With just minutes left before Montana’s Senate filing deadline Wednesday, the state’s political landscape shifted in dramatic fashion.
At 4:52 p.m., Kurt Alme submitted paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Steve Daines.
Eight minutes later, the filing window closed.
Under Montana law, candidates must submit paperwork before 5 p.m. to appear on the ballot. As a result, the final moments of the filing period often serve as the last chance for campaigns to enter — or exit — a race.
By the time the clock struck five, Daines was out.
State candidate records show the Republican senator, who had previously filed to seek another term, withdrew his name from the ballot shortly before the deadline, abruptly reshaping the GOP field in the race’s final moments.
Hours later, Daines confirmed the decision publicly.
In a video statement, the senator said he had spent months reflecting on his future after more than a decade in Congress.
“Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate the past 13 years has been the greatest honor of my professional career,” Daines said. “After much careful thought, I’ve decided not to seek reelection.”
Daines first entered Congress after winning Montana’s at-large House seat in 2012. Two years later, he successfully ran for the Senate, where he would go on to become a prominent figure within the Republican conference.
From 2023 through 2025, he also chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee, overseeing the party’s Senate campaign strategy during a crucial election cycle.
In Wednesday night’s announcement, Daines also made clear who he believes should carry the torch.
Alme soon confirmed his own Senate bid, officially launching his campaign to represent Montana in Washington.
The U.S. attorney said he was proud to enter the race and emphasized his commitment to strengthening public safety while upholding the rule of law across the state.
By the time Daines addressed the public Wednesday night, however, the race had already been transformed.
The filing deadline had passed.
His name was off the ballot.
And Montana’s Senate contest suddenly had a brand-new contender.
