Nov 3, 2026 · primaries held June 2

Montana - United States Senate

⭐ Sen. Steve Daines' last-minute retirement turned this into a rare open, three-way race in a state Trump won by 20 points.

Kurt Alme

Republican

Former U.S. Attorney for Montana, endorsed by Trump and Daines.

Ballotpedia profile →

Alani Bankhead

Democrat

Air Force officer who won a five-way Democratic primary.

Ballotpedia profile →

Seth Bodnar

Independent - Age: 46

Former University of Montana president, backed by ex-Sen. Jon Tester.

Ballotpedia profile →

Who's ahead? CookSOLID RSabatoSAFE RDDHQLIKELY R

Ratings: Cook Political Report (Aug 20), Sabato’s Crystal Ball (Aug 26), Decision Desk HQ (Aug 5). Source →

No independent polling of the Alme–Bankhead–Bodnar matchup has been released since the June primary. Nonpartisan handicappers rate the race Likely Republican — a February American Pulse poll (taken before Daines withdrew) showed the Republican above 50% in every tested matchup, with the anti-GOP vote split between a Democrat and an independent.

Daily Montanan: American Pulse poll, Feb 2026 → As of July 2026

Where they stand

Tap a topic that's important to you.

ALME SAYS

BANKHEAD SAYS

BODNAR SAYS

Money & campaign finance

Where each candidate stands on campaign-finance questions.

ALME

BANKHEAD

BODNAR

Ban Congress from trading stocks Unclear Unclear Unknown

Takes corporate PAC money Unclear No Unknown

Fundraising

RAISEDCASH ON HANDUNDER-$200 DONORS

Kurt Alme

$2M$1.5M4% of receipts

Alani Bankhead

$59K$21K32% of receipts

Seth Bodnar

$3.2M$978K11% of receipts

Campaign committee totals for the 2025–26 cycle, through June 30, 2026. Under-$200 share is unitemized individual contributions divided by total receipts. FEC filings →

Their big promises

ALME'S TOP 3

Back the president's agenda

Runs as the Trump-endorsed continuation of Daines' seat.

Law and order

Leans on his record as U.S. Attorney prosecuting drug trafficking.

Cut spending and regulation

Smaller federal budgets and fewer rules on Montana businesses.

BANKHEAD'S TOP 3

Affordable Montana

Lower housing, healthcare, and grocery costs for working families.

Protect rural healthcare

Defend Medicaid and keep rural hospitals and clinics open.

Service over party

Runs on her Air Force career as proof she'll put country first.

BODNAR'S TOP 3

Break the two-party gridlock

An independent voice beholden to Montanans, not a national party.

Tackle the housing squeeze

Make it possible for working Montanans to live where they work.

Defend public lands

Keep federal lands in public hands and access open.

Agree or differ?

Sentinel missile program at Malmstrom AFB

All three back the nuclear modernization jobs anchored in Great Falls

AGREE

Trump's tariffs

Alme: backs them · Bankhead & Bodnar: call them import taxes hurting Montana farms and ranches

DIFFER

Continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine

Bankhead & Bodnar: support it · Alme: skeptical of open-ended foreign aid

DIFFER

Grizzly bear delisting & state wildlife management

All three lean toward giving Montana more control over recovered species

AGREE

Reform the Senate filibuster

Bankhead: open to reform · Alme: keep the 60-vote rule · Bodnar: undecided

DIFFER

Their stories

KURT ALME

CareerTax attorney and federal prosecutor; led Montana's budget office.

2017Appointed U.S. Attorney for Montana in the first Trump administration.

Mar 2026Filed eight minutes before the deadline as Daines withdrew and endorsed him.

Jun 2026Won the Republican primary with 76% of the vote.

ALANI BANKHEAD

CareerAir Force officer with a career in national security.

2025Entered the race expecting to challenge Sen. Steve Daines.

Jun 2026Won the five-way Democratic primary with 43.7% of the vote.

Jun 2026Rejected calls to step aside for Bodnar and urged him to drop out instead.

SETH BODNAR

CareerWest Point graduate, Green Beret, and GE executive.

2018Became the youngest president of the University of Montana.

Mar 2026Resigned to launch an independent Senate campaign with Jon Tester's support.

May 2026Submitted petition signatures and out-raised the entire field.

Positions summarized from campaign websites, voting records, and news reports · July 2026
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