US EditionRepublican US Senator Daines drops re-election bid
Sen. Steve Daines ended his reelection bid minutes before the filing deadline, citing personal reasons and endorsing U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, who quickly secured top Republican endorsements.
- On Wednesday, Sen. Steve Daines, Republican senator from Montana, withdrew his reelection paperwork minutes before the filing deadline and said he had "wrestled with the decision for months".
- Shortly before the filing deadline in Montana, Kurt Alme filed and was endorsed by President Donald Trump, drawing comparisons to last-minute succession tactics.
- Earlier Wednesday, Seth Bodnar, former University of Montana president and independent candidate, launched a Senate campaign and criticized Daines' last-minute switch while needing 13,327 voter signatures to qualify.
- With Republicans holding a 53‑seat majority, the open seat could trigger costly campaigning, as 2024 Montana Senate spending topped $300 million, affecting the 2026 race.
- Beyond this race, Daines' exit as the 15th senator to retire since 2024 caps his tenure since 2013 and leadership of National Republican Senatorial Committee fundraising.
97 Articles
97 Articles
"GOP Sen. Steve Daines’ last-minute withdrawal from Senate race was meant to block Democrats from fielding a top-tier recruit" #ELB
CNN: Daines was aware that if he withdrew too soon then Democrats would have a chance at fielding one of several potential Democrats — namely former Sen. Jon Tester or former Govs. Brian Schweitzer or Steve Bullock. Any of those… Continue reading The post “GOP Sen. Steve Daines’ last-minute withdrawal from Senate race was meant to block Democrats from fielding a top-tier recruit” appeared first on Election Law Blog.
Revealed: The real for a Republican’s last minute withdrawal from Montana’s Senate race
CNN's Manu Raju reported that two sources told him that Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) waited until the last minute to withdraw from his Senate race for a key reason. Writing Thursday, Raju said that Daines was scared that a popular Democrat would announce they'd run for the open seat and win. On Wednesday, Daines' announcement was made just eight minutes before the candidate filing deadline closed in Montana. It means there was only a tiny moment for…
Republicans Praise Daines Following Retirement Announcement
Sen. Steve Daines announced Wednesday night that he will not seek reelection in the upcoming 2026 midterms. The 63-year-old Montana Republican is joining five other GOP colleagues who are retiring from the Senate. “Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate the past 13 years has been the greatest honor of my professional career. I’m grateful to God for allowing me to serve. But after much careful thought, I’ve decided …
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