EXCLUSIVE: Seth Bodnar’s campaign faces growing allegations of sexism in Montana Senate race

Montana U.S. Senate candidate Seth Bodnar’s campaign (I) is facing renewed accusations of sexism after his supporters began launching deeply personal attacks against Democrat nominee Alani Bankhead.

This comes as Bodnar’s camp is working tirelessly to push Bankhead out of the U.S. Senate contest to clear the path for himself ahead of Aug. 10, the procedural cutoff for her withdrawal.

Montana is one of a series of states where Democrats are attempting to replace their party’s nominee with an independent candidate. In Montana, the Democrats’ nominee is Alani Bankhead, but the Reporter previously reported that Seth Bodnar, who is running as an independent in the race, has deep ties to national Democrats — who are deeply unpopular in Montana.

Montana journalist Jesse James Mullen revealed Bodnar’s supporters on social media have been trying to pressure Bankhead to drop out with messages such as “drop out bitch” and “GOOD LORD MEGA C—T.”

Mullen remarked, “Bodnar’s supporters really aren’t helping him dodge those sex discrimination allegations.”

Senator Tim Sheehy (R., Mont.), a retired Navy SEAL, reacted to the attacks on X, writing “I support Kurt Alme in the Montana Senate race and have remained quiet on the Democrat on Democrat violence, but this is nasty stuff from Seth Bodnar’s supporters.  I served our country, as did Seth and Alani.  Calling a female veteran a b—h and a c—t because she won’t do what you want is unacceptable and Seth should discourage his supporters from engaging in these vicious, personal attacks.”

The “sex discrimination allegations” Mullen referred to stem from a 2021 lawsuit from 18 women against the University of Montana, where Bodnar served as president, that accused Bodnar of creating a “good ol boys club.”

A Senate political operative told the Reporter, “The sexist language used by Bodnar’s allies to attack Alani Bankhead is some of the most shocking and offensive behavior I have seen in my career. We are used to hardball politics, but these types of vicious smears are essentially violent language that have no place in the political discourse. This is America. We should be better than this”

Bodnar was accused of telling a female employee to smile more, saying she was moody, belittling her, and commenting on her appearance.  According to the lawsuit, “under President Bodnar, the careers of the athletic-built women thrived, while older, less attractive women were publicly critiqued.”

The University ultimately settled the lawsuit for $350,000.

One Montana political strategist told the Reporter that Bodnar’s supporters “sexist” attacks against Bankhead are disturbing but not surprising.

“Seth has a history of legal issues in this area, so sexist attacks from his supporters against a female opponent are to be expected,” said the political strategist. “U of M was forced to pay $350k and it appears that is also how his campaign’s supporters will operate.”