U.S. Senate, Montana · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Montana U.S. Senate race?
Kurt Alme has the strongest record in the Montana U.S. Senate race. Kurt Alme and Seth Bodnar each score 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 5, 2026; Kurt Alme ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (58 to 50). Kyle Austin scores 59 and Alani Bankhead scores 57. Kurt Alme's highest marks are temperament and judgment and relevant experience. Seth Bodnar's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
Kurt Alme
63 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 58
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
Libertarian
Kyle Austin
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Alani Bankhead
57 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Independent
Seth Bodnar
63 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 67
Disclosure: The Political Group has provided campaign services to Kyle Austin. The same rubric and the same sources were applied to every candidate in this race.
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Kurt Alme
- On the record2026-03-04
Resigned as U.S. attorney and filed for the Senate on March 4, 2026, minutes before Sen. Steve Daines withdrew; Daines said he coordinated the timing, and Alme said Daines asked him to run.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Aug. 24, 2026, Montana Public Radio, March 6, 2026
- On the record2026-03 to 2026-09
Montana Free Press reported in August 2026 that its interview requests had gone unanswered since March; he did not take part in a Sept. 20 Missoula Senate debate and could not be reached.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Aug. 24, 2026, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026
- On the record2020-02 to 2020-06
In 2020 his office's plea agreement reduced a former tribal police officer's charge of abusive sexual contact with a child under 12 to felony child abuse, with a sentence of 324 days served.
Sources: HuffPost via Yahoo News, June 30, 2026, NonStop Local (Help Me Ben Truth Tracker), Sept. 22, 2026
- Credit2018 to 2020
As U.S. attorney launched Project Safe Neighborhoods in 2018; his office reported more than 670 cases prosecuted statewide, and the Missoula County sheriff credited his leadership of the effort.
- Credit2017-06 to 2017-09
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester endorsed his 2017 nomination as U.S. attorney for Montana, and the Senate confirmed him unanimously in September 2017.
Sources: Missoula Current, 2017, KTVQ, Nov. 2020, U.S. Attorney's Office release
- Credit2001
Democratic state Sen. Jim Elliott asked to sponsor his 2001 confirmation as state revenue director and later described him to Montana Free Press as a person of integrity.
Kyle Austin
- On the record2022 to 2026
Ran for the eastern U.S. House seat as a Republican in 2022 and 2024, then won the 2026 Libertarian Senate primary over the party-endorsed candidate; the Montana Libertarian Party publicly criticized his nomination.
Sources: KTVH, 2026, Bozeman Daily Chronicle via Fairfield Sun Times, Aug. 13, 2026
- Credit2020 to 2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic took vaccines across Montana in a school bus converted to a mobile clinic, offering shots without appointments, as reported by KHN and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Sources: Montana Public Radio (KHN), Aug. 17, 2021, Bozeman Daily Chronicle via Fairfield Sun Times, Aug. 13, 2026
Alani Bankhead
- On the record2026-07 to 2026-08-10
Remained a candidate past the Aug. 10, 2026 withdrawal deadline after Democratic lawmakers and allied groups publicly urged her to withdraw in favor of independent Seth Bodnar.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Aug. 10, 2026, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Aug. 10, 2026
- Credit2004 to 2025
Served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force in counterintelligence and law enforcement roles, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Seth Bodnar
- On the record2022-06
A state compliance audit of UM for fiscal 2020 and 2021 issued eight recommendations, seven on federal student financial aid controls; the university concurred.
Source: Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 21-12, June 2022
- On the record2021-08 to 2024-01
A 2021 federal lawsuit by women employees alleging sex discrimination at UM ended in January 2024 with a $350,000 settlement and outside Title IX review; no wrongdoing was admitted.
Sources: Montana Public Radio, Jan. 11, 2024, NBC Montana (Montana Free Press), June 19, 2026
- On the record2018-09 to 2019-01
The Education Department fined UM $966,614 in 2018 for crime statistics omissions covering 2012 to 2015, before his tenure; after UM appealed, the fine was reduced to $395,000 in January 2019.
Sources: Missoula Current, Jan. 25, 2019, KPAX, Jan. 25, 2019
- Credit2024-03 to 2026-02
The Legislative Audit Division gave unmodified opinions with no recommendations on UM's financial statements for fiscal years 2022 through 2025.
Sources: Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 23-10, March 2024, Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 25-10, February 2026
- Credit2022-02 to 2025-02
Under his presidency UM earned the Carnegie R1 research classification in February 2022 and kept it in the 2025 reclassification; research spending had grown to a record $122 million.
Sources: Missoula Current (Daily Montanan), Feb. 8, 2022, NBC Montana, Feb. 16, 2025
- Credit1997 to 2017
West Point graduate and Rhodes Scholar who served as an Army Green Beret and deployed to Iraq, then worked as a General Electric executive before leading UM.
Sources: Montana Free Press, March 4, 2026, Military.com, Aug. 7, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Kurt Alme. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no official ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00942060
Kyle Austin. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found for this committee or his 2022 House committee.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00870352
Alani Bankhead. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from October 2025 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00937201
Seth Bodnar. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from March 4 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00941708
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Kurt Alme. No public record found.
Kyle Austin. No public record found.
Alani Bankhead. Stayed in the race past the Aug. 10, 2026 withdrawal deadline after Democratic lawmakers and other party figures publicly called on her to withdraw in favor of independent Seth Bodnar.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Aug. 10, 2026, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Aug. 10, 2026
Seth Bodnar. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Kurt Alme. No public record found.
Kyle Austin. Took part in a September 2026 candidate forum with Bankhead and was listed for an Oct. 1, 2026 Senate candidate debate in Whitefish. Says he meets voters at public events such as fairs.
Sources: Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026, Whitefish Pilot, Sept. 29, 2026
Alani Bankhead. Took part in the Democratic Party's April 12, 2026 candidate forum and a Sept. 20, 2026 debate with Bodnar in Missoula, and was listed for an Oct. 1 Whitefish debate.
Sources: Montana Free Press, April 12, 2026, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026
Seth Bodnar. Debated Democrat Alani Bankhead in Missoula on Sept. 20, 2026 and was listed for an Oct. 1 Whitefish debate; holds public meet-and-greet events.
Sources: Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026, Whitefish Pilot, Sept. 29, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Kurt Alme. Served as U.S. attorney, state budget director and state revenue director with no formal conduct finding found. Democrat Jim Elliott sponsored his 2001 confirmation, and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester endorsed his 2017 nomination.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Aug. 24, 2026, Missoula Current, 2017
Kyle Austin. Pharmacist for about 18 years and owner of the Billings pharmacy Pharm406, with no formal conduct finding found. Pharmacy board records were not checked.
Sources: KTVH, 2026, Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Kyle Austin
Alani Bankhead. Served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, in counterintelligence and law enforcement roles. No formal conduct finding found.
Seth Bodnar. President of the University of Montana from 2018 to January 2026 after Army service as a Green Beret and a General Electric executive. No formal conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Kurt Alme. Took the oath as U.S. attorney for Montana in 2017 and again in 2025. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified election results found.
Sources: KTVQ, Nov. 2020, U.S. Attorney's Office release, Ballotpedia, Kurt Alme
Kyle Austin. No public record found.
Alani Bankhead. Served as a commissioned U.S. Air Force officer for 21 years. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Military.com, Aug. 7, 2026, Ballotpedia, Alani Bankhead
Seth Bodnar. Army officer since 1997 who remained in the Army Reserve while UM president. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Seth Bodnar, Montana Free Press, Jan. 21, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Kurt Alme. U.S. attorney for Montana from 2017 to 2020 and 2025 to 2026, state budget director in 2021, state revenue director from 2001 to 2003 and an assistant U.S. attorney from 2003 to 2010. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Montana Free Press, March 17, 2025, Montana Free Press, Sept. 7, 2021
Kyle Austin. Doctor of pharmacy (University of Montana, 2008), founder and owner of Pharm406 and a farm owner near Havre. Ran for the U.S. House in 2022 and 2024; has not held elected office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kyle Austin (Montana), KTVH, 2026
Alani Bankhead. Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who ran human-intelligence operations and commanded a unit in Kuwait, per Military.com. First run for office.
Sources: Military.com, Aug. 7, 2026, NBC Montana, May 3, 2026
Seth Bodnar. Led the University of Montana as president for eight years; earlier a West Point graduate, Rhodes Scholar, Army Green Beret and General Electric executive. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Jan. 21, 2026, Montana Free Press, March 4, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Kurt Alme. Published positions on his campaign site, in the Ballotpedia survey and the Montana Free Press questionnaire, including a proposed bill to withhold congressional pay without a balanced budget. MTFP reports he has not specified which spending he would cut.
Sources: Ballotpedia race page, Alme survey, Montana Free Press, Aug. 24, 2026
Kyle Austin. Published positions in general terms, including a health care overhaul he calls Health Care 2.0, energy permitting changes and tariff reductions with allies, in the MTFP questionnaire and on his site.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Oct. 5, 2026, KTVH, 2026
Alani Bankhead. Names specific measures, including the More Homes on the Market Act, a congressional vote before across-the-board tariffs and an expanded Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, in her Montana Free Press answers.
Source: Montana Free Press, Oct. 5, 2026
Seth Bodnar. Lists specific proposals, including expanded Medicare drug price negotiation, restoring ACA tax credits and a ban on congressional stock trading, in his Montana Free Press answers.
Source: Montana Free Press, Oct. 5, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Kurt Alme. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the Montana Free Press questionnaire and its October affordability question, and publishes issue positions on his campaign site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kurt Alme, Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Kurt Alme, Montana Free Press, Oct. 5, 2026
Kyle Austin. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the Montana Free Press questionnaire and its October affordability question, publishes issue pages and took part in a candidate forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kyle Austin (Montana), Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Kyle Austin, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026
Alani Bankhead. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the Montana Free Press questionnaire and its October affordability question, publishes issue pages and took part in forums and a debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alani Bankhead, Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Alani Bankhead, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026
Seth Bodnar. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the Montana Free Press questionnaire and its October affordability question, publishes issue pages and debated Bankhead.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Seth Bodnar, Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Seth Bodnar, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Kurt Alme. Born in Great Falls, grew up in several Montana towns and lives in Billings. About 43 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through June 30, 2026 came from Montana (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: KTVH, May 4, 2026, Montana Free Press, March 17, 2025
Kyle Austin. Born in Havre and raised on the Hi-Line; lives and runs his pharmacy in Billings. All $526.50 in itemized individual contributions through June 30, 2026 came from Montana; the campaign is mostly self-funded.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kyle Austin (Montana), NBC Montana, May 2, 2026, FEC candidate page
Alani Bankhead. Lives in Helena; her Secretary of State filing lists a Helena address. About 42 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through June 30, 2026 came from Montana (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Montana Secretary of State 2026 general election candidate list, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, Sept. 22, 2026
Seth Bodnar. Has lived in Missoula since becoming UM president in 2018; his filing lists a Missoula address. About 34 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through June 30, 2026 came from Montana (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Montana Secretary of State 2026 general election candidate list, Montana Free Press, Jan. 21, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Kurt Alme. As U.S. attorney led an office of more than 70 employees in four Montana offices. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.
Sources: KTVQ, Nov. 2020, U.S. Attorney's Office release, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00942060
Kyle Austin. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found; the committee reported $46,082 in debts, including candidate loans. Ran a Billings pharmacy with seven employees in 2021.
Sources: FEC candidate page, Montana Public Radio (KHN), Aug. 17, 2021
Alani Bankhead. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine and no debts reported.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00937201
Seth Bodnar. Led the University of Montana, with 11,865 students in fall 2017, as president for eight years; the Regents chair credited him with a turnaround. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.
Sources: NonStop Local (Help Me Ben Truth Tracker), Sept. 22, 2026, Montana Free Press, Jan. 21, 2026, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00941708
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Kurt Alme. His office's 2020 release reports federal criminal prosecutions rose 15 percent to over 400 defendants a year during his first term as U.S. attorney, and more than 670 Project Safe Neighborhoods cases statewide.
Kyle Austin. No public record found.
Alani Bankhead. No public record found.
Seth Bodnar. UM earned the Carnegie R1 research classification in 2022 and kept it in 2025; research spending rose from $55 million in fiscal 2014 to $122 million. MTFP reported enrollment stabilized while four-year undergraduates still declined.
Sources: Missoula Current (Daily Montanan), Feb. 8, 2022, NBC Montana, Feb. 16, 2025, Montana Free Press, Jan. 21, 2026
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Kurt Alme. No public record found.
Kyle Austin. No public record found.
Alani Bankhead. No public record found.
Seth Bodnar. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Kurt Alme. No public record found.
Kyle Austin. No public record found.
Alani Bankhead. No public record found.
Seth Bodnar. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Kurt Alme. Democratic Sen. Jon Tester endorsed his 2017 U.S. attorney nomination, which the Senate confirmed unanimously, and Democratic state Sen. Jim Elliott sponsored his 2001 confirmation as revenue director.
Sources: Missoula Current, 2017, Montana Free Press, Aug. 24, 2026
Kyle Austin. No public record found.
Alani Bankhead. No public record found.
Seth Bodnar. Running as an independent with support from prominent Democrats and former Republican governor and Republican National Committee chair Marc Racicot.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Kurt Alme. No public record found.
Kyle Austin. No public record found.
Alani Bankhead. No public record found.
Seth Bodnar. State auditors gave unmodified opinions with no recommendations on UM's financial statements for fiscal 2022 to 2025. A 2022 compliance audit of fiscal 2020 and 2021 made eight recommendations, seven on federal student aid controls.
Sources: Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 23-10, March 2024, Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 24-10, February 2025, Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 21-12, June 2022
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 5, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Montana U.S. Senate race?
Kurt Alme has the strongest record in the Montana U.S. Senate race. Kurt Alme and Seth Bodnar each score 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 5, 2026; Kurt Alme ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (58 to 50). Kyle Austin scores 59 and Alani Bankhead scores 57. Kurt Alme's highest marks are temperament and judgment and relevant experience. Seth Bodnar's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Montana U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Kurt Alme (Republican), Kyle Austin (Libertarian), Alani Bankhead (Democratic), Seth Bodnar (Independent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Kurt Alme a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Kurt Alme scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 58 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Kyle Austin a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Kyle Austin scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Alani Bankhead a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Alani Bankhead scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Seth Bodnar a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Seth Bodnar scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 67 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Montana race scored, and the Montana 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.