"Washington is a mess but that is not stopping me from getting bills signed into law by President Trump," Tester said in his first campaign ad 
 
 That relationship with Trump frayed, though, after Tester led the charge against Ronny L. Jackson, the former White House physician who Trump picked to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Tester, the top Democrat on the Senate committee that oversaw Jackson's confirmation, accused Jackson of handing out prescriptions "like candy" on foreign trips, accusations that eventually sunk his nomination.
– Jon Tester has been re-elected to the Senate. The Montana Democrat beat Republican Matt Rosendale, the state auditor, to win his third term. President Trump had taken what the AP calls a "personal interest" in defeating Tester, visiting Montana to campaign against him at four rallies, plus sending his eldest son and Vice President Pence for other appearances. CNN refers to Trump's "intense focus" on Tester. Tester, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, helped to derail Trump's first nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. (More in midterms: Georgia candidate is hoping for a runoff; Florida candidate is calling for a recount.)