Kurt Alme, Alani Bankhead, Seth Bodnar, and Kyle Austin faced off in the first all-candidate debate for Montana’s U.S. Senate seat on Sunday morning. The four candidates participated in a one-and-a-half-hour discussion at the Field and Stream Lodge in Bozeman, sponsored by the Montana Broadcasters Association.
The event marked Alme’s first public debate of the election cycle. Candidates addressed a wide range of issues, including housing affordability, government spending, data centers, health care, immigration, foreign policy, and the future of Social Security.
Social Security Funding Disputes
Candidates clashed over how to address the looming shortfall in Social Security finances. Administrators project the program’s surplus could be exhausted by 2034, potentially leading to a nearly 20-percent reduction in benefits without congressional intervention.
Kurt Alme pledged support for the deduction of Social Security taxes included in the Working Family Tax Cuts Act. He emphasized his commitment to protecting current beneficiaries.
“I will never support a cut in benefits for seniors,” Alme said.
Alani Bankhead proposed eliminating the wage cap on Social Security contributions to help fund the program and expand caregiver support services. Kyle Austin argued that the system resembles an outdated farm engine requiring a complete overhaul, suggesting recipients should manage their own retirement funds instead.
Immigration and Border Enforcement
Border policy drew sharp disagreements among the candidates. Kurt Alme criticized former President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers for what he described as reckless border policies, while crediting President Donald Trump with securing the nation’s borders.
Seth Bodnar called for strong border enforcement but warned against empowering what he termed a masked, untrained, and unaccountable paramilitary force, referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Alani Bankhead cautioned against constitutional violations and due process failures in border operations.
Kyle Austin characterized illegal migration as a crime but advocated for humane treatment and expedited judicial processes under the Trump administration.
Foreign Policy and China
All four candidates acknowledged that China poses an existential threat to the United States. Kurt Alme described China as the nation’s largest geopolitical enemy and advocated for decoupling from Chinese supply chains while maintaining agricultural exports such as beef, barley, wheat, and pulse crops.
Alani Bankhead noted that she helped rewrite policy last year to shift focus from the global war on terror to great power competition with China. Kyle Austin pledged an America First agenda that includes relaxing regulations to domestically mine and process rare earth minerals.
Seth Bodnar expressed concern over deteriorating alliances with Canada and NATO, citing spiraling national debt under President Trump as a significant risk to U.S. stability.
Independent Candidacy Questions
The debate also featured exchanges regarding the viability of independent candidates in Congress. Seth Bodnar stated he would not caucus with either Democrats or Republicans if elected, asserting that committee assignments remain available to independent senators.
“The idea that one cannot get committee assignments if they’re not caucusing with either party is a red herring,” Bodnar said.
Bodnar accused Kyle Austin of preparing to perform the dirty work for the Republican candidate, while Austin countered by alleging Bodnar was funded by far-left, corrupt money. Both Alme and Bankhead questioned whether Bodnar and Austin could realistically secure committee assignments without party affiliation.
Bodnar also criticized Kurt Alme for providing tax breaks to wealthy Montanans during his tenure as Governor Greg Gianforte’s budget director.