“Hillary is the most qualified person on the ballot to unite our nation at a time when dangerous rhetoric threatens to divide us,” Jon Tester says. | Getty Sen. Tester throws support behind Clinton

Hillary Clinton is the most qualified candidate for president, Montana Sen. Jon Tester said Friday, announcing his endorsement of the former secretary of state.

“Hillary is the most qualified person on the ballot to unite our nation at a time when dangerous rhetoric threatens to divide us,” Tester said in a statement. “I look forward to working with her to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, keep our country safe, and invest in education and infrastructure so we can move our nation forward.”


Tester thanked Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders “for running a strong grassroots campaign,” energizing young voters and addressing important issues but added, “Now it’s time for us to come together to win up and down the ballot this November.”

Tester’s support notably comes more than a week after President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorsed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

The Senate Democratic Campaign Committee chairman told POLITICO last week that he would endorse Clinton “sometime between now and...,” but laughed before he could finish his sentence.

“I will make an endorsement before the convention,” Tester said. “You’ll be the second to know.”