student-athletes were offered thousands of dollars if they publicly endorsed Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, who has advocated for transgender athletes to be allowed to compete in sports against biological women.
University of Montana track and field sprinter Lily Meskers revealed that she and her fellow Grizzlies received the lucrative offer over the summer as part of a Name, Image and Likeness deal.
Meskers, a junior journalism student at the Missoula campus, shared her experience with the “Montana Talks” radio show, alleging Tester and “his backers are growing increasingly nervous about their prospects of winning re-election” because of several unpopular stances he has taken during his three terms.
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One of his stances included voting against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023, a bill aimed at strengthening “the law’s existing protections for women, ensur[ing] a level playing field for female athletes, and protect[ing] the law from the Biden administration’s radical regulatory scheme.”
Incumbent Tester is in a tight race with Republican nominee Tim Sheehy, a Navy SEAL veteran whom former President Donald Trump has endorsed.
Montana Together, a pro-Tester political organization, reached out to universities in the state offering the NIL deal, according to Meskers.
“Let’s work together to inform your audience about Senator Tester’s track record in office and encourage him to maintain his support of these vital policies,” read the email obtained by the National Desk. “Join our campaign to share your personal story about how Tester’s track record has strengthened Montana’s foundation and ensures a bright future for all who call it home.”
Other topics promoted in the offer included LGBT rights, reproductive care and the economy.
“The deal offered all university athletes a chance to participate and earn big money,” Meskers wrote.
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Montana Together promised between $400 and $2,400 for the creation of up to four unscripted Instagram Reels from the student-athletes throwing their support behind the Democrat, Meskers said.
University of Montana student-athletes received the forwarded email from Jean Gee, thesenior associate athletic director, to “spread the word” about Tester and “causes you care about.”
Tester was called out by former Auburn University football coach-turned-US Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
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“Tester voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act…then his backers tried to bribe football players to support him,” Tuberville wrote on X. “Jon Tester doesn’t represent Montana. He represents DC and the left coast. All hat and no cattle.”
Meskers said some of her teammates were surprised by the “odd request” given Tester’s track record with female athletics.
“I stand by biological women competing fairly in women’s sports and the offer seemed guided towards only one political party,” senior track athlete Katie Whitehurst told Meskers.
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Meskers also quoted former collegiate swim star-turned-women’s sports activist Riley Gaines, who held a rally in Whitefish, Mont., a 2½-hour drive north of the school.
“This is the most anti-woman, anti-reality pursuit we have seen from this administration … Montanans … intuitively know that men and women are different,” Gaines said, calling out Tester’s voting record.
Athletic director Kent Haslam defended his department’s decision to send the email to the athletes as the offer came from the school’s NIL company.
“I received an email from Mateo at Opendorse in late July with an NIL opportunity for student-athletes. Opendorse is one of a few companies that work in the college athlete NIL space connecting athletes with NIL opportunities,” Haslam said to “Montana Talks.”
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“Mateo said an organization named Montana Together was using Opendorse to source athletes who were interested in spreading the word about Senator Jon Tester and causes they (the athletes) were interested in. Athletics sent along the opportunity to all of the athletes in case any were interested. The athletes could then reach out to Mateo for more information,” he added.
Collegiate student-athletes can make money two separate ways through NIL deals, either through general requests to the schools or if the organization requests a certain athlete or team.
Haslam said it is the department’s practice to forward the general requests when it receives them.
Tester has made attempts throughout his campaign to appeal to voters in the “solidly red state.”
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In July, Tester was the second senator who called on President Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
On Aug. 6, his campaign launched “Republicans for Tester,” a “Republican-led” group supporting the senator with 100 initial signatures.
Last week, during the final day of the Democratic National Convention, Tester confirmed he wouldn’t be endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidential election.
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“I’m not going to endorse for the presidential — and I will tell you why,” Tester said during a press conference in Hamilton, Montana, according to the Helena Independent Record. “Two reasons: No. 1, I’m focused on my race. And No. 2, folks have wanted to nationalize this race, and this isn’t about national politics. This is about Montana. It’s about making sure we have a Montanan back in Washington, DC, representing Montana values. And so that’s why.”
Sheehy, on the other hand, has enjoyed the backing he has received in the closely watched race, as Trump held a fundraiser to help the former Navy SEAL before a rally at Montana State University’s Brick Breeden Fieldhousein Bozeman.
