Montana Sen. Steve Daines drops re-election bid

Rebecca Falconer

Sen. Steve Daines, with gray hair wearing a dark suit and red striped tie speaking into a microphone, gesturing with his hand, brown background. — Sen. Steve Daines on Capitol Hill in January. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced his retirement Wednesday and confirmed he won't seek re-election to a third term and endorsed Kurt Alme, U.S. attorney for the district of Montana.

Why it matters: The Trump ally is the sixth Republican senator to announce ahead of November's midterm elections that they won't stand for re-election.

Driving the news: "After wrestling with this decision for months, I have decided I will not seek re-election," Daines said in an emailed statement.

He said it's "time for a new leader" like Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) "to spearhead the fight for Montana in the United States Senate."
Daines in a video posted to his social media channels expressed gratitude toward President Trump and his Senate colleagues.
"Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate the past 13 years has been the greatest honor of my professional career," Daines said.

What they're saying: Trump praised Daines after his announcement in a Truth Social post, saying he "honorably served for 12 years in the Senate" and two in the House.

Daines "did a job like few others are capable of doing but, sadly for our Country, Steve's Term is up, and he has decided to leave the Senate and, 'pass the torch' to Kurt Alme," Trump added.

Zoom out: Other GOP senators not seeking re-election this year: Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Joni Ernst (Iowa) and Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.).

Meanwhile, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has launched a bid to become governor.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.

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Montana Sen. Steve Daines drops re-election bid

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