Montana Senate candidate Alani Bankhead has reignited a firestorm in the state's pivotal race by alleging that the Democratic National Committee offered her a position to withdraw. The DNC flatly denies the claim, but the controversy has drawn the attention of the state's top law enforcement officer.
In an interview with Montana PBS on October 15, Bankhead, a Democrat, said the DNC proposed a role for her as "head of female veteran candidates or something like that." She said her immediate reaction was disbelief: "Why would I go work for an organization that is actively working against me and stopping me in the back? Like, no, I'm not going to do that." She added, "I can't be bought anyway, but that was the only thing that was put on the table."
A DNC official told The Hill on Wednesday that Bankhead was never offered a job by the committee. The denial has not quelled the political fallout, particularly from Republicans who see an opening to paint the national party as desperate.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, posted on X that the allegation is "extremely concerning" and could violate state law regarding election interference. He said his office would contact Bankhead, independent candidate Seth Bodnar, and the DNC to investigate. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) amplified the call, urging Knudsen to probe what he called a "blatant attempt at bribery."
Bankhead has been under intense pressure to exit the race to boost Bodnar's chances against Republican Kurt Alme. In a Washington Post op-ed earlier this month, she revealed that 22 Democratic state legislators had signed a letter asking her to step aside, and that an unnamed U.S. senator had offered her a job, "presumably if I would leave the race." She also said a Democratic governor had personally urged her to quit.
The race for the open seat—left vacant by retiring Senator Steve Daines—has become a key battleground. Early polls suggested Bodnar could beat Alme in a one-on-one matchup, but Bankhead has repeatedly refused to bow out. Montana's Democratic Party chair, Shannon O'Brien, resigned on October 12 and endorsed Bodnar, accusing Bankhead of lacking the resources "or will" to win.
Despite the turmoil, Decision Desk HQ, The Hill's election partner, gives Alme an 89% chance of victory as of Wednesday. Aggregate polling shows Alme leading with 41.9%, Bodnar at 29.4%, and Bankhead at 17.1%.
The controversy has also raised questions about the legal implications. Montana's Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen's office has previously stated that state law requires a party to appoint a replacement if a candidate withdraws, a provision that could complicate any efforts to push Bankhead out. The DNC's denial and Knudsen's investigation are likely to keep the story alive in the final weeks of the campaign.
