Alani Bankhead

The 2026 primary results yielded a couple of surprise congressional candidates for Democrats. Republican congressional candidates won as expected. Legislative races pitting conservative versus moderate Republicans ended with mixed results. And Republican primary voters turned out in much bigger numbers than Democratic primary voters.

The stage is now set for Montana’s November 3 general election. One of Tuesday’s most closely watched races will ultimately determine who will replace two term Republican Sen. Steve Daines.

Democratic U.S. House candidate Sam Forstag hopes a Montana visit from AOC will help propel him to victory. Democratic Senate candidates are being walloped in the fundraising wars. And most of Jonathan Windy Boy's Senate colleagues want him gone.

A rising Democratic star and possible presidential candidate gets a warm reception in Montana. Republican "dark money" groups take a keen interest in Montana's Democratic Senate primary, and those Senate candidates make their case at a forum in Missoula.

AOC's return visit to Montana pleases both progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans – for different reasons. President Trump's effect on Montana's election is yet to be measured. A last minute infusion of PAC money to a Democratic Senate candidate raises questions. Voter interest in this mid-term election is hard to gauge.

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar spoke with Alani Bankhead, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

Democrats competing for Montana’s open U.S. Senate seat met on the debate stage for the first time in Helena. The widening wealth gap is one of the top issues in they discussed.

Midterm elections typically don't attract much attention, but 2026 may be different. With three of Montana's four seats in Congress on the ballot, nearly a dozen challengers have thrown their hat in the ring. Republican incumbents are favored in all three races, with the western district race seen as the most competitive.

Former gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse, and Missoula smokejumper and union leader Sam Forstag join Matt Raines and Russel Cleveland in the western U.S. House district primaries. Alani Bankhead, A U.S. Air Force veteran and leadership coach is now in the race for one of Montana’s U.S. Senate seats.