The Montana U. S.
Senate race is heating up as Democrat Alani Bankhead and independent Seth Bodnar both refuse to withdraw before the August 10 deadline that would keep their names off the general election ballot.
That deadline is critical.
With both candidates in the race, Montana voters could split their votes, likely paving the way for Republican Kurt Alme to win the seat.
Bankhead has strong support among the state's Democratic base but limited campaign funds.
Bodnar, on the other hand, has raised the most money among all candidates and gained backing from prominent Democratic figures and some former Republicans.
Bankhead is firm about staying in the race. "I will never drop out, for a number of reasons," she said in a text to Capitolized.
"Forty-eight thousand Montanans voted for me using the democratic process as set forth by Montana law. The split vote was created by the independent.
Therefore, it's his problem to fix by dropping out."
Bodnar's team also confirmed he will not quit the race.
Legal and Political Complications
The debate over withdrawal is complicated by Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen's assertion that if Bankhead drops out before the deadline, the Democratic Party must select a replacement candidate.
However, several Montana attorneys have advised the party that it is not legally obligated to replace Bankhead.
They argue that the First Amendment allows the party to back Bodnar without naming a new nominee.
"Political parties are free to choose who represents them," the attorneys wrote.
"And in 2026, Montana Democrats can do just that: and choose to advance their platform rather than feel cornered to nominate a Democratic candidate who cannot win a head-to-head match up with the hand-picked Republican nominee."
The Montana Democratic Party did not respond to questions about this legal interpretation or its rules for candidate replacement.
Historically, Montana law requires candidates to withdraw at least 85 days before the general election to avoid appearing on the ballot.
The replacement nominee must be selected no later than 76 days before the election.
In 2020, the Libertarian Party in Montana chose not to replace their Senate candidate despite early withdrawal, setting a recent precedent.
The Republican Party has a history of pressuring opponents to drop out of Senate races.
In 2024, former President Donald Trump urged a Libertarian candidate to withdraw shortly before the deadline, but the candidate declined.
President Trump has framed the upcoming Montana Senate race as a contest solely between Alme and Bankhead, ignoring Bodnar's candidacy.
Meanwhile, some Democratic legislators have urged Bankhead to meet with Bodnar to negotiate who should exit the race to consolidate the non-Republican vote.
National analysis suggests Bodnar may have a better chance of defeating Alme, as he polls higher than Bankhead in head-to-head matchups.
Bodnar has pledged not to join the Senate Democratic Caucus if elected but also would not align with Republicans.
However, the presence of both Bankhead and Bodnar on the ballot virtually guarantees a Republican victory, underscoring the high stakes of the Montana Senate race amid a divided Democratic and independent electorate.
