Trump Endorses Kurt Alme in Montana Senate Race Against Democrat Alani Bankhead

Trump backs Republican Kurt Alme, a former U.S. attorney, for Montana's open Senate seat and blasts Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead ahead of the November 3, 2026, general election.

First Published: July 24, 2026, 12:40 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump threw his full support behind Republican Kurt Alme in Montana’s U.S. Senate race, calling the former federal prosecutor a “Great American Patriot.”

Trump praised Alme as one of the most conservative candidates in the country while attacking Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead as a “Radical Left Extremist.” Alme resigned as U.S. attorney for the District of Montana to enter the contest for the seat left open by retiring Republican Senator Steve Daines according to wikipedia.org.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Republican Kurt Alme is a terrific candidate for the U.S. Senate in the Wonderful State of Montana, which I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024. He loves the U.S.A., and is a truly Great American Patriot! Kurt is running against a Radical Left Democrat named Alani Bankhead, who loves High Taxes, Open Borders, No Consequences for Violent Criminals, Men in Women’s Sports, and Transgender for Everybody, among other CRAZY ideas! Kurt is one of the Strongest, and most Conservative, Republican Candidates in the Country, whereas his Opponent, Alani Bankhead, is a Radical Left Extremist, who will put our Country, and Safety, LAST. Kurt, on the other hand, will ALWAYS put Montana, and America, FIRST. Alani Bankhead is a Radical Left LUNATIC Dumocrat, whose values are not those of the people of Montana, or the United States of America — But the good news is that Kurt Alme is the PATRIOT that everyone is looking for, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement — KURT WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” on July 24, 2026 at 4:28 PM ET.

This is the first message released by Trump today. On average, Trump produces about 14 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 76 of his 432 posts over the last 30 days focused on elections.

Alme, an attorney born in Great Falls, Montana, served as U.S. attorney for the District of Montana from 2017 to 2020 during Trump’s first term and again from March 2025 to March 2026 according to wikipedia.org. He earned a business degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a law degree from Harvard Law School according to wikipedia.org. He later served as budget director in Republican Governor Greg Gianforte’s administration according to wikipedia.org.

Alme filed to run for the Senate seat on March 4, 2026, eight minutes before the filing deadline, after Daines announced he would not seek re-election according to montanafreepress.org. Daines, Gianforte and Trump all endorsed Alme, who won the Republican nomination according to wikipedia.org. He faces Democratic nominee Bankhead and independent candidate Seth Bodnar in the general election according to wikipedia.org.

The stakes reach far beyond Montana. Republicans hold a narrow Senate majority, and every seat shapes control of confirmations, spending bills and the balance of power in Washington. A Republican hold in Montana would preserve that edge, while a Democratic pickup would tighten an already close chamber.

Montana has trended reliably Republican in recent presidential contests. Trump carried the state in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and Daines held the seat for two terms. That history frames Alme as the favorite to keep the seat in Republican hands.

For the average reader, a Montana Senate outcome influences which party controls the agenda in Washington, from tax policy to judicial nominations. A single seat can decide whether legislation advances or stalls.

This has happened before. Trump endorsed Daines in prior Montana cycles and backed Republican candidates across the state in 2020 and 2024, and those endorsements aligned with Republican wins at the top of the ticket. Presidential endorsements have long carried weight in Montana’s low-population, high-turnout races.

Montana voters will make the next decision at the ballot box in the general election on November 3, 2026. No debate schedule between Alme and Bankhead has been announced.

Montana Senate races have shaped national power before, as happened when the state last held an open contest. Daines first won the seat in 2014, defeating Democrat Amanda Curtis by roughly 18 percentage points and flipping a seat Democrats had long controlled according to ballotpedia.org. That victory helped Republicans build the majority they carried into subsequent sessions, rewarding the party that captured Montana’s open seat.