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Montana U.S. Senate candidates square off in debate
Candidates split over universal coverage and U.S. involvement in Iran as they made their closing pitch to voters ahead of the Senate race.
- Republican Kurt Alme, Democrat Alani Bankhead, Independent Seth Bodnar, and Libertarian Kyle Austin met Sunday at the Stream Lodge in Bozeman for a 90-minute debate hosted by the Montana Broadcasters Association.
- Candidates addressed Montana's housing crisis, with Bodnar calling for federal zoning reform and Alme advocating lower taxes to help families keep more earnings. Austin, a Billing-area pharmacist, linked the shortage to broader economic challenges.
- Bankhead advocated universal health care and removing Social Security wage limits, while Austin proposed "Health Care 2.0" to consolidate services. Alme criticized government-run systems, calling for increased transparency and competition.
- On foreign policy, Austin stated, "No, I do not defend the war in Iran and I do not believe we should be there," while Alme argued U.S. actions against Iran are necessary. Alme labeled both opponents "two liberal opponents."
- With absentee ballots heading to voters, candidates focused on Election Day November 3, 2026. The debate revealed deep ideological divisions as participants defined their platforms for Montanans ahead of the final campaign stretch.
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21 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources21
Leaning Left1Leaning Right5Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution70% Center
Bias Distribution
- 70% of the sources are Center
70% Center
C 70%
R 25%
Factuality
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