{"id":2642920,"date":"2026-08-11T05:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T09:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-independent-gamble-hits-major-roadblock-in-montana\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T05:23:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T09:23:18","slug":"democrats-independent-gamble-hits-major-roadblock-in-montana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-independent-gamble-hits-major-roadblock-in-montana\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats\u2019 independent gamble hits major roadblock in Montana"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-independent-gamble-hits-major-roadblock-in-montana%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2642920&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Republicans&#8217; chances of retaining both Montana Senate seats have improved sharply as Democrats failed to consolidate their candidate field,allowing self-reliant challenger Seth Bodnar,backed by ex-Senator Jon Tester,to stay in the race. the current three-way contest is expected to split the Democratic vote, likely helping Republican Kurt Alme secure victory in November. Despite efforts by Montana Democrats to persuade their official nominee, Alani Bankhead, to withdraw-an effort she refused-her <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >campaign faces challenges due<\/a> to weak fundraising and external support ending.The race reflects broader Democratic strategies across red states, where backing independents aims to counteract the difficulty of overcoming Republican dominance. However,in Montana,splitting the vote may hinder Democratic chances,especially since the seat is open following Senator Steve Daines\u2019 retirement. Political analysts suggest that the race is now considered a foregone conclusion in favor of Alme, and some Republicans believe bodnars momentum is waning as campaign funding diminishes. This scenario underscores the complexities of third-party candidacies in traditionally Republican regions and the strategic importance of resource allocation in upcoming Senate races.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans\u2019 chances of keeping both of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/montana\/\">Montana<\/a>\u2018s Senate seats just shot through the roof after Democrats failed to clear the field for Seth Bodnar, an independent backed by ex-Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jon-tester\/\">Jon Tester<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of now, Bodnar is running in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">three-way race<\/a> that is expected to split the Democratic vote in Montana and potentially gift wrap Kurt Alme, the Republican nominee, the win in November. Montana Democrats in the state legislature made a late push to get Alani Bankhead, their party\u2019s nominee, to drop out, but she vowed to stay in the race on Monday \u2014 the last day to remove herself from the ballot.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4682264\/jennifer-balkcom-chuck-edwards-north-carolina\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jennifer Balkcom to replace Chuck Edwards on North Carolina House ballot<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4682147\/cook-political-report-max-miller-toss-up\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Cook Political Report shifts embattled Max Miller\u2019s Ohio seat to \u2018toss up\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4681053\/max-miller-stays-in-race-deadline-passes\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Facing domestic violence allegations, Max Miller is locked in for reelection bid<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bodnar\u2019s support is part of a nationwide effort by Democrats to compete in traditionally Republican states by fielding or backing independent challengers. But their inability to convince Bankhead to bow out means that Montana\u2019s Senate seat is likely to stay in Republican hands next year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think there\u2019s about to be a lot less media attention on this race,\u201d said Kal Munis, a political science professor at Montana State University. \u201cI think this puts us into foregone conclusion territory that Alme will win pretty comfortably.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4593921\/democrats-independents-red-state-races\/\"><strong>DEMOCRATS TURN TO INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES TO COMPETE IN RED STATES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The outcome marks a major setback for Democrats in what is otherwise projected to be a strong year for the party nationally. The state is generally a Republican stronghold and has trended to the right over the last decade. But it also has an independent streak, and with President Donald Trump\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/approval\/donald-trump\/approval-rating\">falling approval ratings<\/a>, Democrats could have conceivably turned Montana into a genuine battleground.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Less than two years ago, it was represented by Tester, a three-term senator. Six years ago, it had a Democratic governor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf the stars align just perfectly, the state can be in play, and everything aligned just perfectly this year, except they\u2019re going to be splitting that opposition vote, and you just can\u2019t do that here,\u201d said Munis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At stake is control of the Senate, as Democrats need to flip four seats to regain the majority in November. The seat is opening up due to the retirement of Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), who opted not to run for a third term <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4481281\/steve-daines-drops-reelection-bid-two-terms-senate\/\">minutes before the March filing deadline<\/a> to minimize the risk that Alme attracted a major challenger.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move helped avoid a GOP primary for Alme as well as the entrance of a well-known Democrat such as Tester or former Gov. Steve Bullock.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bodnar\u2019s race is just one in which Democrats have coalesced behind an independent as opposed to their official candidate. Over the last month, Democratic nominees in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/democrat-moves-drop-nebraskas-senate-race-clearing-path-independent-rcna588079\">Nebraska<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/southdakotasearchlight.com\/2026\/08\/04\/south-dakotas-democratic-nominee-for-us-senate-drops-out\/\">South Dakota<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/idahocapitalsun.com\/2026\/07\/28\/idaho-democrat-david-roth-ends-campaign-for-us-senate-seat-held-by-risch\/\">Idaho<\/a> have either withdrawn from the race or asked for their names to be removed from the ballot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Montana, 22 members of the state legislature asked Bankhead to drop out on Friday and threw their support behind Bodnar, who has the backing of traditional union and Democratic-aligned groups.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Montana Democratic Party has stuck with Bankhead as the winner of the June primary, although her campaign has been viewed with skepticism due to her anemic fundraising. She won the primary with the help of an outside group that has since ended its financial support, declaring the state <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/07\/06\/mystery-pac-that-boosted-bankhead-exits-senate-race-leaving-a-financial-void\/\">unwinnable<\/a> for Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bankhead <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SeabornLarson\/status\/2086876840191566039?s=20\">accused<\/a> the political establishment of attempting to force her out of the race ahead of Monday\u2019s filing deadline. Bodnar, in turn, reiterated his intention to continue his campaign while <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/burgessev\/status\/2086894903057957320?s=20\">questioning<\/a> the \u201cdark money groups\u201d supporting Bankhead\u2019s candidacy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to state law, there is some question as to whether Democrats could have actually forgone running a nominee from their own party in Montana, but they were already preparing for a legal challenge as Bankhead faced pressure to drop out.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats don\u2019t have to look far back to find an example of a three-way race hurting their chances of winning. Former Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Republican, had a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2022\/11\/08\/us\/elections\/results-montana-us-house-district-2.html\">far simpler path<\/a> to reelection in 2022 because a Democrat and an independent simultaneously challenged him, receiving one-fifth of the vote each, though the eastern Montana district skews significantly more Republican than the state as a whole.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The strategy of fielding independent candidates nods to the difficulty of Democrats separating themselves from the brand of their party, particularly in a red state. Brian Bengs, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/southdakotasearchlight.com\/2026\/08\/04\/south-dakotas-democratic-nominee-for-us-senate-drops-out\/\">independent challenger in South Dakota<\/a>, is running after receiving only a quarter of the vote as a Democrat in his 2022 race against Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is some indication, however, that the third-party path can be a successful one for Democratic-aligned candidates. Independent Dan Osborn is running another campaign for Senate this cycle after coming within a surprise 7 points of defeating incumbent Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) in Nebraska.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if the candidates are not successful, the entrance of competitive challengers forces Republicans to spend resources in a state they would rather deploy elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2024, Montana was viewed as a top-tier state for Republicans, who spent tens of millions to unseat Tester and elect Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Polling has suggested that Bodnar, the former president of the University of Montana, could make the Montana Senate race <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/montana-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html\">competitive<\/a> once again, and he has repeatedly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/dailymontanan.com\/2026\/05\/26\/bodnar-outraises-alme-in-pre-primary-filings-submits-signatures-for-ballot\/\">outraised<\/a> Alme, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Montana. But Republicans are predicting that his fundraising will peter out with Bankhead staying in the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4679983\/chuck-grassley-todd-blanche-attorney-general-nomination\/\"><strong>HOW GRASSLEY GOT TODD BLANCHE\u2019S ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINATION BACK ON TRACK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSeth\u2019s fundraising is about to dry up and his campaign is effectively dead,\u201d said one Montana GOP strategist, who requested anonymity to speak candidly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Montana Democratic Party did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Montana race favors Republicans as Dems back independent challenger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2642921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26222625336458-e1786402441762.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3685,3728,8605,5894,4351],"class_list":["post-2642920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democrats","tag-election","tag-montana","tag-politics","tag-voting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26222625336458-e1786402441762.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2642920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2642920"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2642920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2642924,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2642920\/revisions\/2642924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2642921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2642920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2642920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2642920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}