 But Tester's Republican challenger, Tim Sheehy, is a former Navy SEAL. His wife, Carmen, is a Marine Corps veteran. Being a combat veteran is core to his identity. I've had a lot of close calls. It doesn't make me better than anybody else, but it does mean I know what it takes to fight for this country. Regardless of Tester's and Sheehy's personal ties, focusing on veterans' issues is vital for Montana candidates as the state includes one of the largest veteran populations per capita in the country.