Sen. Steve Daines, the Republican incumbent from Montana, filed a surprise withdrawal from his re‑election bid on Wednesday, March 4, just minutes before the state’s filing deadline. In a brief statement, Daines said he had wrestled with the decision for months and now looks forward to “spending time with my seven grandchildren and more time in Montana.”
President Donald Trump praised Daines’s service and announced his endorsement of Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, calling Alme his “TRUMP 45 and TRUMP 47 U.S. Attorney.” Trump’s statement read: “Sadly for our Country, Steve’s Term is up,” he said, “and he has decided to leave the Senate and, ‘pass the torch’ to Kurt Alme, my TRUMP 45 and TRUMP 47 U.S. Attorney.”
Alme, a native Montanan, issued his own statement: “As a native Montanan, I have always been committed to serving our communities, upholding the rule of law, and fighting for the safety and prosperity of every family in our state,” he said. Alme previously served as a federal prosecutor and held budget‑director posts under two Republican governors.
The withdrawal follows a broader reshuffling of Montana’s Republican field. Four‑term Rep. Ryan Zinke announced his retirement earlier in the week, citing health concerns, and quickly endorsed radio talk‑show host Aaron Flint for his House seat. Former University of Montana president Seth Bodnar launched an independent campaign, accusing Daines of “coronating” a handpicked successor and denying Montana Republicans a true voice at the ballot.
With Daines out, the GOP retains a slim 53‑45 Senate majority, a key factor as the party eyes control of the upper chamber in the 2026 midterms. Daines becomes the 15th senator to announce retirement since the 2024 election, a record‑setting streak that underscores the volatile political landscape leading into the November contests.