“There’s Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos.”
Jim Hightower, Progressive Texas Politician and Commentator
Full disclosure: I served in the Montana Senate with Jon Tester. I worked for Nancy Keenan when she was Superintendent of Public Instruction. I served as the Vice Chair and Chair of the Lewis and Clark Central Committee. I was elected as the Western District Chair’s Representative on the State Democratic Party Executive Board. I served as a senate representative on the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. I was elected twice to the Montana Senate and once to the Montana Public Service Commission. I have founded, managed and volunteered for progressive organizations in Montana for my entire career. I have been an active Democrat despite having a lot frustration with the party because I recognize the need for organizations which provide structure, transparency and democratic accountability in our political process.
Great Falls, MT
Bodnar’s Stable of Politician Endorsements
The Bodnar campaign is moving into high gear. His pockets are filled with cash. Much of it coming from Washington, DC elites and lobbyists. He is now establishing his electoral credibility by announcing a stable of high profile Montana politicians, mostly Democrats. Most of these endorsers argue that these are desperate political times. They say the “Democratic brand” is so tarnished a Democrat can’t win state-wide office.
Ironically, if the finger of blame belongs anywhere for the current dysfunction in our political system and the Montana Democratic Party in particular, these folks deserve much of the blame. Over the years they have consistently emphasized reaching out to the “middle-of-the-road” voters while marginalizing the traditional progressive base in the Democratic Party.
Bodnar’s recent endorsements include:
Jon Tester- 18 years representing Montana in the US Senate. He lost 2024 election despite spending more money than Tim Sheehy, (Tester $79 mm, Sheehy $21mm, PAC spending $115mm roughly split evenly) The Montana Free Press described him this way “Tester positions himself as a moderate willing to work with or oppose either Trump or Biden depending on the issue,”
Max Baucus- 35 years representing Montana in the US Senate. His Wikipedia page summarized him this way, “he was known for straddling party lines and frequently bucking his own party on taxes, health care, the environment, and gun control. Baucus was the primary author of our current health care system (along with his former Chief of Staff, Jim Messina, who was also an advisor to Tester’s 2006 campaign for Senate and is now encouraging Bodnar’s independent run).
For more details on Baucus follow this link: https://sunlightfoundation.com/2009/06/22/the-max-baucus-health-care-lobbyist-complex/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Nancy Keenan- four years as the Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party ending in 2019. Six years serving in the Montana House of Representatives representing Anaconda ending in 1989. She subsequently served three terms as The Superintendent of Public Instruction until 2001.
Dorothy Bradley- Served a total eight terms in the Montana House of Representatives. She ran against Pat Williams in the Democratic Primary for Congress. She lost. She ran for Governor in 1992. She was defeated in the general election by Marc Racicot. She also served on the board of NorthWestern Energy from 2009 to 2017. The NWE 2016 Proxy Statement says she received $211,840 in stock and cash compensation. The same document shows that she held $1,099,648 in stock and “deferred stock units”
Mary Sexton- Served as a Teton County Commissioner from 1999 to 2004. She ran for PSC in 2000 losing to Tom Schneider in the primary. She also ran as John Vincent’s running mate in 2004 gubernatorial race. She and Vincent were defeated by Brian Schweitzer and John Bohlinger (a Republican, ahem). She was head of the Montana Department of Natural Resources from 2006 to 2013. She served as Chair of the Montana Democratic Party from 2016 to 2018.
Bodnar also has been endorsed by former Governor, Marc Racicot. Perhaps his greatest “accomplishment” was shepherding electric deregulation through the Montana legislature. We’re not going through his long, soiled career as a republican hack/lobbyist during the Bush 2 administration. Take a look for yourself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Racicot.
These folks, and others like them, have been calling the shots in the Montana Democratic Party for years. And virtually every time they or their chosen candidates have lost with their middle of the road strategies and rhetoric they point immediately at progressives and place the blame on us. Too green, too gay, too anti-business, too Missoula, and so it goes. It has become the common wisdom among party elites and the consultant class. . . .and it is bullshit.
Consider the 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary in Montana
The progressive candidate was Bernie Sanders, the insiders’ choice was Hillary Clinton. Much to the surprise of establishment Democrats, Bernie Sanders won the popular vote in the primary with 51.56% of the vote. He won in the urban centers you might predict (Missoula, Bozeman, Lewis and Clark). He also won many more rural counties than Clinton. So much for saying rural people don’t like progressive candidates.
Based on the popular vote, Sanders was awarded 11 delegates to go to the National Democratic Convention, Clinton was awarded 10. But Montana had six “unpledged superdelegates” who also had votes at the convention five of those voted for Hillary Clinton despite the fact that she lost the popular vote . Three were Superdelegates because they were members of the Democratic National Committee, Jacquie Helt and Jim Larson (both Montana labor leaders) and Jorge Quintana, who served as chief legal counsel for Democratic Secretary of State, Linda McCulloch. The other superdelegates who voted for Clinton were Senator Jon Tester and Governor Steve Bullock. The lone superdelegate who supported Sanders was Jean Lemire Dahman a rancher from eastern Montana.
In the end, after a bit of a kerfuffle in the Montana delegation on the floor of the convention, Clinton was awarded 15 delegates and Sanders was awarded 12. Of course the Montana delegate count has little effect on the Presidential nomination. But this episode pretty clearly demonstrates who controls the Democratic party in the state and it isn’t the progressive wing.
“Wave” Elections Happen
The 2010 election was the first mid-term election of the Obama Administration. A red wave swept the country. Luckily there was only one state-wide race on the ballot in Montana. Republican Denny Rehberg won it with 60% of the vote. Republicans flipped 18 seats in the Montana House and took control of the senate with a six vote majority. Republicans also gained two seats on the PSC. We are dealing with the results of the 2010 election to this day. All the money in the world, all of the sophisticated polling and strategic maneuvering in the world are simply window dressing in an election like this.
Now, along comes the 2026 election. It is the first mid-term election of Trump’s second term. We are engaged in a war he started in the Middle East. Inflation is steadily increasing, and his economic policies have wreaked havoc on numerous sectors of the economy. Assuming Trump doesn’t figure out a way to cancel or steal the election, it has the potential to be a blue wave election.
A Missed Opportunity to Unify Montana Democrats
Brian Schweitzer and others encouraged Bodnar to run as a Democrat (WTF406 among them https://wtf406.com/2026/02/open-letter-to-seth-bodnar/). But apparently others like consultant Jim Messina, Jon Tester and the endorsers listed in this post are convinced a Democrat can’t win in Montana (despite the fact that all of them have been elected in Montana as Democrats in the past).
Of course the argument has been that these are unique times and Trump and MAGA pose an existential threat to our democracy. But they have gone a step further in discouraging Bodnar from filing as a Democrat. It is hard to know what evidence they rely on other than some undisclosed polling and their years of experience. They are not relying on the history of success of independent candidates on the Montana ballot. The evidence there is not encouraging. (https://wtf406.com/2026/01/handing-steve-daines-the-next-election/).
By filing as an independent Bodnar forgoes the Democratic base vote. The promoters of his independent candidacy have also been promoting the idea that the winner of the Democratic primary would withdraw leaving a mano-a-mano contest between the Republican Kurt Alme and Bodnar. (See our previous post https://wtf406.com/2026/06/seth-bodnar-and-the-nebraska-plan/) Thus far the Democratic candidate, Alani Bankhead, isn’t going along with this weird idea.
But it is clear that Bodnar’s decision is dividing Democrats. So far, disgruntled Republicans are not flocking to his campaign. We can’t really say what percentage of voters are independent. But, we know that regularly partisan voters often identify themselves as independents when asked about their party affiliation by pollsters. A more accurate method than polling is to look at voters who voted for candidates from both parties on the same ballot, so called “ticket splitters” in Montana elections. According to one estimate ticket splitting in Montana has declined from 20% in 2016 to 8% in 2024. (https://montanafreepress.org/2025/12/08/how-has-ticket-splitting-changed-in-montana/). Bad news for Bodnar.
Truth is nobody knows . . .
It is true that we are in uncharted waters in this election cycle. The authoritarian take over of our government and institutions is well underway. It is also true that we have never seen this amount of money in politics and the sleazy win-at-any-cost consultant crowd it has attracted. Reilly Neill didn’t appear to be able to raise the kind of money and support needed for a US Senate race despite her hard work. Alani Bankhead is really an unknown commodity in Montana politics. It may be true that Seth Bodnar is the strongest of the three to take on Kurt Alme.
But it is also true that his independent candidacy is damaging the Democratic Party and alienating a lot of loyal and consistent Democratic volunteers and voters. It is also damaging to Democrats in down ticket races.
And once you strip it all down, Bodnar’s choice to run as an independent is driven by money, speculative polling and analysis by old office holders and consultants. It is the opposite of the kind of grass roots organizing and support most people say they want to see in our politics.
Bodnar could have run as a Democrat but chose not to. Ironically, If Kurt Alme wins this election, the same old crowd will point their fingers and blame the progressives who didn’t jump on board with Bodnar.
I’m voting for the native Montana and military veteran Democrat, ALANI BANKHEAD. I’m dick and tired of out-of-staters and Trumpublicans. Also, it’s terribly disappointing that Tester supports Faker Bodnar.
Hello, Suzanne. Fyi, Bankhead is not Native Montanan. She just moved here.
I’m voting for the native Montana and military veteran Democrat, ALANI BANKHEAD. I’m sick and tired of out-of-staters and Trumpublicans. Also, it’s terribly disappointing that Tester supports Faker Bodnar.
Bodner is endorsed by Steve danies, no matter what anyone says he won’t get my vote!
I’m not unduly impressed with either candidate. I think Ms. Bankhead has zero chance, and if Bodnar had run as a Dem, he’d at least have a fighting chance. So, I’m calling this race early.
I simply don’t understand this strategy of running as an independent. If you lack the balls to declare yourself a Dem, then you automatically disqualify yourself in many people’s book, including mine. For there is absolutely nothing be ashamed of about the Democratic Party in Montana. It’s always been the party of integrity that fights for the working man. And a lot of us old timers remember all the Democratic fighters we’ve had in the past. To blithely discount their history is insulting.
So the party is down at the moment. Trump will remedy that for us. We just need the patience to ride it out without panicking and not striking out in new untested waters. Also, I would suggest searching diligently for qualified people to run, even if they don’t fit the Max Baucus middle of the road philosophy. Ol’ Maxie pretty much killed the Dem party in Montana by backing every milquetoast candidate he could find. The real fire breathers didn’t have a chance. So here we are.
BTW, I’m so sick of using military experience as a reference enhancer. I was in the military. The military does absolutely NOTHING to prepare one for elected office, except how to keep sucking off the government teat. Need a job to pad your retirement? Come to Montana get into government. For most Montanans that’s not a reality. We prefer to work our asses off to live here. See, ya can’t get fired from the military, and ya can’t get fired from congress! That ain’t a Montana value!
The photo tells the story😀
You’re a reader of history as am I. The Wooblies and union folks (progressives) of the early 20th century were in uncharted territory, didn’t last long. The “company” saw to that! Independents are running across the nation – even Eisenhaur of Great Falls tossed his hat in the ring. A new chapter in old playbooks. I just know that right now, Montana and the nation need a shot of realism, and Bodnar is that for me and other Democrats. I still believe in the middle of the road, sort of! Cheers, Ken!
Mary, the candidate is the problem, moreso than the strategy. Have you ever heard Bodnar speak? He’s a stock type candidate, who doesn’t come off as genuine (and his latest round of ads only reinforce that feel.) If this is worth doing, they should have a found another Tester or a Schweitzer— a real person— to run. I honestly think a one of them would cleaned Daines’ clock this fall but oh well. We’ll never know.
Hi Mary. As you probably know the Wobblies promoted major changes in the labor movement which last to this day. Among them the concept of industrial unions and organizing workers who were viewed at the time as too difficult to organize. The fact that they were “crushed” by the industrialists is more a stain on American capitalism than an indictment of their goals and strategies. At the time AFl, which was essentially a craft union organizing only white men, was complicit in the attacks on the Wobblies in an effort to accept the “political realities” of the day. Among those realities was anti-immigrant sentiment and the Red Scare. “History does not repeat itself but it often rhymes”
Well written, except your Reilly Neill plug. She was a terrible candidate – Did you see her debate? Do you know anything about her alarming, unfit-to-ever-run-for-politics pre-campaign Facebook posts? – with the most unethical, unhinged political consultant in Montana as her campaign manager.
I didn’t “plug” Reilly Neill. I simply acknowledged that she worked hard. I stand by that.
Ken, thanks for this. It strikes me that now would be a good time to ask about how donated money to the state party is being spent. I’m sure the following types of questions have been asked before, but in light of what happened last election cycle, they bear asking again. Does the Executive Board have a Finance Committee and does it receive and oversee quarterly financial reports or just the Board Chair? Is the Finance Committee functioning according to bylaws? Is the Board for that matter? Is the Treasurer able to carry out – and are they carrying out – the duties assigned in the bylaws? Are Executive Board members receiving the financial information necessary to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities? Basically, is our Executive Board performing necessary governance and doing their due diligence?
The Baucus endorsement—lol. That should get the voters behind Bodnar. 😆
This is what can be accomplished with courage. They won because they figured out that the Maxie Malaise ( as in Maxie Baucus) is not what people want any more. Even in Montana folks are clamoring for real candidates who are unafraid to fight for their values by leaving the middle-of-the-road tactics behind.
“Last night, in Colorado’s First District, AIPAC lost.
Denver elected Melat Kiros as the Democratic nominee to Congress and ousted a 30-year establishment Democrat who refused to call for an arms embargo to stop a genocide.
In the final weeks, corporate dark money flooded the race to stop Melat — much of it from AIPAC, Amazon, and Lockheed Martin — in a last-ditch attempt to stop Melat. And they smeared Melat as antisemitic for refusing to stay silent about Israel’s genocide.
That is where JVP Action came in. We are done allowing Super PACs to attack bold leftists and progressives who are speaking out for Palestinian freedom — and we know how to fight back. We made Melat’s fight our fight — Jews for Melat members joined an incredible field operation that knocked on more than 100,000 doors, and spoke out publicly as Jewish Denverites in support of Melat.
We are proud to have been a part of the fight to elect Melat Kiros, further solidifying Palestine as part of a popular politics intertwined with the fight for working people. Will you donate today so that we can keep electing the JVP Action Road to Power slate of pro-Palestine champions?
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Melat won because organizations mobilized grassroots people power to talk with voters across the district — and because her campaign gave people something to vote for. She was the only candidate in the race rejecting corporate PAC money.
She ran on Medicare for All, Housing First, Universal Childcare, abolishing ICE, and an arms embargo on Israel. She made the connections explicit: the same billionaires who keep our prices high and burn our planet are the ones profiting from genocide. That is the politics we are building: Palestine woven into the fight for working people.”
Jewishvoiceforpeace.org
Melat of Colorado ran as a member if DSA.
When president of UofM, Bodar settled a sexual assault accusation with 18 plaintiffs,,,,coaches, administraters and professors…….for $350,000.
Alaini Bankhead, no baggage, is the one most qualified, even tho not well known. We can change that.
A woman has not been elected to Congress from Montana since Jeannette Rankin….and the men have certainly failed….all of them.
Elect Alani……let’s get some changes going NOW.
Really? Failed? Are you forgetting Mansfield, Metcalf, Melcher, Williams? Actually, these men were some of the finest legislators of their era. And here’s the important thing. ALL of these men were accessible. You could call them on the phone and they would answer. We knew them all, some personally. In other words, they were Montanans with whom we shared the trials and hardships of life and experiences. They had friends and connections in every corner of the state. And they were well-known, well-liked, and well-respected. Mansfield as majority leader was in essence the most powerful man in the world. And he distinguished himself in that role.
I just don’t see Alani being from that mold. She maybe should spend some time in the mines of Butte to get up to speed. Just kidding of course. But we really should strive for accuracy when citing history. I like her, but maybe she should start a little lower and work her way up! Ya see, like they used to say, an expert is a guy from outta town with pictures. Alani reminds me of a gal from outta town with energy and ideas but no Montana creds. And of course a future.
This interesting. But I think it says something about the Dem party in Montana. If there’s a way to screw things up, they’ll find it. Ya gotta find candidates with a fighting chance. Do NOT have your heavyweights endorse candidates unwilling to ride for the brand no matter how clever you think you’re being. Schweitzer knew this, and he was only the most successful Dem we ever had who overcame extremely overwhelming odds. They are in panic mode now. Bodnar would’ve made a formidable Dem! It’s a hard lesson to learn, and one we can ill afford!
If Alani throws herself on her sword for the good of her new found state, that might be our only chance. But she seems hellbent on riding this sucker into oblivion. God knows why.
https://montanafreepress.org/2026/07/06/mystery-pac-that-boosted-bankhead-exits-senate-race-leaving-a-financial-void/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newspack+Newsletter+%28269062%29&utm_source=2&npnl=MjY5MDYyfGYwMTI4YzQxNTBhNWEzMmE5YWY3OTRmY2UwZTc4NzM1YjAwNzkxNjhiNmZjOTliNDVkMjQ4YTdiMzIxNjVmODE&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=A%20major%20player%20exits%20the%20Senate%20race&utm_campaign=Newspack%20Newsletter%20%28269062%29
It’s called Democracy.