A surprise resignation could open the door for an independent to win a Montana Senate seat

March 27, 2026 12:01 AM ET

Kirk Siegler

(snip)

Daines' late hour withdrawal presumably clears the way for his chosen successor, Kurt Alme, the U.S. Attorney for Montana until he declared his candidacy for Daines' seat. Daines later said withdrawing earlier could have enticed a prominent Democrat like Tester to enter the race.

Independent Seth Bodnar says it reminds him of the Montana of old.

"We have direct election of senators in the United States in part because of political corruption in this state 125 years ago, Copper Kings trying to buy U.S. Senate seats," Bodnar says. "That didn't work back then and it's not going to work right now."

But Democrats say Bodnar's entry as an independent will just split the liberal vote.

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/27/nx-s1-5752350/a-surprise-resignation-could-open-the-door-for-an-independent-to-win-a-montana-senate-seat

I don't have a preferred candidate in the race I just thought the article was interesting especially the first 4 paragraphs, the part about how there are more boos for Republicans than Democrats at the Butte St. Paddy's Day Parade which I almost posted but in order to fit the 4 paragraph rule I included a section that is more of what the article is about.