The clock is running out for candidates in Montana's U.S. Senate race to reconsider their bids. With the deadline to withdraw less than two weeks away, organized campaigns to push out either Democrat Alani Bankhead or independent Seth Bodnar have intensified, according to reporting from Capitolized, a Helena-based political newsletter.
Bodnar, the former University of Montana president, entered the race as an independent and has drawn attention as a potential spoiler in a contest that Democrats and Republicans are both treating as competitive. Bankhead, the Democratic nominee, faces pressure from national party operatives who argue that a split on the left could hand the seat to the Republican candidate. Persuasion efforts targeting both candidates have been underway for weeks, but sources tracking the race say the pace has accelerated sharply as the filing deadline closes in.
Montana's Senate race carries national weight given the state's role in determining the balance of power in the chamber. How Bodnar and Bankhead each respond to the pressure in the coming days will shape the general election landscape for Montana voters.