EXCLUSIVE: “Confidential” GOP donor memo warns of Alani Bankhead’s strength in open Senate race

A “confidential” memo that the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) sent to donors warned that “Republicans must not take the current GOP delegation for granted and must continue to play offense against Democrats in Montana.”

The memo, obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, comes amidst turmoil in the Senate race, where national Democrats are trying to consolidate behind either their party’s nominee or behind a purportedly independent candidate with close ties to state and national Democrats.

After Sen. Steve Daines’s (R., Mont.) last-minute retirement, Republicans in Montana immediately coalesced behind Kurt Alme, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana. Democrats, however, have been divided between Alani Bankhead and Seth Bodnar. 

According to SLF’s own polling, Bankhead is substantially stronger than Bodnar is against Alme, although the Republican is favored to win either head-to-head matchup. “Montana is a state with lingering Democrat DNA,” the memo notes. “From 1913 to 2025, Montana had at least one Democrat representative in the U.S. Senate.” 

While Alme leads either of his opponents head-on, Bankhead is noticeably stronger. “On the head-to-head ballot against Bankhead, Alme fails to reach 50%,” the memo notes. “In the head-to-head ballot against Bodnar, Alme manages to secure a slight majority of votes.”

“Recent chatter that the Independent candidate, Seth Bodnar, plans to withdraw from the race is concerning,” it continues. “Should this occur, Kurt Alme will face a head-to-head contest against Democratic candidate Alani Bankhead during a midterm cycle where Democratic voters maintain a notable enthusiasm advantage.”

SLF believes that Bankhead’s surge is because she is “consolidating Democrat support”; it adds that “her superior image and performance in head-to-head matchups with Alme present a concern that this race could divert resources from other critical races.”

“Republicans should not underestimate Alani Bankhead,” a national GOP strategist added to the Reporter. “Her background in the military and law enforcement gives her crossover appeal we don’t typically see in a Democrat candidate for office. It’s surprising how much traction she’s been able to get with her strategy of grassroots campaigning versus the traditional big money tactics Jon Tester was known for.”