Here in Montana, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan "I-rode-a-horse-into-Washington D.C." Zinke are BOTH not running

[LaMouffette]

for election!!! This is huge. If even these two red-state deplorables don't think they can win reelection, then there will, indeed, be a blue tsunami this fall. That is, if we can overcome the R's cheating and messing with the voting machine software and voter purging and voter intimidation and swiping mail boxes and fake slates of electors and ballot-box stealing and declaring a national emergency and canceling the midterm elections.

[leftstreet]

1. Sadly, Tester has already endorsed the Indy candidate

in the newly open Senate race

Good to see two GOPers out, all the same

[2naSalit]

3. Well...

Asswipe daines pulled out two minutes before the filling deadline. He, essentially, took a big, messy shit in the doorway as he left, fucker.

I hope his past catches up to him quickly.

[leftstreet]

4. Yep

The whole thing is a hot mess

[LaMouffette]

9. Daines and Zinke are such cowards. They could have stuck around and tried to impeach Rump, but they were too scared.

[karynnj]

6. He used to be a Democrat per this article

This old article shows that the Independent is a long time Democrat, who before Daines left the race ran better as an Independent than a Democrat. https://www.newsweek.com/democrats-chances-flipping-montana-senate-seat-poll-11575698

I know this is not a good source.

If there is no Democrat or a very weak one, a write in for him in the Democratic party might work. The question is whether the Republicans have someone who will get more than just the votes of people who vote R always.

[leftstreet]

7. Hard to say

Yes, there are Democrats who've filed for the primary. But Tester's endorsement of the Independent has ticked off the MT Dem party.

1-14-2026

Bodnar plans Senate run as an independent, and Tester’s apparent support angers Democrats in Montana
A text message allegedly sent by former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester states not only that a Democrat cannot win the race, but that the party’s brand had become a drag on his last two elections.

University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is expected to run for U.S. Senate as an independent, part of an elaborate plan apparently backed by former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in a move that has angered Democrats.

A spokesperson for Bodnar confirmed the plan to Montana Free Press on Tuesday, saying that the president will wait to discuss the election until he’s ready to make a formal announcement. The spokesperson said Bodnar would resign his presidential post to run.

Rumors of the move swirled through Democratic circles last week as it appeared that Tester intended not to support a Democratic challenger to two-term Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who played a heavy role in unseating Tester in 2024. The Republican has never had a close race for federal office.

Democrats Reilly Neill, a former state Legislator from Livingston, and Air Force veteran Alani Bankhead have registered Senate campaigns with the Federal Elections Commission.

https://montanafreepress.org/2026/01/14/bodnar-plans-senate-run-as-an-independent-and-testers-apparent-support-angers-democrats-in-montana/

[LaMouffette]

10. I just realized why Daines and Zinke waited until now to announce: The deadline to run for the Senate was March 4! So

that left no time for any new Democrats to decide to file to run. So now I'm actually glad that Bodner already filed, even if it was as an independent. It's too bad that he didn't file as a Dem, but like I said, his odds might be better running as an independent because here in Montana, we can't win without Republican votes and there are too many Republicans here who have been convinced by FoxNews that we Dems are the devil.

Plus, I trust Jon Tester.

[leftstreet]

11. No, Daines is a GOPer

The Dems have their own primary

When Daines announced he did it with moments to spare, making it easier for his GOP anointed choice to file. MT GOPers not happy about that.

[LaMouffette]

8. That shocked me too, but it could be a strategy to appeal to Montana Repub voters who can't bring themselves to

vote for a Democrat???

[Chasstev365]

2. I'd love to see their internal polling

[Easterncedar]

5. From your lips to gods' ears

[Maru Kitteh]

12. Zinke wants to run for president but will probably run for governor

Giant-farty is term limited and will be out in 2028.