President Donald Trump on Wednesday endorsed former federal prosecutor Kurt Alme as his preferred candidate to succeed Steve Daines in the U.S. Senate after the Montana Republican announced he would not seek reelection in November. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Alme as a respected prosecutor and Harvard Law School graduate who would prioritize law enforcement, support the military and veterans, and advance policies focused on economic growth, tax reductions, and domestic energy production.
Trump also commended Daines for his service, saying the senator had chosen to “pass the torch” to Alme. The president noted that Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Sen. Tim Sheehy have also expressed support for Alme. Alme previously served as U.S. attorney for Montana after being unanimously confirmed in 2017, a position he held until December 2020. He later worked as Gianforte’s state budget director and most recently served as executive vice president at the National Christian Foundation.
In a statement, Alme said he is running to represent Montana values and support Trump’s “America First” agenda. Daines announced his decision not to run again in a video posted to social media, saying the choice came after careful consideration. His departure follows the recent retirement announcement of Rep. Ryan Zinke, another Montana Republican, signaling broader changes in the state’s congressional delegation ahead of the midterm elections.
