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▼ Bad look for DainesElections / Campaigns

Daines says his stunning exit was designed to avoid 'a very expensive' race

Daines says he left the race before the filing deadline to limit its cost and prevent potential Democratic candidates from entering.

Daines says his stunning exit was designed to avoid 'a very expensive' race
Image · Yahoo News

SOURCE CHECK

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Host credibilityYahoo News74/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026

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Republished from Semafor, with credit to the original publisher.

Semafor76/100 HIGH

45 stories · 75–77 · updated Oct 12, 2026

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Yahoo Newsvia Semafor
Mar 5, 2026
tl;dr

Steve Daines withdrew from Montana’s Senate race just before the filing deadline, saying he wanted to prevent a costly contest and block potential Democratic candidates. He had worked to line up support for Kurt Alme as his successor, while independent candidate Seth Bodnar entered the race.

Community verdict

22 VOTES
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Steve Daines R · MT · SEN

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 44

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Steve Daines
R · MT · SEN

Montana senator who withdrew from reelection and backed Kurt Alme as his preferred successor

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who supported Alme and discussed the Senate races with Daines

Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr.
Former U.S. Representative (R-MT)

Former Montana representative mentioned in Daines’s past campaign work

Tim Sheehy
R · MT · SEN

Montana senator mentioned in connection with Daines’s earlier campaign recruitment

Former Montana governor mentioned as a possible Democratic Senate candidate

Jon Tester
Former U.S. Senator (D-MT)

Former Montana senator who disputed Daines’s explanation

Montana House candidate who criticized Daines’s tactics

Greg Gianforte
Former U.S. Representative (R-MT)

Montana governor mentioned in discussion of possible successors

Ryan K. Zinke
R · MT-1

Montana representative whose seat Olszewski is seeking

Independent Montana Senate candidate

Kurt Alme
R · MT

Montana Senate candidate whom Daines selected as his preferred successor

ALSO MENTIONED  Brian Schweitzer, Former Montana governor mentioned as a possible Democratic Senate candidate; Maeve Coyle, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson; Mike Berg, Chief of staff to Senator Tim Sheehy and former Daines campaign aide

Part of a bigger story

23 OUTLETS
Steve Daines Withdraws From Montana Senate Re-Election Race

Daines withdrew from his reelection bid shortly before Montana’s filing deadline. Kurt Alme entered the race around the deadline, and Daines endorsed him as his preferred successor. Left-leaning outlets focus on whether Daines’s timing and endorsement narrowed the primary or kept potential recruits out. Center outlets mainly recount the exit, Alme’s entry and endorsements, while also reporting claims about the effect on competition. Right-leaning outlets generally pair Daines’s departure with his support for Alme, though their coverage also includes criticism of the timing.

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