United States Senator Montana in Statewide, Montana

2026 Primary Election

• Kurt Alme — Candidate for U.S. Senate in MT

  Kurt Alme, a native Montanan born in Great Falls and raised in Dillon, Victor, and Helena, is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2026. He served as the U.S. Attorney for Montana from 2017-2020 and again from March 2025 to March 2026, nominated twice by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate. Alme is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring community safety, highlighting his work cracking down on criminals and drug traffickers. His platform also focuses on improving rural healthcare by investing in providers and patients to lower costs and increase access. He has secured significant endorsements from President Donald Trump, Senator Steve Daines, Senator Tim Sheehy, and Governor Greg Gianforte.

• Kyle Austin — Pharmacist and founder of Pharm406 in Billings, MT

  Kyle Austin is a Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate in Montana for the 2026 election. A fourth-generation Montanan, he was born in Havre and graduated from Havre High School in 2001. He earned a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Montana in 2008 and has since worked as a pharmacist, founding his own company, Pharm406. Austin’s campaign focuses on eliminating government overreach, reducing wasteful spending, and lowering taxes. He also aims to address the cost of living and home ownership by lowering interest rates, reducing construction barriers, promoting zero tariffs, and supporting responsible logging. He advocates for small businesses and consumer access rights, and is a gun owner.

• Alani Bankhead — Retired Air Force LtCol in Helena, MT

  Alani Bankhead is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate representing Montana in the 2026 primary election on June 2. A retired Air Force LtCol, she leverages her military background to propose reallocating unused defense spending to fund rural healthcare, a key component of her top priority: ensuring access to quality healthcare for all Montanans. She also focuses on broader affordability issues, support for farmers, ranchers, and small businesses, and fostering workforce development. Bankhead advocates for setting term limits for US Congressional members, responsible environmental stewardship, and strengthening education as a community foundation. Her campaign is based in Helena.

• Lee Calhoun — Mechanical engineer in Whitefish, MT

  Lee Calhoun is a Republican mechanical engineer and Whitefish resident seeking election to the U.S. Senate in Montana's 2026 primary. He identifies as a problem-solver rather than a politician, having observed economic challenges and social issues for 45 years. Calhoun's platform focuses on universal healthcare, corporate welfare rollback, term limits, and free market energy. He advocates for ending medical bankruptcy, returning tax rates to 2000 levels, removing fossil fuel subsidies, and limiting elected officials to a single term. Calhoun pledges to refuse all donations, serve only one term, and donate his first year's salary to Montana nonprofits, aiming to address issues like rural hospital closures, high healthcare costs, and the shrinking middle class.

• Michael Hummert — Candidate for United States Senator in MT

  Michael Hummert, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana, is a veteran of the U.S. Army and Navy, where he served as a deep-sea hardhat salvage diver and marine mammal operator. His background includes working as a diving instructor, school bus driver, and owner of a home remodeling company. Hummert is running because he believes the political class lacks compromise and treating power as a commodity. He advocates for active forest management, stronger immigration enforcement, addressing the national debt, and drug prevention for children. He champions a "Realist Liberal Democrat" approach, prioritizing truth over partisanship.

• Tom Jandron — Candidate for U.S. Senator in MT

  Tom Jandron, a Libertarian candidate, is running for the U.S. Senate to represent Montana in 2026. He brings a background of military service, having served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 2009 to 2022. His career experience also includes work as an aviation mechanic. Jandron states his campaign is focused on representing “the forgotten man” and cleaning up the current political system, emphasizing his independence by stating he cannot be bought and has no party bosses to answer to. He is participating in the Libertarian Party primary election scheduled for June 2, 2026.

• Christopher Kehoe — Arts administrator in Missoula, MT

  Christopher Kehoe is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana for the 2026 election. With a background in acting and nonprofit arts administration, he holds degrees from the University of Minnesota and Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Kehoe states his run was inspired by witnessing federal immigration officers' actions in his hometown of Minneapolis. He aims to serve one term if elected, focusing on humanitarian reform of ICE, updating Section 230, dismantling Citizens United, regulating AI and data centers, and ending the Senate filibuster. He emphasizes not mixing money with politics and does not accept campaign donations.

• Reilly Neill — Publishing executive in Livingston, MT

  Reilly Neill, a Democrat, is a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Montana. Describing herself as a moderate and open-minded candidate, her motivation for running stems from a 2024 write-in campaign for the U.S. House, where she directly engaged with Montanans. She announced her Senate bid the day after that election, emphasizing the need for true representation. Her policy priorities include enforcing the War Powers Resolution, prioritizing rural communities, and addressing water infrastructure challenges with a proposed federal Irrigation Infrastructure Act. Neill previously served one term in the Montana House of Representatives (2013-2015) and has a background as a publishing executive. She also organized events for the Montana March for Reproductive Rights.

• Charles Walking Child — Business owner in MT

  Charles Walking Child, a Republican and lifelong Montanan, was born in Great Falls and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Great Falls. A business owner and community advocate, he is running for U.S. Senate in 2026. He champions common-sense, America First solutions, portraying himself as an independent outsider rather than a career politician. His platform focuses on making homeownership achievable, lowering living costs, protecting natural resources, expanding energy production, and improving education, all while representing Montana's values in Washington.

• Michael Black Wolf — Preservation officer and community leader in Hays, MT

  Michael Black Wolf is a preservation officer and community leader from the Fort Belknap Indian Community, a native Montanan with deep ancestral roots. He advocates for rural and Tribal communities, running for U.S. Senate to bring practical leadership and accountability. His campaign prioritizes good-paying jobs, affordable rural healthcare, respect for Tribal sovereignty, and protecting Montana's land and water. He champions policies like Medicare for All, local food systems, and ethical housing, aiming to put Montana's needs before party politics and amplify the state's voice in Washington.