Trump endorses Alme for Montana Senate as Daines steps aside

Steven T. Dennis, Bloomberg News on Mar 4, 2026

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President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme to run as the Republican contender for a Montana Senate seat, now that the incumbent, Steve Daines, is not running for reelection.

“Steve’s Term is up, and he has decided to leave the Senate and, ‘pass the torch’ to Kurt Alme, my TRUMP 45 and TRUMP 47 U.S. Attorney,” the president said in a social media post on Wednesday night. “Kurt is exceptional, and I will be giving him, based on Steve’s strongest recommendation, my Complete and Total Endorsement.”

Alme has been U.S. attorney for the district of Montana since 2025, also serving in the role during Trump’s first White House term.

“After much careful thought, I’ve decided to not seek reelection,” Daines said in a video announcing his retirement. “I’m grateful to God for allowing me to serve.”

He becomes the latest in a wave of Republican lawmakers to announce their retirements from Congress before the November midterm elections. Earlier this week, for instance, Representative Ryan Zinke, one of two Montana congressmen, announced that he wouldn’t seek reelection.

Montana has shifted heavily toward Republicans in recent years, though the absence of Daines at the top of the ticket could present an opportunity for Democrats.

Daines, 63, a close Trump ally, was first elected to the Senate in 2014. During his time in office, he has served as a liaison between the U.S. and China, making multiple trips to the country. He took a prominent role on trade issues, publicly meeting with senior Chinese officials, such as Premier Li Qiang and top trade negotiator He Lifeng.

During the 2024 election, Daines served as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the arm of the party charged with getting members elected to the Senate.

Montana went 58% for Trump in the 2024 election, though Republican Tim Sheehy garnered 53% in the state’s Senate race as he defeated Jon Tester, the Democratic incumbent.

Tester is backing an independent candidate, Seth Bodnar, a West Point graduate and former president of the University of Montana. No well-known Democrats have yet entered the race, according to the Associated Press.

Democrats, in the minority in both the House and Senate, are seeking to flip both chambers. Democrats are broadly favored to win the House though Republicans are narrowly favored to keep hold of the Senate, as Democrats must net four seats including at least 3 in states won by Trump. Republican members have announced their plans to leave Congress at historically high rates, suggesting some are less than confident about their own reelection prospects or the GOP’s ability to hang on to their majorities.

Earlier Wednesday, said he did not want a Republican runoff battle in Texas between Senator John Cornyn and his challenger, State Attorney General Ken Paxton. The president promised to make an endorsement, something he’s long resisted, and said on social media that he would be “asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE!”

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(With assistance from Derek Wallbank.)

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