BILLINGS, Mont. — Seth Bodnar, who recently concluded his tenure as University of Montana president, announced Wednesday his intention to run as an independent candidate against Republican Senator Steve Daines in this November’s election, following a series of Democratic losses across Montana in recent electoral cycles.
The Associated Press received advance details of Bodnar’s Wednesday announcement. His choice to pursue the race without major party support highlights how weakened Montana Democrats have become, particularly after losing all statewide offices following Senator Jon Tester’s defeat in 2024 after serving three terms.
Wednesday marked the filing deadline for major party candidates seeking spots on November’s ballot. As of Tuesday, no prominent Democratic figures had stepped forward to enter the Senate contest.
Daines, pursuing his third term in office, previously worked as a business executive and maintains strong ties with President Donald Trump. The GOP currently holds a narrow Senate advantage with 53 seats compared to 45 Democrats and two independent members.
In a video statement, Bodnar criticized America’s political framework as dysfunctional, claiming Washington politicians prioritize wealthy and influential interests over ordinary citizens.
“The American dream is getting crushed, and both parties are to blame. They pit us against each other while they line their own pockets,” Bodnar stated in his announcement video. “We need a new approach, an independent senator who will fight for hardworking Montanans.”
The 47-year-old Pennsylvania native from Grove City earned top honors at West Point and completed Army special forces service before transitioning to an executive role at GE Transportation.
Following eight years leading the University of Montana, Bodnar concluded his presidency last month. To secure ballot placement for the general election rather than the primary, he must gather 13,327 petition signatures.
Campaign finance records from the Federal Election Commission indicate Daines has accumulated over $8 million in contributions since his 2020 reelection. His campaign reported nearly $5 million in available funds as of December 31.
These fundraising figures could grow dramatically should the contest intensify: Montana’s 2024 Senate battle between Tester and Republican Tim Sheehy exceeded $300 million in total expenditures, establishing a per-voter spending record for congressional races according to party representatives.
The 63-year-old Daines, originally from Van Nuys, California, but raised in Bozeman, Montana, worked as an executive at Right Now Technologies before winning his House seat in 2012.
After one House term, he successfully captured the Senate position previously occupied by Democrat Max Baucus in 2014. Daines secured victory by a substantial margin against a relatively unknown challenger after Baucus’ intended Democratic replacement, former Lieutenant Governor John Walsh, withdrew following allegations of thesis plagiarism during his time at the U.S. Army War College.
In 2020, Daines defeated Democratic Governor Steve Bullock with a 10-point victory margin. That contest held Montana’s political spending record until the recent Tester-Sheehy race surpassed it.
Between 2023 and 2025, Daines oversaw Republican Senate fundraising operations as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Montana voters historically practiced “ticket splitting,” supporting candidates from both major parties across different races. This moderate tendency diminished as national concerns like immigration and healthcare gained prominence in state political discussions.
This transformation has particularly impacted Montana Democrats, who have surrendered the governor’s mansion, both Senate seats, and every other statewide position they previously controlled since 2014. During 2022’s election, independent candidate Gary Buchanan received more votes than Democrat Penny Ronning in the general election for a Republican-controlled House seat covering eastern Montana.
The Republican winner of that race, former Representative Matt Rosendale, garnered more votes than Buchanan and Ronning’s totals combined.
