Free Republic

After Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines decided to end his reelection bid Wednesday evening, observers noticed similarities between him and a Democratic lawmaker who made a similar move months ago. As Montana’s candidate filing deadline approached at 5 p.m. MST Wednesday, Daines — who had been seeking a third term — suddenly withdrew his bid, later announcing in a video statement that his decision came after “much careful thought.” The retiring senator quickly threw his support behind Republican Kurt Alme, a U.S. attorney in the Trump administration who entered the race just eight minutes before the filing deadline, according to...

Sen. Steve Daines of Montana has decided not to run for reelection, adding to the growing list of Republicans in Congress who want out. Daines did not give a specific reason for his retirement, but said he had wrestled with the decision for months. He called his time in Congress "the greatest honor of my professional career." "It is time for a new leaders like Tim Sheehy to spearhead the fight for Montana in the United States Senate," he said in a statement Wednesday, referring to the state's junior senator. Daines began his career in Congress in 2013, serving one...