Seth Bodnar’s independent campaign for Montana’s U.S. Senate seat faces mounting scrutiny over sexist attacks directed at Democrat Alani Bankhead by his supporters, reigniting questions about the former University of Montana president’s track record with women in the workplace.
Bodnar, who launched his bid after Bankhead secured the Democratic nomination, has drawn criticism from Republican Senator Tim Sheehy for failing to denounce hostile language his backers have directed at Bankhead on social media. Sheehy, a retired Navy SEAL and strong supporter of Republican Kurt Alme in the race, characterized the attacks as crossing a line. “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,” Sheehy said.
History of Workplace Allegations
The controversy draws attention back to Bodnar’s tenure leading the University of Montana. In 2021, eighteen women filed a lawsuit against the university naming Bodnar, accusing him of fostering a “good ol boys club” environment. The suit alleged that Bodnar told a female employee to smile more and described her as moody—comments that reflect the gender-based treatment the plaintiffs said was endemic to his leadership. The University of Montana settled the lawsuit for $350,000.
A Montana political strategist tied the current allegations to Bodnar’s history, suggesting the pattern was predictable. “Seth has a history of legal issues in this area, so sexist attacks from his supporters against a female opponent are to be expected,” the strategist said.
Senate Race Timeline and Stakes
The Montana Senate race has become a flashpoint in a broader Democratic strategy to replace nominees in several competitive states with independent candidates. Bankhead, who won the Democratic primary, faces an ongoing contest shaped by Republican Kurt Alme’s early polling lead and internal party divisions. An August 10 procedural deadline looms for Bankhead to withdraw from the race, setting a hard stop for any effort to replace her.
The timing and intensity of attacks from Bodnar’s base underscore the unusual dynamic of an independent candidate mounting a direct challenge to his own party’s nominee—a move that has inflamed tensions within Montana Democratic circles. Bodnar’s decision to run as an independent after Bankhead’s primary victory means he is effectively competing for votes against the official Democratic standard-bearer in a general election shaped by national Republican strength.
Broader Political Context
Montana’s Senate seat is among the most closely watched races in the country, with Senator Steve Daines holding a rare dual assignment on the Finance and Appropriations committees, giving the state outsized influence on federal spending. The Bodnar-Bankhead-Alme three-way dynamic complicates the landscape for Democrats, who are trying to hold the seat in a state that has trended Republican in recent cycles.
The allegations of sexism within Bodnar’s campaign stand in sharp contrast to his positioning as a reform-minded alternative to both major parties. His history at the university, combined with his supporters’ conduct toward a female opponent, threatens to undermine that brand as the race enters its final stretch before November.
