For related races, see 2026 United States Senate elections.
Not to be confused with 2026 Montana Senate election.

2026 United States Senate election in Montana
← 2020
November 3, 2026
2032 →
 
Nominee TBD TBD Seth Bodnar
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Incumbent U.S. senator

Steve Daines
Republican


The 2026 United States Senate election in Montana will be held on November 6, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Montana. Primary elections will be held on June 2, 2026. Two-term incumbent Steve Daines, who was re-elected in 2020 with 55.0% of the vote, withdrew from the Republican primary just minutes before the filing deadline and endorsed attorney Kurt Alme as his successor. Seth Bodnar, the president of the University of Montana until January 2026, is contesting the election as an independent candidate.

Background

Montana is considered to be a red state at the federal level, having not voted for a Democratic president since Bill Clinton's plurality victory in 1992.[1] Recently, the state has also been trending red on a statewide level, as Republicans flipped the governorship in 2020,[2] and the Class I Senate seat in 2024.[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Kurt Alme, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana (2017–2020, 2025–2026)[4]
  • Lee Calhoun[5]
  • Charles WalkingChild, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[6]

Withdrawn

  • Steve Daines, incumbent U.S. senator (2015–present) (endorsed Alme)[7]

Endorsements

Kurt Alme
Executive branch officials
  • Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[8] (previously endorsed Daines)[9]
U.S. senators
  • Steve Daines, Montana (2015–present)[7]
  • Tim Scott, South Carolina (2013–present)[10]
  • Tim Sheehy, Montana (2025–present)[11]
Statewide officials
  • Greg Gianforte, governor of Montana (2021–present)[11]
Steve Daines (withdrawn)
Executive branch officials
  • Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[9] (endorsed Alme after Daines withdrew)[8]
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Political parties
  • Montana Republican Party[13]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Steve Daines (R) $8,108,303 $3,311,751 $4,904,334
Source: Federal Election Commission[14]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Alani Bankhead, Air Force lieutenant colonel and leadership coach[15]
  • Michael Black Wolf, tribal historic preservation officer at Fort Belknap Indian Community[16]
  • Michael Hummert, retired remodeling contractor and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[17]
  • Christopher Kehoe[5]
  • Reilly Neill, former state representative from the 62nd district (2013–2015)[18]

Withdrawn

  • Kathleen McLaughlin, homemaker (running for Montana House of Representatives)[19]

Declined

  • Jon Tester, former U.S. senator (2007–2025)[20]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Alani Bankhead (D) $5,318 $2,000 $4,478
Michael Black Wolf (D) $13,598 $4,922 $8,675
Michael Hummert (D) $10,000 $200 $10,544
Reilly Neill (D) $147,227 $136,319 $10,907
Source: Federal Election Commission[14]

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Declared

Independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Seth Bodnar, former president of the University of Montana[22]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[23] Likely R March 5, 2026
The Cook Political Report[24] Solid R October 14, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[25] Likely R March 4, 2026
Race to the WH[26] Likely R September 4, 2025

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Steve Daines vs. Reilly Neill vs. Seth Bodnar

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Steve
Daines (R)		 Reilly
Neill (D)		 Seth
Bodnar (I)		 Other Undecided
American Pulse Research & Polling[27] February 14–18, 2026 607 (LV) ± 4.0% 52% 25% 16% – 7%
56% 37% –
51% – 42%
yes. every kid.[28] January 23–26, 2026 500 (RV) ± 4.4% 43% 19% 15% 3%[b] 20%


Steve Daines vs. Seth Bodnar as a Democrat

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Steve
Daines (R)		 Seth
Bodnar (D)		 Undecided
American Pulse Research & Polling[27] February 14–18, 2026 607 (LV) ± 4.0% 54% 40% 6%

Notes

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ "Someone else/Other" with 2%; "Do not plan to vote" with 1%

References

  1. ^ https://www.270towin.com/states/montana
  2. ^ https://www.vox.com/2020/11/4/21536492/election-results-greg-gianforte-montana-governor-winner
  3. ^ https://www.npr.org/2024/11/09/nx-s1-5181908/with-democratic-senator-jon-testers-loss-in-montana-republicans-take-full-control
  4. ^ "Trump backs former federal prosecutor for Daines Senate seat". The Hill. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c "FEDERAL PRIMARY 2026 Candidate List". candidatefiling.mt.gov. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  6. ^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1927829". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Drew, Micah (March 5, 2026). "With just minutes before filing deadline closes, Daines shocks Montana by withdrawing • Daily Montanan". Daily Montanan. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  8. ^ a b "Trump Endorses Alme for Montana Senate as Daines Steps Aside". Bloomberg. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  9. ^ a b Miller, Blair (April 23, 2025). "Daines gets Trump's endorsement as he readies 2026 Senate reelection bid". Independent Record. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  10. ^ "NRSC Chairman Tim Scott Endorses Kurt Alme in Montana Senate Race". NRSC.org. March 5, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Kurt Alme files for U.S. Senate, immediately endorsed by outgoing Sen. Daines, President Trump". News From The States. Retrieved March 5, 2026. In his announcement, Alme noted he also received endorsements from President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, and Gov. Greg Gianforte.
  12. ^ "- AIPAC Political Portal". candidates.aipacpac.org. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  13. ^ "Montana GOP won't endorse in federal races this cycle". News From The States. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  14. ^ a b "2026 Election United States Senate – Montana". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  15. ^ Ragar, Shaylee (January 6, 2026). "Two more Montana Democrats launch congressional campaigns". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  16. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (November 14, 2025). "Montana U.S. Senate race: Daines up for third term, three Democrats running". KTVH. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  17. ^ "Filing FEC-1864033". Federal Elections Commission. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  18. ^ Batura, Sean (November 19, 2024). "Park County resident runs for U.S. Senate". The Livingston Enterprise. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  19. ^ McLaughlin, Kate. "McLaughlin Withdraws". Facebook. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  20. ^ Guggenheim, Benjamin; Kashinsky, Lisa; Razor, Calen; McCarthy, Mia (June 25, 2025). "Johnson warns about a Medicaid backlash". Politico. Retrieved June 25, 2025. Jon Tester won't run for elected office again after losing his Senate seat in the 2024 election, telling our Garrett Downs he's happy in retirement on his Montana farm. He would have been a top recruit for Democrats to take on GOP Sen. Steve Daines next year
  21. ^ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1930861". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  22. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (March 4, 2026). "Bodnar announces independent run for Senate". KXLH. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  23. ^ "Senate Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  24. ^ "2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  25. ^ "2026 Senate ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  26. ^ "2026 Senate Forecast". Race to the WH. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  27. ^ a b Olson, Dustin (February 23, 2026). "Strategic Insights: Montana US Senate General Election Mathups". American Pulse Research & Polling. Retrieved February 24, 2026 – via Google Drive.
  28. ^ Foster, Scott (February 26, 2026). "Mon⁠t⁠ana Vo⁠t⁠ers Wan⁠t⁠ More Educa⁠t⁠⁠i⁠on Freedom". yes. every kid. foundation. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
Official campaign websites