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Montana Senator Steve Daines Shocks GOP with Sudden Retirement Announcement

KVIA•Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 3:00 AM•CNN Newsource

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Senator Steve Daines of Montana unexpectedly announced he will not seek reelection, leaving Kurt Alme as the only major candidate in the GOP primary. This announcement came just as the filing deadline closed, prompting criticism from independent candidate Seth Bodnar, who accused Daines of disrespecting Montana Republicans by not allowing them a choice at the ballot. Daines, who has served in the Senate since 2014, expressed gratitude for his time in office but stated that after careful consideration, he decided to pass the torch to Alme, who received endorsements from both Daines and former President Trump. This sudden exit from the race raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the influence of party endorsements.

Key Details: • Daines announced his decision not to run just before the filing deadline. • Kurt Alme entered the race eight minutes before the deadline. • Independent candidate Seth Bodnar criticized Daines for his last-minute withdrawal. • Daines served in the Senate for 12 years and previously in the House for 2 years.

elections politics trump gop senate

People & Organizations

Donald TrumpMontanaSteve DainesKurt AlmeSeth Bodnar

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