Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has endorsed independent Senate candidate Seth Bodnar in Montana, choosing him over the Democratic nominee, Bodnar’s campaign announced Friday.
“The best leaders I’ve served with, in uniform and in government, care more about getting the job done than about who gets the credit, and Seth is one of them,” Buttigieg said in a statement. Buttigieg, who is viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, added, “Seth and I don’t agree on everything, but he has spent his adult life serving this country and the next generation, from the Army Green Berets to the University of Montana, and he’ll bring that same character to the Senate on behalf of all Montanans.”
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Bodnar said he was “honored to have Secretary Buttigieg’s support” and pleased that voters from across the political spectrum were backing his campaign.
Bodnar, 47, says he would remain independent if elected and would not caucus with either Democrats or Republicans. A retired U.S. Army Green Beret who graduated first in his West Point class, Bodnar is also a Rhodes scholar and recently stepped down as president of the University of Montana. He is running against Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead and Republican nominee Kurt Alme.
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Montana is widely regarded as a solidly Republican state, with substantially more voters casting ballots for Republican candidates than for Democrats. Bodnar’s record and message of political independence, affordability and anti-corruption efforts appear to be attracting support among some Montana voters. That backing has prompted calls for Bankhead to leave the race, which supporters say would improve Bodnar’s chances. If both remain on the ballot, they are expected to divide voters who would otherwise oppose Alme.
The Senate race was opened by Republican Sen. Steve Daines’ abrupt announcement that he would not seek reelection, made shortly before the March filing deadline.
President Trump held a rally in Montana last week to encourage turnout for Alme and congressional candidate Aaron Flint. Vice President JD Vance is expected to campaign in the state with a rally next week.
