Kurt Alme wins Montana Senate race for Republicans

Republican Kurt Alme won the United States Senate race in Montana on Tuesday night, defeating independent Seth Bodnar and Democrat Alani Bankhead. KTVQ, The Hill, and the Montana Free Press all reported that Alme won the seat. According to the Washington Examiner, the Associated Press called the race for Alme at 2:54 a.m. Wednesday morning. Alme received 47.7 percent of the vote, compared to 38.6 percent for Bodnar and 11.9 percent for Bankhead, with 78 percent of the vote counted. [1][3][4][5]

Alme is succeeding Republican Steve Daines, who did not seek a third term. Alme is a former United States attorney for the District of Montana who resigned to run for the seat. Bankhead is a Democratic Air Force officer, while Bodnar is a former president of the University of Montana. [1][6][7][9]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed Bodnar over the Democratic nominee. Shannon O'Brien also resigned as chairwoman of the Montana Democratic Party to back Bodnar instead of Bankhead. [9][10]

The Washington Examiner noted that the race was long considered Alme's to lose after both Bodnar and Bankhead refused to drop out of the contest. [1]