Montana Democrat refuses to drop out, likely improving GOP’s Senate chances

Campaign Montana Democrat refuses to drop out, likely improving GOP’s Senate chances Comments: by Mira Bhakta - 08/11/26 6:36 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Mira Bhakta - 08/11/26 6:36 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Democratic Senate candidate Alani Bankhead on Monday said she’s not getting out of a Montana race to succeed retiring Sen. Steve Daines, a move that will make it more difficult for Independent candidate Seth Bodnar to defear GOP nominee Kurt Alme.

“I’ll never bow down,” Bankhead, an Air Force officer, said during a press conference in Montana hours before the Monday deadline to drop out. “I am in this race to win it and I am staying through Nov. 3.”

Some Democrats had hoped to convince Bankhead to leave the race by Monday’s deadline in the hope it would make it easier for Bodnar to take the seat and deprive the GOP of another Senate seat.

With Bankhead in the race, the contest is a crowded one that also includes Libertarian nominee Kyle Austin.

Bodnar is getting support from some top Democrats in the state, such as by former Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.).

Bankhead won the Democratic primary, and is the party’s candidate in the race.

But Bodnar has gained traction in the race.

A July poll from Strength In Numbers found Bodnar getting 50 percent compared to Alme’s 44 percent in a head-to-head matchup.

When the poll included just Bankhead and Alme, the Republican got 52 percent compared to the Democrat’s 44 percent.

Bankhead, in insisting she will stay in the race argued that both Bodnar and Alme are backed by “the establishment.”

Bodnar has also said he has not intention of dropping out of the race.

“Let me be very clear: I am in this race until the very end,” he said at a news conference on Friday. “I am committed to building a campaign that Montana deserves.”

Daines is leaving the Senate after 13 years in the House and Senate.

“I’m grateful to God for allowing me to serve, but after much careful thought, I’ve decided not to seek reelection,” Daines said in a video posted in March.

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