Sen. Steve Daines withdraws from Montana reelection race minutes before filing deadline
The Facts
- Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced he will not seek reelection to a third term in the U.S. Senate.
- Daines withdrew from the race just minutes before Montana’s filing deadline for the November election.
- Daines said he had been wrestling with the decision for months.
- Daines endorsed Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme as his preferred successor in the race.
- Kurt Alme filed to run for the Senate seat shortly before the filing deadline.
- President Donald Trump endorsed Kurt Alme after Daines’ withdrawal.
- Daines has served in Congress since 2013, first in the U.S. House and then in the Senate after winning a Senate seat in 2014.
Context
Who is Kurt Alme, the candidate Daines endorsed?
Kurt Alme is Montana’s U.S. attorney and a Republican; he filed to run for the Senate seat shortly before the deadline and was endorsed by both Daines and President Donald Trump. News 4 Jax NBC News Washington Post
How close to the deadline did Daines and Alme make their moves?
Daines withdrew minutes before the 5 p.m. Mountain Time filing deadline, and reporting cited Alme filing shortly beforehand (including an account that he filed eight minutes before the deadline). News 4 Jax Washington Post
What other candidacy developments were reported the same day in Montana’s Senate race?
Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar announced an independent campaign for the seat on the same day Daines withdrew. Guardian My Northwest
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