With just minutes before filing deadline closes, Daines shocks Montana by withdrawing

By: Micah Drew

Outlets: Daily Montanan

Published: March 5, 2026

Words: 820

Last Updated: 6 days, 5 hours ago

Just before the closure of candidate filing in Montana, incumbent U.S. Sen. Steve Daines withdrew from his re-election campaign for a third term.

U.S. Attorney for Montana Kurt Alme filed for office at 4:52 p.m. and Daines endorsed Alme in a statement shortly after.

Daines did not give a specific reason behind his retirement, but released a lengthy statement late on Wednesday.

“Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and U.S. …

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