Veterans Across the Political Spectrum Back Independent Seth Bodnar

MISSOULA, MT—This week, Independent candidate for U.S. Senate and former Green Beret Seth Bodnar continues to campaign across Montana, meeting with veterans and veterans groups to talk about the challenges Montana veterans face getting the care and support they earned as part of his “Showing Up” statewide tour.

Bodnar’s “Montana First: Veterans Agenda” calls for reversing politically-driven VA staffing cuts, expanding rural access to VA care and mental health services, protecting the GI Bill, and strengthening HUD-VASH housing assistance. Montana has one of the highest veteran suicide rates in the nation—53.9 per 100,000, compared to a national rate of 35.2—and VA Montana lost nearly 9 percent of its workforce between late 2024 and December 2025. 

Bodnar’s agenda and service record has support from veterans organizations across the political spectrum.

Retired First Sergeant Marlin E. Heater Jr. served as Bodnar's first rifle platoon sergeant during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In a letter to Montanans, Heater wrote that across more than two decades in uniform spanning Iraq and Afghanistan, few leaders left as deep an impression on him as Bodnar did.

"While the mission always came first, Seth brought something rare to the battlefield: a combination of bravery, humanity, and moral clarity that you simply don't often see in such a young leader," Heater wrote. "I used to think I was setting the standard for him as he grew into his role. The truth is, he set a standard for me — one that stayed with me long after Iraq."

VoteVets, the nation's largest progressive veterans organization pointed to Bodnar’s service in the 101st Airborne Division and the 1st Special Forces Group, and his commitment to standing up for veterans, military families, and a strong, responsibly-led national defense—free from partisan gamesmanship.

“At VoteVets, we support winners, and Seth Bodnar is best positioned to run and win in Montana,” said VoteVets Senior Advisor General Paul Eaton. “Seth is a strong leader who has consistently put country first, from his time in education to his service as a Green Beret. Montana veterans deserve a voice in the U.S. Senate that they can count on. Seth is the best and most formidable candidate to lead Montana into the future, and he has VoteVets’ full support ahead of November.”

Independent Veterans of America, the first and only national organization dedicated to recruiting and electing Independent veteran candidates, endorsed Bodnar as part of its effort to elect 100 Independent veterans nationwide.

“In this time of war, division, turmoil, corruption and partisan failure, Independent veteran Seth Bodnar represents hope for Montanans, for veterans, and for all Americans,” said IVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. “Seth Bodnar also represents a game changing threat to both the Democrat and Republican parties and our country's badly broken, hyper-partisan political system. He is an impressive, committed and serious leader that is uniting people of all backgrounds across Montana.”

Adam Kinzinger, who flew combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan during more than 20 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard and served on the House committee investigating January 6th, endorsed Bodnar. 

"I spent my career in the Air Force believing your oath to country comes before your loyalty to any party, and I lost my seat in Congress for actually living that out," said Kinzinger. "Seth Bodnar gets that in his bones. He's a Green Beret who's spent his life serving something bigger than himself, and he's running for the Senate because Montanans deserve a senator who answers to them, not to party bosses in Washington. I'm proud to stand with him."

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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