Republican Senator Steve Daines made a surprising last-minute decision to withdraw from Montana’s Senate race just minutes before the official filing deadline. According to sources familiar with the situation, the move was carefully timed to prevent strong Democratic candidates from entering the race for the open Senate seat.
The unexpected withdrawal has sparked political debate, with critics accusing the GOP of trying to shape the race by limiting potential challengers.
Daines Withdraws Minutes Before Deadline
Sen. Steve Daines reportedly waited until the final moments before the Wednesday filing deadline to announce that he would not run for another Senate term.
Sources said Daines knew that withdrawing earlier could give Democrats enough time to recruit strong candidates for the seat.
Instead, he stepped aside just minutes before the deadline closed, leaving little opportunity for major Democratic figures to enter the race.
Kurt Alme Files Candidacy at Last Moment
Shortly before the deadline, Kurt Alme, who had been serving as the U.S. attorney for Montana, officially filed his candidacy for the Senate seat.
Reports say Alme submitted his paperwork just eight minutes before the filing deadline.
Once the deadline passed, no additional candidates could enter the race, effectively preventing high-profile Democrats from joining the contest.
Democrats Could Have Fielded Strong Candidates
Political insiders say several well-known Democratic leaders were potential candidates for the seat.
These included:
- Former U.S. Senator Jon Tester
- Former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
- Former Montana Governor Steve Bullock
Any of these figures could have turned the race into a highly competitive contest and attracted significant campaign funding.
Democrats have previously invested heavily in competitive races in Republican-leaning states like Alaska and Ohio, which can shift the balance of power in the Senate.
Daines’ Decision Linked to Alme’s Entry
According to sources, Daines did not initially plan to step aside unless a strong Republican replacement entered the race.
He had reportedly planned to run for a third term if Kurt Alme had chosen not to run.
However, Alme resigned from his role as U.S. attorney on Wednesday afternoon and decided to enter the race.
After learning of Alme’s decision, Daines moved forward with his plan to withdraw.
Trump Praises Daines and Endorses Alme
President Donald Trump was reportedly aware of the discussions surrounding the decision.
Soon after the filing deadline passed, Trump posted on Truth Social praising Daines and endorsing Kurt Alme as the Republican candidate.
In the post, Trump said Daines had decided to “pass the torch” to Alme.
The endorsement quickly signaled strong Republican support for Alme’s campaign.
Democrats Criticize the Move
Democratic leaders criticized the timing of Daines’ withdrawal, arguing that it prevented voters from seeing a wider range of candidates in the race.
Some Democrats claimed the move was designed to block competitive challengers and secure an easier path for the Republican candidate.
However, similar political strategies have been used by both parties in past elections.
Independent Candidate Speaks Out
The decision also drew criticism from independent candidate Seth Bodnar, who is already running in the race.
Bodnar said the timing of the withdrawal showed little respect for Republican voters in Montana.
He argued that Daines’ move allowed party leaders to effectively choose a successor rather than letting voters decide through an open primary.
