Trump Endorses Kurt Alme in Montana Senate Race Against Alani Bankhead

Trump backs Republican Kurt Alme for the U.S. Senate in Montana, casting the November race as a choice between his nominee and Democrat Alani Bankhead.

First Published: July 25, 2026, 4:24 AM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump endorsed Republican Kurt Alme for the U.S. Senate in Montana, framing the November contest as a test of his hold on a state he carried three straight times.

Alme, the current Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate election in Montana scheduled for November 3, 2026, won the June 2, 2026, primary alongside Democrat Alani Bankhead and Libertarian Kyle Austin, according to montanafreepress.org. Trump carried Montana in 2016, 2020, and 2024, according to ballotpedia.org.

“Kurt is one of the Strongest, and most Conservative, Republican Candidates in the Country,” Trump said on truthsocial, adding that Alme has his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

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.

The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 76 of his 454 posts over the last 30 days focused on elections, according to a Zenger analysis.

Alme is an attorney who served as U.S. Attorney for Montana during Trump’s first term and won unanimous Senate confirmation, according to montanafreepress.org. Trump nominated him again in the second term. Alme said criminal prosecutions reached a 20-year high under his leadership as he targeted violent criminals and drug traffickers, according to montanafreepress.org. He previously served as budget director under Montana Governor Greg Gianforte.

The endorsement raises the stakes for both parties in a state where Republicans hold an advantage but Democrats have won statewide races within living memory. A Trump-backed nominee gains access to the president’s donor network and base, while Bankhead must build a coalition in a state Trump won by double digits. The seat could shape control of a closely divided Senate.

Independent candidate Seth Bodnar submitted petition signatures in an attempt to qualify for the general election ballot, according to montanafreepress.org. The secretary of state’s office certifies or denies independent candidacies for the November general election ballot during the summer, according to montanafreepress.org.

A presidential endorsement in a Montana Senate race has happened before. Trump backed Republican Tim Sheehy in the 2024 cycle, and Sheehy unseated three-term Democratic incumbent Jon Tester that November, according to ballotpedia.org.

Montana voters will decide the contest on November 3, 2026. Before then, the secretary of state’s office must finalize the general election ballot, and no date beyond the summer certification window has been announced for independent candidacies, according to montanafreepress.org.

Montana has long served as a proving ground for presidential clout in Senate contests. In 2018, Trump held four rallies in the state to help defeat Tester, who survived that year by roughly 3.5 percentage points, according to ballotpedia.org. Republicans finally captured that seat six years later, showing that sustained presidential attention can reshape a statewide map even when the first push falls short.