Buttigieg Backs Montana Independent Bodnar, Ignoring Democratic Nominee

Key points

• Pete Buttigieg endorsed independent candidate Seth Bodnar for the Montana U.S. Senate seat, explicitly choosing him over Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead.
• Buttigieg stated that Bodnar’s character and service record, including time in the Army Green Berets and as University of Montana president, make him the best choice for Montanans.
• Bankhead, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, refused to withdraw from the race, rejecting a reported DNC offer for a job in exchange for dropping out.
• Republican nominee Kurt Alme leads the polls by double digits, though some surveys show Bodnar holding a small lead over Bankhead.
• President Trump held a rally in Montana last week, and Vice President JD Vance is expected to hold a rally there next week to support Alme.
• Montana is a solidly Republican state, and the three-way race risks splitting the non-Republican vote, potentially handing the seat to Alme.

Background

The Montana Senate seat opened after Republican Senator Steve Daines decided not to seek reelection shortly before the March filing deadline. The race has become a focal point for Democratic strategy in deep-red states, where some party members have backed independents to avoid losing seats to Republicans. In early October, Shannon O'Brien, the chair of the Montana Democratic Party, resigned to endorse Bodnar, criticizing Bankhead’s campaign strategy and policy positions. Bankhead has consistently rejected these endorsements as political maneuvers and vowed to remain in the race. The current endorsement by Buttigieg, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, marks the most high-profile instance of this internal Democratic fracture.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News and ABC News reported the endorsement as a significant move by a major Democrat, noting that Buttigieg’s statement did not mention Bankhead. The Daily Beast framed the endorsement as a 'shock' and 'plot twist,' emphasizing that it came while the Republican candidate was leading in the polls. The Daily Beast also highlighted Bankhead’s claim that the DNC offered her a job to drop out, a claim the party denies. ABC News noted that Buttigieg is focused on electing Democrats in 2026, despite considering a 2028 presidential bid. The Montana Standard’s content was largely obscured by subscription prompts, but its presence indicates local media attention to the campaign’s final stretch. All sources agree on the core facts of the endorsement and the three-way race, but they differ in emphasis: CBS and ABC focus on the political implications and Buttigieg’s rationale, while The Daily Beast focuses on the internal Democratic conflict and Bankhead’s refusal to drop out.

Why it matters

The endorsement by Buttigieg, a prominent Democratic figure, signals a deep fracture within the party over strategy in deep-red states. The three-way race risks splitting the non-Republican vote, potentially handing the seat to Kurt Alme despite strong support for Bodnar among some Democrats. The outcome will influence how Democrats approach similar races in other deep-red states, such as Nebraska, Idaho, and South Dakota, where similar dynamics have played out. The race also highlights the tension between party loyalty and electability, a theme that will likely persist in future midterms.

What to watch

Vice President JD Vance is expected to hold a rally in Montana next week to support Kurt Alme. The campaign will likely intensify in the final weeks before the November 3 election, with both parties focusing on getting out the vote. The outcome of the race will be closely watched as a bellwether for Democratic strategy in deep-red states and the viability of independent candidates in such races.