Buttigieg Backs Independent Bodnar Over Democrats in Montana Senate Race
WHO:
The Daily Beast - Seth Bodnar is 47 and served as president of the University of Montana for eight years.
The Daily Beast - Alani Bankhead is 44, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, and a federal agent.
CBS News Politics - Pete Buttigieg endorsed independent Seth Bodnar rather than Democratic Senate nominee Alani Bankhead.
CBS News Politics - Bodnar said he would not caucus with Democrats if elected.
ABC News - Buttigieg is a former transportation secretary, a veteran, a Democratic Party surrogate, and a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
ABC News - Bodnar is a former University of Montana president and Green Beret.
ABC News - Bankhead is an Air Force veteran; Republican Kurt Alme is a former U.S. attorney for Montana.
ABC News - Republican Sen. Steve Daines is retiring.
ABC News - President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are supporting Montana Republicans; Vance is set to hold a rally in Montana next week.
WHAT:
The Daily Beast - Polls showed Kurt Alme leading his opponents by double digits, while at least three surveys gave Bodnar a lead of two to six points.
The Daily Beast - Bankhead said the Democratic National Committee offered her a job as “the DNC’s head of female veteran candidates or something like that” in exchange for leaving the race; the DNC denied her claim.
The Daily Beast - Bankhead said the independent-candidate strategy would hurt the Democratic Party over the long term: “If you want to rehabilitate the brand, then you do it by rehabilitating the brand, not supporting independents.”
The Daily Beast - Democratic Senate nominees in Nebraska, Idaho, and South Dakota had dropped out to make way for independent candidates.
ABC News - Buttigieg endorsed Bodnar for the U.S. Senate, an independent candidate, rather than Bankhead, the Democratic nominee.
ABC News - Buttigieg said Bodnar cares more about “getting the job done than about who gets the credit,” has served the country and the next generation, and would bring “that same character to the Senate.”
ABC News - Buttigieg said Bodnar would “fight corruption in Washington, defend reproductive freedom, and work across the aisle to lower costs and actually get things done.” He did not mention Bankhead in his endorsement statement.
ABC News - Bodnar said he was “honored” by Buttigieg’s support and “proud that people across the political spectrum are joining this campaign.” He said he would answer to Montana and work with anyone willing to put families, jobs, and public lands ahead of partisan politics.
ABC News - Bankhead won the Democratic primary in June and has refused to withdraw. She alleged party members pressured her to drop out; the party denied the allegation, according to ABC affiliate KWYB.
ABC News - Alme is seeking to succeed Daines. At a rally, Alme said he would make lives more affordable, make communities safer, and protect Montana’s way of life.
ABC News - Buttigieg rose to prominence in his 2020 presidential campaign and has traveled nationally to campaign for Democrats and endorsed candidates in races up and down the ballot.
WHERE:
CBS News Politics - The Senate race is in Montana.
ABC News - Bodnar, Bankhead, and Alme are competing for a Montana U.S. Senate seat.
WHY:
ABC News - Some Democrats believe Bodnar has a better chance than Bankhead of defeating Alme.
ABC News - The three-way contest could split votes between Bodnar and Bankhead among Democrats and voters dissatisfied with Republicans, complicating efforts to take the seat from Republican control.
ABC News - Bodnar said Montana voters choose people over parties and want a senator who prioritizes families, jobs, and public lands over partisan politics.
HOW:
ABC News - Buttigieg’s endorsement was announced in a statement shared first with ABC News.
ABC News - Buttigieg said he is focused more on the midterms and electing Democrats in 2026, although he has confirmed he would consider a 2028 presidential run.
ABC News - Montana is among states where Democrats are backing independent Senate candidates; the article also names Nebraska, South Dakota, and Idaho.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 20:10 UTC)
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has endorsed independent Seth Bodnar in Montana’s U.S. Senate race, bypassing Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead. Buttigieg praised Bodnar, a former University of Montana president and Green Beret, as focused on results and said he would fight corruption, defend reproductive freedom and work across party lines. Bodnar said he was honored and would put Montana families, jobs and public lands ahead of partisan politics. Bankhead, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and federal agent, won the Democratic primary and is refusing to leave the race. She has accused party officials of pressuring her to withdraw, including with an offer of a DNC job; the party denied the allegations. Republican Kurt Alme, a former U.S. attorney, is also running to succeed retiring Senator Steve Daines. Polls have shown Alme leading, while some surveys put Bodnar ahead.
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(UPDATED October 23, 2026 17:26 UTC)
Pete Buttigieg has endorsed independent Seth Bodnar in Montana’s U.S. Senate race, bypassing Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead. Bodnar, a former University of Montana president and Green Beret, said he was honored and would work with anyone focused on families, jobs, and public lands. Buttigieg praised Bodnar’s service and said he would fight corruption, defend reproductive freedom, and work across party lines to lower costs. Bodnar has said he would not caucus with Democrats if elected. Bankhead, an Air Force veteran, won the Democratic primary and has refused to withdraw, despite allegations that party members pressured her to step aside, which the party denied. Republican Kurt Alme is also seeking the seat, as Republican Senator Steve Daines retires. Some Democrats see Bodnar as better positioned to defeat Alme, but the three-way race could divide voters opposed to Republican control.