BOZEMAN, Mont. — For the first time this campaign season, the four candidates on the ballot for Montana’s U.S. Senate seat appeared on stage together Sunday morning.
Republican nominee Kurt Alme, Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead, Libertarian nominee Kyle Austin and independent candidate Seth Bodnar met for a 90-minute debate at the Field and Stream Lodge in Bozeman. The event was sponsored by the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation.
Watch full:
The candidates didn’t engage in many direct back-and-forth exchanges, but each one took aim at their rivals several times.
Bodnar, of Missoula, is an Army veteran and the former president of the University of Montana and argued only an independent could make a change in a “broken political system.”
“All we see in D.C. right now is the two parties fighting with each other,” he said. “They're getting nothing done. They all get rich; we all suffer. We need to change that.”
Watch full MTN News interview with independent candidate Seth Bodnar:
Bodnar focused much of his attention on Alme Sunday, criticizing him for his handling of sexual abuse cases as a federal prosecutor, and for incumbent Sen. Steve Daines’ maneuver to withdraw from the race and endorse Alme.
Alme, of Billings, is the former U.S. Attorney for Montana and a former state budget director. He said he’d bring a “lifetime of Montana common sense” to the Senate.
“Other candidates say they'll rein in Washington spending,” he said. “I balanced a budget, and I'm ready to go to Washington and do it again.”
Watch full MTN News interview with Republican candidate Kurt Alme:
Alme described Bodnar and Bankhead several times as his “two liberal opponents” and claimed both would bring back Biden-era policies on issues like immigration. He accused Bodnar of lying about his record.
Bankhead, of Helena, is an Air Force veteran and former investigator. She said she was the only candidate willing to take positions like universal health care and taxing the wealthy.
“This race is not about Democrat versus Republican; it's about the 1% versus everybody else,” she said.
Watch full MTN News interview with Demcoratic candidate Alani Bankhead:
Bankhead claimed Bodnar was not truly independent because of his support from prominent Democrats, and said Alme wouldn’t stand up to the Trump administration. She called her opponents “bought and paid for.”
Austin, of Billings, is a pharmacy owner and farmer, and he said he’s the only one in the race with first-hand experience in health care and agriculture.
Watch full MTN News interview with Libertarian candidate Kyle Austin:
“I am the real conservative in this race with an America First agenda for all Montanans,” he said.
Austin attacked Bodnar over his endorsement from former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, saying he would continue “failed policies.” He criticized Alme over law enforcement raids in Montana. He said he would be truly independent, because he’s self-funding his campaign.
