The unexpected move suddenly opens Montana’s Senate race.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) withdrew from his reelection race just minutes before Montana’s candidate filing deadline, opening a U.S. Senate seat that had been widely expected to remain in Republican hands.
Daines, who has represented Montana in the Senate since 2015, announced the decision late Wednesday, saying he had been weighing the move for months and wanted to spend more time with his family.
The withdrawal came only minutes before the filing deadline, creating a sudden shake-up in the race for the seat ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
A Carefully Timed Exit
Shortly before Daines formally withdrew, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme filed to run for the seat, and the senator quickly endorsed him as his preferred successor.
President Donald Trump also endorsed Alme almost immediately, praising Daines and backing the new candidate to carry the Republican banner in Montana.
Critics on both sides of the aisle said the timing of the move appeared designed to clear the path for Alme to secure the GOP nomination without facing a primary challenge.
Race for the Seat Now Open
With Daines stepping aside, the 2026 Montana Senate race becomes an open contest.
Current candidates include:
- Kurt Alme (R) – former U.S. attorney backed by Daines and Trump
- Reilly Neill (D) – former Montana state representative
- Seth Bodnar (I) – former president of the University of Montana running as an independent
Daines’ exit adds to a growing number of Senate retirements ahead of the 2026 elections and removes a longtime Republican incumbent who had been considered favored to hold the seat.
What It Means Politically
Montana is considered a Republican-leaning state, and early race ratings still favor the GOP to hold onto the seat.
However, the late withdrawal injects uncertainty into the race and gives Democrats and independent candidates an opening to test Republican strength in the state during the midterm cycle.
Bottom line: Daines’ surprise decision to drop out minutes before the filing deadline has suddenly transformed what looked like a routine reelection bid into an open Senate contest in Montana.
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