Alme Wins Montana Senate Race Over Bodnar
Republican Kurt Alme takes the open Montana U.S. Senate seat with 48% of the vote, ahead of independent Seth Bodnar at 38%.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Elections
Republican Kurt Alme won the Montana U.S. Senate race with 48% of the vote, according to the Montana Secretary of State's Office, after declaring victory late Tuesday, Nov. 3. The Associated Press called the contest for Alme shortly after; independent Seth Bodnar received 38%, Democrat Alani Bankhead 12%, and Libertarian Kyle Austin 2%.
Why it matters
The seat was left open for the first time in five decades, so the result changes who represents Montana in the U.S. Senate. The margin over the independent candidate shows how the field split beyond the two major parties.
The results are based on the Montana Secretary of State's Office tally, which put Alme at 48% against Bodnar's 38% in a race for the first open Senate seat in five decades. The extraction does not give raw vote totals or the date of official certification.
The players
Kurt Alme
Kurt Alme is the Republican who won the Montana U.S. Senate race with 48% of the vote.
Seth Bodnar
Seth Bodnar is the independent candidate who finished second in the Montana U.S. Senate race with 38% of the vote.
Montana Secretary of State's Office
The Montana Secretary of State's Office is the state agency that reported the statewide vote results.
The details
Alme declared victory late Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the Associated Press called the contest for him shortly after. Bodnar, running as an independent, finished second with 38% of the vote, while Democrat Alani Bankhead took 12% and Libertarian Kyle Austin 2%.
Timeline
Tuesday, Nov. 3: Montana Senate election held; Alme declared victory late in the day.
Sunday, Nov. 1: A separate fatal shooting occurred at Malmstrom Air Force Base, days before the vote.
Political Context
The seat had not been open in five decades, so this contest broke a long run of incumbency in Montana's Senate race. Bodnar's strong showing as an independent, at 38%, suggests the two-party frame did not contain the race.
The outcome determines who represents Montanans in the U.S. Senate for the next term, affecting federal votes on state priorities. Voters also saw a viable independent take 38%, which may shape how candidates approach the next statewide race.
The takeaway
A competitive independent can take a large share of a statewide Senate vote even when a major-party nominee wins. Readers following Montana politics can track certified results through the Montana Secretary of State's Office.
Further reading
For more on how statewide contests are decided, see Elections coverage across Montana.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent Record.
