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Missoula County, MT ballot

Alani Bankhead

Democrat

United States Senator · Missoula County, Montana · November 3, 2026

Also on the ballot: Seth Bodnar (Independent), Kurt Alme (Republican), Kyle Austin (Libertarian)

Alani Bankhead, the Democratic nominee from Helena, is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and counterintelligence special agent who won the June 2 primary. She does not hold the seat, which is open. She backs Medicaid for All funded by cutting defense spending and opposes the Iran war, and she has refused calls from some Democrats to withdraw in favor of independent Seth Bodnar.

What this office decides

A U.S. Senator writes and votes on federal law, taxes, and spending, and confirms federal judges and executive appointees. For Montana the seat also shapes federal policy on public lands, energy, agriculture, health coverage, and immigration. One of two senators representing all of Montana, for a six-year term.

How this race lines up with you

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Dossier

Researched 2026-09-23 · Claude Code research agent with web search

Donald Trump: opposed. In a July 24, 2026 Truth Social post Trump wrote that "Kurt is running against a Radical Left Democrat named Alani Bankhead, who loves High Taxes, Open Borders..."; he had endorsed her opponent Kurt Alme in March. source

  • Donald Trump (against) source
  • Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer (for) source
  • National Organization for Women (for) source
  • National Women's Political Caucus (for) source
  • Nancy Keenan, former Montana Democratic Party leader (urged her to withdraw) (against) source

Who they are

Alani Bankhead of Helena (MT SOS) is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and counterintelligence special agent (MTPR) and a Christian life coach (MTFP). Won the June 2 Democratic primary with 43.6% (MTFP). Not the incumbent: the seat is open (FEC).

Positions

  • Taxes & spending: Would "claw back" year-end military spending; proposes raising "the capital gains limit from $250K to $500K" and tax breaks for affordable-housing builders (MTFP questionnaire).
  • Health care: Backs "Medicaid for All" (MTFP questionnaire), funded by "the defense budget and the illegal war on Iran" (Daily Montanan).
  • Immigration: Says "we are a country of immigrants" and wants a streamlined process (MTPR); no ICE funding "until they were held accountable" (Daily Montanan).
  • Energy & environment: "I would never allow the exploitation or development of our public lands" (MTFP questionnaire).
  • Foreign policy: Does "not support this war in Iran" (MTPR); War Powers Resolution "should absolutely be enforced" (MTFP questionnaire).
  • Personal freedom: Reported as pro-choice (Flathead Beacon).

Record

No elected-office record found; says she "arrested pedophiles and traffickers on six different continents" (Daily Montanan).

Money

FEC, Oct. 1, 2025–June 30, 2026: $58,829 raised, $37,011 spent, $21,485 cash; $6,522 self-funded (FEC). In the primary, super PACs including Progressive Vet PAC and the conservative More Jobs, Less Government ($866,000) promoted her (MTFP).

Recent news

  • 2026-07-24: Trump called her a "Radical Left Democrat"; the DSCC declined to back her (KULR8).
  • 2026-08-05: A podcast remark, "If you're poor right now, it's because you decided you wanted to be poor," cost her Forward Montana's support (Flathead Beacon).
  • 2026-08-10: Stayed in the race past the withdrawal deadline (MTFP).
  • 2026-09-22: At a Missoula debate, said she signed "a pledge to impeach Trump and put him in jail" (Daily Montanan).

What we couldn't find

  • Abortion policy in her words; energy-source views; her positions page did not load; post-June FEC totals.
Sources (14)