OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
10:34 AM – Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Former U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Kurt Alme has won the Montana Senate Republican primary election to face Air Force veteran Alani Bankhead, who won the Democrat nomination during her primary.
On Tuesday, with 96% of the vote counted, the Associated Press called Alme the winner with 76.3% of the vote. Bankhead received 43.7% of the vote in the Democrat primary election.
President Donald Trump threw his support behind Alme in March, lamenting the end of incumbent Senator Steve Daines’ (R-Mont.) term and his decision not to seek reelection.
“Sadly for our Country, 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,” Trump stated. “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.”
Alme, a 59-year-old Montana native, was previously a clerk to U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell. He became a partner at the Crowley Fleck law firm in Billings before returning to public service as the Director of the Montana Department of Revenue under Governor Judy Martz (R-Mont.), where he worked to reduce income capital gains tax rates.
In 2017, Trump nominated Alme to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, where he focused on violent crime and stopping drug trafficking. He was nominated to the office a second time by Trump in 2025.
Alme was also endorsed by the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) Pro-Life America Candidate Fund in April, as well as Daines, founder of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus.
“Senator Daines’ shoes are not easy to fill, and the stakes are high: winning in Montana is crucial to keeping a pro-life Senate majority and stopping the Democrats’ plans to force taxpayer-funded late-term abortion across the country,” SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated. “Kurt Alme’s character, record of public service, and the support he’s received from pro-life leaders across the state show that not only does he have what it takes to win, but that he can be trusted to be a true pro-life champion in the Senate.”
His Democrat opponent, 43-year-old Bankhead, served in the Air Force for over 21 years. On her campaign website, she noted that she hunted terrorists, spies and human traffickers with special operations and served as “a senior bodyguard to one of the top Pentagon leaders.”
Bankhead supports term limits for members of Congress. She also vowed to facilitate better access to healthcare, mental health care and education, as well as to support small businesses and rural communities.
Meanwhile, decorated Army combat veteran Aaron Flint won the GOP nomination in Tuesday’s House primary election for District 1 with 50% of the vote. Though 99% of votes have been counted in the Democrat primary between smokejumper Sam Forstag, author Ryan Busse, Navy veteran Russell Cleveland and Army veteran Matt Rains, the nomination for the seat has not been officially called.
Both nominees will seek to fill the seat of Representative Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), who has foregone a bid for a fourth term, citing health concerns. For the 2nd District, attorney Brian J. Miller won the Democrat primary with 55.7% of the vote, with 97% of votes counted. He will run against uncontested incumbent Representative Troy Downing (R-Mont.).
The nominees for both chambers of Congress will advance to the general elections on November 3rd.
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