JUST IN: GOP Senator Declares His Retirement, Names Successor
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) is expected to announce that he will not be seeking a third term in this year’s midterm elections, adding to a growing wave of senators who had already announced their respective retirements.
The announcement, which has been reported by Politico and a number of additional outlets, came just minutes before the candidate filing deadline for Montana’s 2026 federal primaries closed at 5 p.m. local time. Daines, who had filed for re-election earlier, withdrew his candidacy, creating an open seat in the 2026 election.
“Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate the past 13 years has been the greatest honor of my professional career and I am grateful to God for allowing me to serve. After wrestling with this decision for months, I have decided I will not seek re-election,” Daines announced in a video statement.
“It is time for a new leaders like Tim Sheehy to spearhead the fight for Montana in the United States Senate,” he added.
Daines — who served in the U.S. House before two terms in the U.S. Senate — went on to say it was an honor to serve with President Donald Trump. He also thanked his staff, as well as members of his family, for empowering him to serve. “Together, we look forward to the next chapter: cherishing moments with seven grandchildren, spending more time in Montana, and continuing to make a difference,” the senator concluded.
Daines did mention any endorsement of a successor in his video and pointed to the state’s junior senator, Tim Sheehy, as an example of the leadership Montana should be looking for. Sheehy was first elected last November after knocking off Democrat incumbent Jon Tester.
In a separate statement, Daines endorsed U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme of Billings as a candidate for the seat.
“I’ve known Kurt Alme for years. He was appointed U.S. Attorney by President (Donald) Trump in his first term and then reappointed when President Trump was reelected because he did such a good job cracking down on crime,” he said. “Kurt launched Project Safe Neighborhoods, took on the meth crisis head-on, confronted cartels flooding our state with fentanyl, and did everything in his power to make Montana safe.”
Alme did indeed file his candidacy just before the deadline at 4:52 p.m. local time and was promptly endorsed by President Trump, as well as Sheehy and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte.
On the Democrat side, declared candidates include Air Force Lt. Col. (ret.) Alani Bankhead, tribal historic preservation officer Michael Black Wolf, and former state Rep. Reilly Neill.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump endorses MAGA ally US Attorney KURT ALME for US Senate in the 2026 Montana election
Sen. Steve Daines withdrew his names MINUTES before the deadline.
ALME MUST WIN!
“Kurt Alme, my TRUMP 45 and TRUMP 47 U.S. Attorney. In fact, if Kurt didn’t have the… pic.twitter.com/a3nzhEy5lI
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 5, 2026
Daines’ withdrawal adds to the list of Senate retirements ahead of the 2026 midterms. Nine senators have announced their retirements since last year, including four Democrats and five Republicans.
RELATED: GOP Congressman Vows Political Comeback After Texas Senate Primary Loss