Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines withdrew his candidacy for a third Senate term on March 4, 2026, just minutes before the state’s filing deadline closed at 5:00 p.m. The move stunned Montana’s political establishment, as Daines had officially filed for reelection on February 17 and had $4.9 million in campaign funds. His withdrawal paperwork was received by the Montana Secretary of State’s office at 4:57 p.m.

Daines said he had wrestled with the decision for months and called for new leadership in Montana’s Senate delegation. He endorsed Kurt Alme, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, who had filed his own candidacy at 4:52 p.m.—eight minutes before the deadline. President Trump also endorsed Alme, making him the immediate front-runner for the open seat.

Alme had served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Montana from 2003 to 2010 before being unanimously confirmed as Montana’s U.S. Attorney in September 2017, following a recommendation from Daines. The coordinated timing of Alme’s filing and Daines’ withdrawal suggested a planned transition of the seat.

Daines became the sixth Republican senator to announce they would not seek reelection in the 2026 cycle, joining Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. The wave of Republican retirements reshaped the 2026 Senate map, which had initially been expected to favor incumbents.

First elected to the Senate in 2014, Daines had previously served as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 2024 cycle, where he helped Republicans regain a Senate majority. His departure opened one of the few competitive Senate races in a cycle otherwise dominated by Democratic-held seats up for election.