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Sen. Steve Daines announces surprise retirement

Daines withdrew his reelection paperwork and endorsed Kurt Alme for the Montana Senate seat.

Sen. Steve Daines announces surprise retirement
Image · Roll Call

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Outlet credibilityRoll Call79/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026
Roll Call
Mar 4, 2026
tl;dr

Sen. Steve Daines withdrew his Montana reelection paperwork just before the filing deadline, shortly after U.S. attorney Kurt Alme filed to run for the seat. Daines endorsed Alme, while former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar also entered the race as an independent.

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Steve Daines R · MT · SEN

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Steve Daines
R · MT · SEN

Montana senator ending his reelection bid and endorsing Kurt Alme

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Kurt Alme
R · MT

Republican U.S. attorney and candidate for the Montana Senate seat

Alme's version of this story ↗
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President endorsing Alme for the Senate seat

Independent candidate for the Montana Senate seat

ALSO MENTIONED  Monica Robinson, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson criticizing Daines’ retirement

Part of a bigger story

11 OUTLETS
Steve Daines Withdraws Reelection Bid as Kurt Alme Enters Senate Race

Steve Daines withdrew from Montana’s Senate race shortly before the filing deadline and endorsed Kurt Alme, who entered the race. Left-leaning outlets cast the filing sequence as an insider handoff that could sideline voters. Center outlets focus on Daines’s withdrawal, Alme’s entry and endorsement, and the resulting race changes. Right-leaning outlets largely present a retirement-and-succession story, with some stressing praise for Daines and support for Alme.

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