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2026 U.S. Senate election in Montana
Montana voters will elect one U.S. senator in 2026 for the state’s Class II seat. The race is now an open-seat contest after incumbent Steve Daines withdrew from the filing process on March 4, 2026, and it matters because it will help determine control of the U.S. Senate. Republicans are competing to hold the seat, while Democrats and independents are trying to capitalize on the open field and a crowded primary lineup.
Candidates
Steve Daines
Steve Daines is the incumbent U.S. senator from Montana and a former businessman. On March 4, 2026, he withdrew from the 2026 Senate race, which changed the contest from an incumbent defense to an open-seat race. His prior public profile and campaign messaging emphasized conservative priorities such as jobs, border security, and Montana values.
Reilly Neill is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana and a former state legislator. Her campaign describes her as a different kind of Democrat focused on affordability, public education, agriculture, health care, and listening to voters across the state. She has framed her campaign as a grassroots effort aimed at challenging the status quo and restoring trust in leadership.
Kurt Alme is a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana and previously served as the U.S. attorney for the District of Montana. His background is in law and federal prosecution, and his entry into the race came late in the filing period. Public reporting and Ballotpedia identify him as one of the Republican primary contenders.
Lee Calhoun is a Republican candidate in Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate primary. Ballotpedia lists him among the Republican contenders, and campaign materials describe him as a Montana conservative focused on economic opportunity, health care, and community issues. Public reporting indicates he later suspended or withdrew his bid, so his active status should be checked against the latest filing records.
Charles A. Walking Child is a Republican candidate in Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate primary. His campaign says he is focused on economic opportunity, accessible health care, and conservative values, and Ballotpedia lists him among the Republican contenders. Public biographical material describes him as a Montana native with Blackfeet heritage and a background shaped by both hardship and faith.
Seth Bodnar is an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana and previously served as president of the University of Montana. His background combines higher education leadership, military service, and business experience, and he entered the race as a late-filed general-election candidate. Ballotpedia lists him as the current general-election candidate, making him the main independent option in the race.
Michael Black Wolf is listed by Ballotpedia as a Democratic primary candidate for Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. Publicly available biographical detail is limited in the sources reviewed, so his background and issue profile are not well documented in the materials found. He remains one of several Democrats competing for the nomination.
Michael Hummert is a Democratic candidate in Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate primary and previously ran in the 2024 Democratic primary for the same seat. Ballotpedia lists him among the current Democratic contenders, but the sources reviewed did not provide much additional biographical detail. He is part of a crowded Democratic field that is competing to challenge the Republican nominee in November.
Christopher Kehoe is listed by Ballotpedia as a Democratic primary candidate in Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. The sources reviewed did not provide substantial public biographical information about his career or education. He is one of several Democrats seeking the nomination.
Alani Bankhead is listed by Ballotpedia as a Democratic primary candidate in Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. The reviewed sources did not yield enough reliable public biographical detail to summarize her career or education in depth. She is part of the Democratic primary field seeking the nomination.
Kyle Austin is a Libertarian candidate in Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate primary. Ballotpedia lists him among the Libertarian contenders, but the reviewed sources provided little additional biographical detail. He is part of a smaller third-party field in the race.
Tom Jandron is listed by Ballotpedia as a Libertarian candidate in Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate primary. The sources reviewed did not provide enough reliable public biographical information to detail his career or education. He is one of the Libertarian contenders in the race.
Polling
Data Analysis Information
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 4/6/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.