Longtime Senator Steve Daines Abruptly Retires, Paving Way For Trump-Backed Successor

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) announced his retirement an hour after the re-election filing deadline on Wednesday, and a new candidate quickly earned the endorsement of President Donald Trump, Daines, and other key leaders.

Daines pulled his re-election bid shortly before the 5 p.m. filing deadline through the Montana Secretary of State’s office, just moments after United States Attorney for the District of Montana Kurt Alme filed to run, according to the Montana Television Network. Alme is now the presumptive favorite for the Republican nomination, with the primary slated for June 2.

“Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate the past 13 years has been the greatest honor of my professional career. I’m grateful to God for allowing me to serve. But after much careful thought, I’ve decided not to seek re-election,” Daines said in a video posted Wednesday.

An announcement???? pic.twitter.com/7HCofBTUMA

— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) March 5, 2026

On Wednesday evening, Trump announced his support for Alme, who also served in the U.S. attorney role in the prior Trump administration, calling him an “exceptional person.”

“In fact, if Kurt didn’t have the highest level of aptitude and talent, Steve would have remained exactly where he is but, Kurt is exceptional, and I will be giving him, based on Steve’s strongest recommendation, my Complete and Total Endorsement,” the president wrote on Truth Social, highlighting Daines’ decision to “pass the torch.”

“A Highly Respected Criminal Prosecutor in my Administration, and distinguished Harvard Law School Graduate, Kurt knows the Wisdom and Courage it takes to ensure LAW AND ORDER, advocate for our Heroes in Law Enforcement, and strongly support our Military and Veterans,” he continued.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee also backed Alme, with Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the group, stating that “the NRSC looks forward to keeping Montana red this November, and welcoming Kurt as the state’s next U.S. Senator.” Daines was the NRSC chairman during the 2024 election cycle.

Alme and Charles Walking Child are now the only two Republicans in the primary, with a handful of Democrats also seeking the seat. Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar recently entered the race as an independent, according to the Daily Montanan.

Democratic candidate Reilly Neill, a former state representative, said in a video posted to X after Daines’ announcement that it shows disorganization within the Montana Republican Party.

“Daines dropping out of this race is another example of the Montana Republican Party being in complete disarray,” she said. “The Montana Republican Party, they’ve done nothing but bend the knee to an administration that’s hurt our farmers, our ranchers, and this is unacceptable.”

“His stepping down opens the field for the United States Senate, and this is a good development for Montana,” she continued.

On a national level, Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-WA) called the timing of Daines’s exit and subsequent filing for Alme “bullshit.”

“A Montana Senator is rigging an election and it’s miles beneath the dignity of our democracy,” she posted to X.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Punchbowl News that Daines may have chosen to retire “recently.”

“You’ve got filing deadlines in your states and you’re going to take into consideration that in terms of your timing. You know, how he handled it is his business and will be up to the people of Montana to decide who the next senator is,” he added.

In 2024, Montana was the subject of a battleground Senate race between Republican Tim Sheehy and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, and Sheehy won with over 52% of the vote.

Currently, the Cook Political Report ranks this year’s contest as “Solid Republican.”