Statement from the Campaign of Independent Seth Bodnar

MISSOULA, MT — Independent candidate for U.S. Senate race Seth Bodnar’s campaign spokesperson Abigail Tracy released the following statement following Democrat Alani Bankhead’s press conference earlier today.

“Alani Bankhead has every right to stay in this race. But Montanans should ask themselves why Republican-aligned dark money groups are boosting her campaign, raising money for her and rooting for her to stay in. 

“She has no clear path to the resources it takes to compete statewide, and by her own admission, does not feel she needs them to win. She’s said she’s comfortable staying in even if it makes things easier for MAGA Republican Kurt Alme, who has spent this entire campaign hiding from Montana voters after being installed on the ballot by Washington insiders. A mysterious PAC bankrolled her primary campaign, then abandoned her at the end of June.

“There’s also a real question of whether Alani’s own record reflects the Montana values she’s trying to campaign on.

“In her own words, she has said that if you’re poor in America, it’s because you decided you wanted to be poor. She campaigned with an influencer known for hateful rhetoric and who participated in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. She has belonged to a church known for holding anti-LGBT, anti-abortion, and anti-gender equality beliefs, and she partnered on her memoir with a far right publisher who has published books on reversing Roe v. Wade and that suggest the COVID vaccine might symbolize the Mark of the Beast.  

“That's not the record of someone who understands what Montana families are up against.

“Seth Bodnar is running to be an independent voice for Montanans in the U.S. Senate who will lower costs and increase opportunity for families across our state. He has out-raised every candidate in this race combined and built a coalition spanning Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Montanans deserve a senator who answers to them, not to party bosses or the dark money interests playing every side of this race. Seth Bodnar is that candidate, and this campaign isn't slowing down."

Seth Bodnar is a Green Beret, business leader, and former president of the University of Montana running for the U.S. Senate to be an independent voice for Montana. Seth is guided by a lifelong commitment to duty, honor, and country. He graduated first in his class at West Point and served multiple overseas deployments, leading soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division and the 1st Special Forces Group, and serving as a special advisor to the commanding general in Iraq. After his military service and a successful career in business, Seth spent the last eight years leading the University of Montana. Under his leadership, the university achieved record high graduation rates, doubled research funding, launched the largest infrastructure renewal in campus history, restored financial stability, and was named the #1 military-friendly university in the country. Raised by two public school teachers, he believes leadership is about service, not party loyalty. Seth and his wife, a fifth-generation Montanan, are raising their three children in Montana.

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