- Athletes were offered between $400 – $2,400 to post video endorsements
A collegiate athlete in Montana revealed that Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) was working to pay athletes in the state to publicly endorse him.
Tester is in a tough reelection race in a deep red state where Republicans think they can pick up a seat in November.
And Lily Meskers, a junior studying journalism and D1 track and field athlete, says Testers and his backers were looking to pay student athletes at University of Montana at Missoula to make videos endorsing him.
Montana Together, a group backing Tester’s reelection, was willing to pay between $400 and $2,400 for ‘unscripted video endorsements on Instagram Reels,’ according to Meskers’ revelations on Montana Talks.
‘The deal offered all university athletes a chance to participate and earn big money,’ she noted.
University of Montana, Missoula track athlete Lily Meskers revealed that Sen. Jon Tester wants to pay university athletes to endorse him on Instagram
She also said that the group encouraged athletes to ‘inform your audience about Senator Tester’s track record in office and encourage him to maintain his support for these vital policies.’
Meskers says that she does not support Tester because he backs allowing men to compete in women’s sports
But Meskers says she and other female collegiate athletes were put off by the request because Tester backs allowing biological males who transitioned to female to compete in women’s sports at universities.
In 2023, Tester voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which sought to amend Title IX to ensure only biological females could compete in women’s sports.
It comes amid an intense culture war among transgender individuals in competitive sports.
Proponents say those born male who transition should be permitted to compete in athletic competitions against those born female – despite Republicans’ claim that these individuals have a biological physical advantage in most sports.
Cook Political Report ratesTester’s race a ‘toss up,’ and former President Donald Trump won Montana by more than 16 points in 2020.
To keep his seat, Tester will need to beat Republican Tim Sheehy, 37, a businessman and former Navy SEAL.
Meskers says the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal for Tester was sent along to University of Montana athletes by their Athletic Director Kent Haslam.
Meskers, a junior studying journalism and D1 track and field athlete, says Testers and his backers were looking to pay student athletes at University of Montana at Missoula to make videos endorsing him
Meskers says she and other female collegiate athletes were put off by the request because Tester backs allowing biological males who transitioned to female to compete in women’s sports at universities
A group backing Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester’s reelection offered collegiate athletes thousands to endorse him on social media amid a tight race to keep his seat in the deep red state
Haslam sent a message to Meskers when she pressed him on why she received the opportunity.
‘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,’ he explained.
‘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,’ Haslam continued.
‘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.
Republican Senate candidate and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy (pictured) is running for Tester’s seat to try and flip the razor-thin majority in the upper chamber red in November
