Montana’s Democratic voters made a statement Tuesday, and it sounded something like “We’ve had enough of cookie cutter candidates.” Six months ago, the names Sam Fortag and Alani Bankhead would not have registered a hint of recognition to most people in Montana.
I'm a fairly connected person who doesn't pay attention to local politics any more than the next guy. I still have no idea who Seth Bodar is. What does he stand for? What are the main issues he cares about the most? He hasn't shown that to me at all. All I know is that he doesn't seem to want to run as a Dem or a Republican. Okay, but if that's the case, I've got no frame of reference for who he is as a political candidate.
I agree with you. I haven’t heard, or read about what Bodnar is offering, other than he’s not either of those other guys. Is he running solely against partisanship? Good luck with that, with Trump at the helm.
As to not know about Seth Bodnar, who served for several years as the president of the UM and had sexual discrimination lawsuit (1), "Bodnar, with a campaign staffed by former members of Tester’s team, has a tenfold cash-on-hand advantage over the combined Democratic field, and 329 Montana contributors. He also leads outgoing Republican Sen. Steve Daines’ handpicked presumptive frontrunner Kurt Alme in fundraising by $400,000" (2). I will post his information in a separate comment
Amen, Russell Rowland. Drop. Out. Bodnar. We don't want you. A university president? In Montana? How are going sell him as our guy? And I've never seen more milquetoast, waffling answers to direct, simple, expected questions.
Tester was not a good senator for Montana. He was far too afraid of the right bullshit and lacked the courage and foresight to lead Montana to better times. Starting with ignoring one of his early campaign promises to repeal the Patriot Act. He got elected and then voted to continue that abomination. He talked some of the talk, but did not walk the walk.
I didn’t hear about Bankhead until receiving daily flyers from the PAC “More jobs, less government” that emphasized Ms. Neil’s supposed intent to impeach Trump while Bankhead would work with Trump.
It’s Bodnars move. If he stays in he’s the spoiler
I'm a fairly connected person who doesn't pay attention to local politics any more than the next guy. I still have no idea who Seth Bodar is. What does he stand for? What are the main issues he cares about the most? He hasn't shown that to me at all. All I know is that he doesn't seem to want to run as a Dem or a Republican. Okay, but if that's the case, I've got no frame of reference for who he is as a political candidate.
I agree with you. I haven’t heard, or read about what Bodnar is offering, other than he’s not either of those other guys. Is he running solely against partisanship? Good luck with that, with Trump at the helm.
As to not know about Seth Bodnar, who served for several years as the president of the UM and had sexual discrimination lawsuit (1), "Bodnar, with a campaign staffed by former members of Tester’s team, has a tenfold cash-on-hand advantage over the combined Democratic field, and 329 Montana contributors. He also leads outgoing Republican Sen. Steve Daines’ handpicked presumptive frontrunner Kurt Alme in fundraising by $400,000" (2). I will post his information in a separate comment
1) (https://www.montanakaimin.com/news/um-settles-sex-discrimination-lawsuit-for-350-000-commits-to-title-ix-review/article_26450a36-b5c2-11ee-ac99-6fc5adaa7aab.html) (https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2021-10-07/um-law-school-deans-step-down-after-students-protest-their-handling-of-sexual-harassment-claims)
2) (https://montanafreepress.org/2026/05/08/in-senate-race-underfunded-democrats-try-to-fend-off-a-challenge/)
Amen, Russell Rowland. Drop. Out. Bodnar. We don't want you. A university president? In Montana? How are going sell him as our guy? And I've never seen more milquetoast, waffling answers to direct, simple, expected questions.
I really think Bankhead is the plant. But it probably doesn’t matter as Montana seems to be full on red now.
Tester was not a good senator for Montana. He was far too afraid of the right bullshit and lacked the courage and foresight to lead Montana to better times. Starting with ignoring one of his early campaign promises to repeal the Patriot Act. He got elected and then voted to continue that abomination. He talked some of the talk, but did not walk the walk.
I didn’t hear about Bankhead until receiving daily flyers from the PAC “More jobs, less government” that emphasized Ms. Neil’s supposed intent to impeach Trump while Bankhead would work with Trump.
I know I keep saying it, but seeing 1.2 million dollars on the aipac tracker to senator Jon Tester I'm sure had a little something to do with this....