The race to replace a political titan from the Treasure State has taken shape with three challengers who will square off in November. What was expected to be an easy path to victory in Montana was shaken up earlier in 2026.Now, three new faces — former U.S.
District Attorney Kurt Alme, ex-University of Montana President Seth Bodnar and former Montana state Rep.Reilly Neill — are all headed to the big stage in November.Republican Sen.
Steve Daines' sudden exit from his reelection campaign opened up the race in ruby-red Montana. 2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTSFormer U.S.District Attorney Kurt Alme has a home field advantage given the groundwork Daines laid throughout his political career, where he turned Montana from a purple to ruby red bastion for the GOP.
(Alme Campaign)Now, it’s a three-way battle between his chosen successor, an insurgent independent candidate and a former state legislator. Alme has a home field advantage given the groundwork Daines laid throughout his political career, turning Montana from a purple to ruby red bastion for the GOP. But Alme hasn’t run for statewide office before.He was tapped twice by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S.
District Attorney in Montana and had a stint in Gov.Greg Gianforte’s administration. And he’s leaning into Trump’s backing, along with the endorsements of Daines and Sen.
Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., to make his case to voters."We think that the Republican platform — and certainly President Trump’s approach to governing — is a winner in Montana," Alme told Fox News Digital in March."And we think that if we stick to our conservative roots, we’re going to perform well against anyone."FROM REALITY TV TO CITY HALL? TRUMP-BACKED SPENCER PRATT SOARS IN LA MAYOR RACE AS CALIFORNIANS VOTEHis opponents, however, have both been critical of the circumstances that led to his entering the race. Daines, just as the candidate filing deadline in Montana was nearing its end,...