Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., dropped his reelection bid Wednesday just minutes before the state’s filing deadline.
It was a stunning move – and it cleared the Republican primary field for President Trump’s hand-picked successor.
Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme had filed his paperwork just before the deadline, and Daines pulled out immediately after.
Trump endorsed Alme on Truth Social within hours, ensuring the little-known federal prosecutor enters the race with the full weight of the Republican Party behind him and no primary opponent to fight off.
“Steve Daines, of Montana, is one of our truly Great United States Senators,” Trump wrote. “He did a job like few others are capable of doing but, sadly for our Country, Steve’s Term is up, and he has decided to leave the Senate and, ‘pass the torch’ to Kurt Alme, my TRUMP 45 and TRUMP 47 U.S. Attorney.”
Trump made it clear the decision was a coordinated act of political trust.
“In fact, if Kurt didn’t have the highest level of aptitude and talent, Steve would have remained exactly where he is but, Kurt is exceptional, and I will be giving him, based on Steve’s strongest recommendation, my Complete and Total Endorsement,” he said.
Daines, 63, had filed for reelection just four weeks earlier on February 17 and had $4.9 million in his campaign war chest. He was widely expected to cruise to a third term in a state Trump won by nearly 20 points in 2024. His decision to step aside left no window for other Republican challengers to enter the race.
Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., praised Daines service to the state of Montana.
“Senator Daines is a giant in Montana politics and a master political strategist,” Sheehy said. “Starting in 2012, Steve led a conservative revolution in our state that resulted in flipping every single statewide office to Republican control.”
Alme, a Harvard Law School graduate and Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Montana, announced his candidacy in a statement Wednesday.
“We need proven doers in Washington who will stand up for our values without apology,” Alme said. “I’m running for Senate to be a relentless advocate for Montana and to help President Trump put America First.” Beides Trump, Alme has already also received endorsements from Daines, Sheehy, and Gov. Greg Gianforte.
The only wrinkle is an independent candidacy. Former University of Montana president and Green Beret Seth Bodnar launched a Senate bid this week, framing himself as an alternative to what he called party boss control – although he’s using Montana Democratic Party fundraising platform ActBlue to fund his campaign.
“Steve Daines has so little respect for Montana Republicans that he withdrew at the last minute to coronate his handpicked successor instead of giving them a voice at the ballot box,” Bodnar said.
But with Trump’s endorsement and no Republican opposition, Alme is favored to easily win a state that has trended sharply red in recent election cycles. The last Democrat to win a statewide race in Montana was then-Sen. Jon Tester in 2018. Four Democrats have filed for the seat in their party’s primary.
Daines noted in a statement that he had been wrestling with the decision for months.
“Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate the past 13 years has been the greatest honor of my professional career,” he said. “I’m grateful to God for allowing me to serve, but after much careful thought, I’ve decided not to seek reelection.”