Kurt Alme has won the Republican Senate primary in Montana, backed by Trump. He will face Democratic and independent challengers in November.
Key facts
- •Kurt Alme won the Republican Senate primary in Montana
- •Alme was backed by President Donald Trump and retiring Republican Sen. Steve Daines
- •Daines recruited Alme to run for the seat and withdrew his own candidacy
- •Alme will face Democratic challenger Alani Bankhead and independent challenger Seth Bodnar in November
- •Montana has moved to the right in recent years, with Trump carrying the state by 20 percentage points in 2024
- •Bankhead has pledged to stay in the race and not clear the path for Bodnar to take on Alme
Kurt Alme, a former U.S. Attorney, has won the Republican Senate primary in Montana. Alme was backed by President Donald Trump and retiring Republican Sen. Steve Daines, who recruited him to run for the seat.
Primary Election
Alme's win came after a last-minute ballot switch with Daines, who withdrew his own candidacy. Daines said the move was designed to prevent a well-known Democrat from running against a non-incumbent. Trump quickly endorsed Alme, citing Daines' recommendation.
General Election Outlook
Montana has moved to the right in recent years, and Alme is expected to be in a strong position in November. However, he will face challenges from Air Force veteran Alani Bankhead, who won the Democratic primary, and Seth Bodnar, a former University of Montana president and Green Beret running as an independent.
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NBC Politics.
