Independent Seth Bodnar Enters Montana Senate Race, Trails Republican Nominee in Polls

Seth Bodnar, a former Green Beret, Rhodes Scholar and University of Montana president, is running as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in Montana, Newsweek reported. In a Thursday interview, Bodnar said national political leaders are not working to quell the fires of division in this country.

He added that they are bringing gasoline and pouring it on that fire deliberately and strategically. Bodnar stated that an angry and divided electorate is easier to control than an informed and united electorate. He also said the government has no business in Montanans' bedrooms, doctor's offices or gun cabinets.

Bodnar rejected the idea that his candidacy would split opposition to the Republican nominee, saying his campaign is building a coalition that is additive rather than divisive. Two post-primary polls placed Republican nominee Kurt Alme in the lead. A GrayHouse poll conducted June 23 and 24 showed Alme at 41 percent, Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead at 25 percent and Bodnar at 17 percent.

A Public Opinion Strategies poll from June 8 to 11 placed Alme at 44 percent, Bankhead at 25 percent and Bodnar at 20 percent. A pre-primary Tavern Research survey had shown Alme at 49 percent, Bankhead at 26 percent and Bodnar at 24 percent.

Bankhead led Bodnar among Democrats in all three polls, with margins ranging from 31 to 58 points. Bodnar led among self-identified independents in the GrayHouse survey with 30 percent. Inside Elections moved the race from Likely Republican to Solid Republican after Bankhead said she would stay in the contest.

Cook Political Report classifies the race as solid Republican with a partisan voting index of R+10. Alme is a former U.S. attorney and ally of former Senator Steve Daines, who withdrew from the race in March.