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.
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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.
