Imagine leaving a voicemail so venomous that it sparks a firestorm just before a crucial election. That’s exactly what happened when Helena city commissioner candidate Haley McKnight unleashed a tirade of threats and insults against Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana over a controversial policy vote, Fox News reported.
This explosive incident, which unfolded after a policy disagreement, centers on a threatening message left by McKnight in July, targeting Sheehy for his support of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a tax and spending measure that drew fierce Democratic opposition.
The saga began on the afternoon of July 1, when McKnight, a businesswoman and community leader in Helena, dialed Sheehy’s office with rage in her voice. Phone logs confirm the timing of this call, which quickly spiraled into a barrage of personal attacks and chilling warnings.
In the recording, obtained and verified by Fox News Digital, McKnight didn’t hold back, accusing Sheehy of prioritizing personal gain over Montanans’ needs. She hurled insults about his family and even made death wishes, crossing a line that many would find indefensible.
“I hope you die in the street like a dog,” McKnight seethed in the voicemail to Sen. Tim Sheehy. Such language isn’t just heated—it’s a stark reminder of how political discourse can veer into dangerous territory, especially when emotions override reason.
McKnight’s fury stemmed from Sheehy’s vote alongside fellow Republicans to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a measure she claimed stripped healthcare from millions. While policy disagreements are fair game, wishing harm on an opponent raises serious questions about judgment and temperament.
McKnight, originally from North Carolina, is no stranger to civic engagement, running two businesses in Montana and serving as president of the Helena Young Professionals. Her campaign for city commissioner, a nonpartisan race, marks her first bid for office, focusing on housing, transparency, and public arts funding.
Having volunteered for Democratic causes and donated to multiple candidates of that party, her political leanings are clear, even in a nonpartisan contest. She finished third in the September primary, earning a spot in the November general election, but this voicemail controversy could cast a shadow over her aspirations.
When the message surfaced, shared by Sheehy’s office with conservative media, McKnight pushed back, claiming it was a private expression of “justified rage” over harmful policies. “I’m a constituent, and I was responding to some horrible policy,” she told Fox News Digital. But private or not, such vitriol risks alienating voters who value civility over confrontation.
McKnight argued the voicemail wasn’t meant for public ears and criticized Sheehy for releasing it just before the election, calling it a “cheap shot.” She even suggested that as a former Navy SEAL, Sheehy should be able to handle tough words—a jab that feels more like deflection than defense.
She doubled down by framing her outburst as a reflection of community struggles, citing friends lost to cancer due to healthcare gaps. While those personal stories tug at the heart, they don’t justify threats or personal attacks, which undermine any legitimate policy critique.
Perhaps most telling was her refusal to address whether she stands by her rhetoric amid recent political violence. When pressed on this by reporters, she offered only a curt “No comment on that.” Silence on such a critical issue speaks volumes in a climate where heated words can have real consequences.
McKnight also claimed to be a victim in the aftermath, reporting death and rape threats against her, as well as harm to her business, due to the voicemail’s release. If true, that’s deplorable—two wrongs never make a right, and no one should face such harassment, regardless of their actions.
Sheehy’s spokesman, Tate Mitchell, took a measured tone, stating, “We hope Ms. McKnight gets the help she clearly needs and wish her well.” It’s a diplomatic response to a messy situation, though some might argue it sidesteps deeper accountability on both sides for escalating tensions.
This incident, while tied to a local race with no major statewide elections in Montana this year, echoes broader national concerns about political rhetoric. As Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, noted in September after a tragic assassination, toxic language from any side endangers everyone. McKnight’s voicemail is a sobering example of why cooling the temperature matters now more than ever.
