Montana U.S. Senate Voter Guide: Alme, Austin, Bankhead and Bodnar on Data Centers and Housing
Four candidates are on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Montana on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Republican Kurt Alme, Libertarian Kyle Austin, Democrat Alani Bankhead and independent Seth Bodnar, according to the Montana Secretary of State's official candidate list. The state also lists one filed write-in candidate, Jami Dee Woodman of Dodson.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the four ballot candidates on two issues: data centers and housing. Here is where each one stands, based on the video, the candidates' own words, their campaign websites and Montana reporting.
The positions in the video match what the candidates told NBC Montana in an Oct. 18 report by Phil Howard on the race. On housing, the candidates also answered a written questionnaire from Montana Free Press in March, which asked them to "identify options or strategies available to federal officeholders to address home ownership and cost of living in Montana." Their answers are cited below.
The seat is open. Republican Sen. Steve Daines, who has held it since 2015, withdrew from the race two minutes before the March 4 filing deadline and endorsed Alme, Montana Free Press reported. Daines said he would serve out the rest of his second term.
The Ratepayer Protection Act
Two of the candidates, Alme and Bodnar, say they support the Ratepayer Protection Act. It is a federal bill, not a state law. The House version, H.R. 9340, led by Reps. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., and Kathy Castor, D-Fla., passed the House 417-3 on Sept. 16, 2026. It would direct state utility regulators to consider standards making data centers and other large customers that draw more than 100 megawatts pay the full added cost of serving them, so those costs are not passed on to other electric customers, according to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, introduced the Senate version, S. 5028, on July 16. On Sept. 30, a Senate procedural vote to take up the bill failed 57-43, short of the 60 votes needed, Roll Call reported.
Kurt Alme (Republican)
Alme, 60, of Billings, was born in Great Falls and graduated from high school in Miles City. President Donald Trump nominated him twice to be U.S. Attorney for Montana, a post he held from 2017 to 2020 and again from 2025 until he resigned in March 2026 to run for the Senate. He previously served as Montana's Department of Revenue director under Gov. Judy Martz, as a federal prosecutor and first assistant U.S. attorney, and briefly as state budget director under Gov. Greg Gianforte, according to his campaign website and Montana Free Press. He is a Harvard Law School graduate and a former president of the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation. Trump, Daines, Sen. Tim Sheehy and Gianforte endorsed him.
On data centers, the video says Alme wants data center companies to disclose their costs and pay their own way, and backs the Ratepayer Protection Act. That checks out. NBC Montana reported that Alme says data center and AI companies should disclose their costs and community impacts, and that he supports the act. "They need to make sure they pay their own way and they need to hire local jobs, they also need to protect our water, we can't have adverse impacts on water quality or on other water users," Alme said. "We should leave this to our local communities to decide." At the Oct. 11 debate in Bozeman, he said, "We need to be sure that if a data center company comes into this state, that they're transparent, they're clear about their cost to the community and other effects," Montana Free Press reported. After Trump wrote on Truth Social on Aug. 31 that communities that say no to data centers would "end up being backwards and poor," Alme told MTN News he understood the president's interest in economic development but believed the decisions should be made by local communities. His campaign website does not list a position on data centers.
On housing, the video says Alme believes cutting federal spending would lower inflation and the cost of building homes. That checks out. "So specific things we can do is first, we've got to rein in Washington spending. If we can do that, we'll lower inflation and that will reduce the cost to build new housing," he told NBC Montana. In the Montana Free Press questionnaire, he wrote that "the best way to lower the cost of living – permanently – is to rein in deficit spending" and that "to increase housing supply, we must unleash small businesses, contractors, and communities by cutting red tape that ties up construction and prevents more homes from being built." He also blamed federal spending and immigration policy for inflation and higher housing costs, NBC Montana reported.
Kyle Austin (Libertarian)
Austin, of Billings, was born and raised in Havre and still owns his grandfather's farm on the Hi-Line. He is a pharmacist of 18 years, a University of Montana pharmacy graduate and the owner of Pharm406, a pharmacy serving Billings, Laurel and Butte, the Daily Montanan reported. He ran in the Republican primaries for the U.S. House in 2022 and 2024 before switching to the Libertarian Party, and he won its Senate primary in June. He calls himself "the alternative Republican" and has put more than $250,000 of his own money into his campaign, according to the Daily Montanan.
On data centers, the video says Austin completely opposes data center construction in Montana. That checks out. NBC Montana reported that he completely opposes data center construction in the state. "They belong in the ocean, out of sight out of mind, where they have the water to cool themselves they can have the energy that they need out there and the day they get out of control we could just sink them in the ocean," Austin said. Responding on Facebook to Trump's Truth Social post, he wrote, "I support Data Centers but in the ocean and SPACE not in YOUR backyards Montana," adding, "Those that have concerns are not 'backwards' or 'poor,'" MTN News reported. His campaign website does not list a separate position on data centers.
On housing, the video says Austin wants zero tariffs and more logging and mills to lower costs, including the cost of lumber. That checks out. "The federal government does have a role to play to get the cost of living back to normal, whether it's going to a zero tariff policy, which is in my platform, whether it's to open up the logging and the mills here in Montana so we can get affordable lumber," he told NBC Montana. In the Montana Free Press questionnaire, he listed four steps: lowering interest rates, reducing "the construction barriers that have been driving up the costs of construction," promoting "zero tariffs so we can get construction supplies at a more affordable price," and promoting "responsible logging and lumber mills." He told the Daily Montanan that a lack of logging has raised costs in the building industry.
Alani Bankhead (Democrat)
Bankhead, of the Helena area, is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and former federal special agent. According to her campaign, she served 21 years in the Air Force, ran intelligence operations against al-Qaida in Iraq, commanded a unit in Kuwait, led security for a secretary of the Air Force and led operations against child exploitation in Hawaii. She later founded a coaching business, Mighty Sparrow Coaching. She moved to Montana about five years ago and is running for office for the first time, the Daily Montanan reported. She won a five-way Democratic primary in June and stayed in the race after several prominent Democrats urged her to step aside for Bodnar, Montana Free Press reported.
On data centers, the video says Bankhead opposes AI data centers in Montana and wants at least a moratorium. That checks out. NBC Montana reported that she completely opposes AI data center construction in Montana and argues Congress has failed to set adequate protections. "Hold big tech accountable, make sure that at a minimum we're putting a moratorium in place so that we can ensure that when we become those AI leaders that we're doing it in a way that protects our public lands doesn't pollute the environment doesn't jack up electric prices," she said. "I don't want to manage this; I want to stop it," she said in a statement reported by MTN News. Her campaign website says her answer is "no" until a project provides full disclosure of its power and water use, earns "real consent from the community" and protects power bills and water, and that on public lands "it's a no, period." The site says she would support a federal moratorium on large AI data centers, require data centers to pay for "100% of their own grid upgrades" and end tax breaks and subsidies for them. At the debate, she said, "I am the loudest on this stage about being opposed to them."
On housing, the video says Bankhead wants tax incentives for builders of homes that cost $350,000 or less. That checks out. She called for raising the capital-gains limit and "also providing tax incentives to construction companies that create affordable housing, and I define that as $350,000 or less," NBC Montana reported. In the Montana Free Press questionnaire, she proposed raising the capital gains exclusion on home sales "from $250K to $500K" so more longtime owners sell and inventory grows, and giving tax breaks to construction companies "whose portfolio has a minimum of 30% affordable houses." Her campaign website says, "A Montana paycheck should be able to buy a Montana home."
Seth Bodnar (Independent)
Bodnar, 47, was president of the University of Montana from 2018 until he stepped down early this year to run, the Daily Montanan reported. Raised in Pennsylvania by two public school teachers, he graduated from West Point, studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, deployed to Iraq as an infantry officer and served as a Green Beret, according to his campaign website. He later worked as an executive at GE Transportation. In 2024, the University of Montana and the Montana University System settled a 2021 federal sex discrimination lawsuit brought by 18 women employees for $350,000; Bodnar was not a party to the suit, which cited instances involving him, and he has denied making the comments it alleged, Montana Free Press and the Daily Montanan reported.
On data centers, the video says Bodnar wants communities to have a say first and backs the Ratepayer Protection Act. That checks out. NBC Montana reported that Bodnar says communities should have a say before large companies build data centers and that he supports the act. "We need to make sure that no company can come in here soak up our water, drive up utility rates for Montanans without their involvement and I'm a big supporter of the ratepayer protection act," he said. "There are real risks we need guardrails in place immediately." On Aug. 31, he released a six-point "Protect Montana" pledge that says local communities should have the final say on data center projects, costs should not be passed on to ratepayers and construction should be done by Montana workers, MTN News reported. His campaign website lists "stopping any data center that raises Montanans' power bills, threatens our water or wildlife habitat, or moves forward without the community having the final say," along with passing the Ratepayer Protection Act and requiring public disclosure of a project's water and energy use before permits are issued. At the debate, he said he would work "to stop any AI data center that wants to come into this state and exploit Montana communities."
On housing, the video says Bodnar wants zoning and code reform to add supply and limits on private equity buying homes. That checks out. "We need to address it aggressively, first and foremost, by incentivizing the type of zoning and code reform to unlock more supply, you know, continuing efforts to prevent private equity from buying up big numbers of single-family homes," he told NBC Montana, which reported that he also backs targeted investment in water, sewer and roads. His campaign website lists cutting red tape, "zoning and code reform that expands supply," targeted tax incentives for affordable and workforce housing, "stopping private equity firms from buying up single-family homes at scale" and raising the capital gains exemption on home sales. In the Montana Free Press questionnaire, he wrote, "The answer is clear: we need to build more houses."
Write-In Candidate
Jami Dee Woodman filed as a write-in candidate for U.S. Senate, according to the Secretary of State. Montana Free Press reported that Woodman was the campaign manager for Reilly Neill, who finished second in the Democratic primary. No campaign website or public statement on data centers or housing could be found.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Kurt Alme: @KurtAlme on X. Kyle Austin: @austin4senatemt on X and TikTok. Alani Bankhead: @AlaniBankhead on X and @alaniformt on TikTok. Seth Bodnar: @SethBodnarForMT on X and @sethformontana on TikTok. No campaign account on TikTok was found for Alme.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Montana Secretary of State, 2026 general election candidate list: https://candidatefiling.mt.gov/candidatefiling/CandidateList.aspx?e=450002987 ; NBC Montana, "Alme, Bankhead, Bodnar, Austin lay out policy positions in race for Senate" (Oct. 18, 2026): https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/alme-bankhead-bodnar-austin-lay-out-policy-positions-in-race-for-senate ; Montana Free Press, 2026 Election Guide, Kurt Alme: https://projects.montanafreepress.org/election-guide-2026/candidates/kurt-alme/ ; Montana Free Press, 2026 Election Guide, Kyle Austin: https://projects.montanafreepress.org/election-guide-2026/candidates/kyle-austin/ ; Montana Free Press, 2026 Election Guide, Alani Bankhead: https://projects.montanafreepress.org/election-guide-2026/candidates/alani-bankhead/ ; Montana Free Press, 2026 Election Guide, Seth Bodnar: https://projects.montanafreepress.org/election-guide-2026/candidates/seth-bodnar/ ; Montana Free Press, "Senate hopefuls trade jabs at first all-candidate debate" (Oct. 11, 2026): https://montanafreepress.org/2026/10/11/montana-senate-hopefuls-trade-jabs-first-debate/ ; Montana Free Press, "As filings close, Republican Steve Daines withdraws from U.S. Senate race" (March 4, 2026): https://montanafreepress.org/2026/03/04/republican-u-s-senate-steve-daines-withdraws/ ; Montana Free Press, "Alme holds an 8-point lead over Bodnar in Senate race" (Sept. 11, 2026): https://montanafreepress.org/2026/09/11/alme-holds-an-8-point-lead-over-bodnar-in-senate-race/ ; Montana Free Press, "What's known, and unknown, about UM's 2024 sex discrimination settlement" (June 19, 2026): https://montanafreepress.org/2026/06/19/whats-known-and-unknown-about-ums-2024-sex-discrimination-settlement/ ; KTVH/MTN News, "Montana U.S. Senate candidates discuss how to manage data centers, AI": https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-politics/montana-u-s-senate-candidates-discuss-how-to-manage-data-centers-ai ; Daily Montanan, "Libertarian US Senate candidate Kyle Austin pitches himself as an alternative for voters" (Oct. 19, 2026): https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/19/libertarian-us-senate-candidate-kyle-austin-pitches-himself-as-an-alternative-for-voters/ ; Daily Montanan, "Alani Bankhead wants to be 'the fighter in DC'" (Oct. 20, 2026): https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/20/alani-bankhead-wants-to-be-the-fighter-in-dc/ ; Daily Montanan, "Seth Bodnar attracting Democratic and Republican voters as an independent candidate for US Senate" (Oct. 21, 2026): https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/21/seth-bodnar-attracting-democratic-and-republican-voters-as-an-independent-candidate-for-us-senate/ ; House Energy and Commerce Committee, "Ratepayer Protection Act Passes House with Strong Bipartisan Support" (Sept. 16, 2026): https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/ratepayer-protection-act-passes-house-with-strong-bipartisan-support ; S. 5028, Ratepayer Protection Act (introduced July 16, 2026): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119s5028is/xhtml/BILLS-119s5028is.html ; Roll Call, "Voluntary ratepayer protection bill blocked in Senate again" (Sept. 30, 2026): https://rollcall.com/2026/09/30/voluntary-ratepayer-protection-bill-blocked-in-senate-again/ ; Kurt Alme campaign, Meet Kurt: https://almeforsenate.com/meet-kurt ; Kyle Austin campaign: https://www.kyleaustinmt.com/ ; Alani Bankhead campaign, Data Centers: https://alaniformt.com/data-centers ; Alani Bankhead campaign, Positions: https://alaniformt.com/positions ; Alani Bankhead campaign, Meet Alani: https://alaniformt.com/meet-alani ; Seth Bodnar campaign, About: https://www.sethformontana.com/About ; Seth Bodnar campaign, Issues: https://www.sethformontana.com/issues
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