Daines Senate Seat 2026

[Big Fin]

Please ask him if he plans to caucus with either party. I read that he will not. Ask him if he will represent the majority of his constituents, not tow some party line. I’m tired of not having a say in how my elected officials vote.

Obviously his thoughts on public land are important, as well.

He was also asked that question. Again, I will paraphrase.

He doesn't want to caucus with anyone. He wants to work with whatever party he thinks can provide the best deal for Montana. He explains that in a Senate that is split no great than 53-46-2, it only takes a couple votes to kill a bad idea, change something to a good idea, or stop a terrible Senate confirmation appointment, especially on topics that require 60 votes. He makes it clear that his time as and Army officer and as an executive at GE, he needed to understand leverage and ability to negotiate. He makes a pretty compelling case how he could use that leverage as the needed vote.

His answers on public land are well stated and if not for that, I doubt I'd be intrigued by the possibility that he might be able to upset the corrupt duopoly, at least in Montana.

 

[BuzzH]

He was also asked that question. Again, I will paraphrase.

He doesn't want to caucus with anyone. He wants to work with whatever party he thinks can provide the best deal for Montana. He explains that in a Senate that is split no great than 53-46-2, it only takes a couple votes to kill a bad idea, change something to a good idea, or stop a terrible Senate confirmation appointment, especially on topics that require 60 votes. He makes it clear that his time as and Army officer and as an executive at GE, he needed to understand leverage and ability to negotiate. He makes a pretty compelling case how he could use that leverage as the needed vote.

His answers on public land are well stated and if not for that, I doubt I'd be intrigued by the possibility that he might be able to upset the corrupt duopoly, at least in Montana.

Having spent the last week in D.C. and never coming home in a better mood than I left with, I'd drink turpentine and piss on a brush fire if it would change things.

Will be interested in hearing the podcast.

 

[Forkyfinder]

He was also asked that question. Again, I will paraphrase.

He doesn't want to caucus with anyone. He wants to work with whatever party he thinks can provide the best deal for Montana. He explains that in a Senate that is split no great than 53-46-2, it only takes a couple votes to kill a bad idea, change something to a good idea, or stop a terrible Senate confirmation appointment, especially on topics that require 60 votes. He makes it clear that his time as and Army officer and as an executive at GE, he needed to understand leverage and ability to negotiate. He makes a pretty compelling case how he could use that leverage as the needed vote.

His answers on public land are well stated and if not for that, I doubt I'd be intrigued by the possibility that he might be able to upset the corrupt duopoly, at least in Montana.

Id vote for someone independent - even if i vehmently disagreed with them.

Both parties have been captured by special interest and radicals. Someone that didnt answer to any master in DC - and most importantly - paved the road for more independents (and independent thought) is someone i want.

True at the state level in Montana, too. Obviously. More bill$ on wildlife than taxes.

 

[Big Fin]

Id vote for someone independent - even if i vehmently disagreed with them.

Both parties have been captured by special interest and radicals. Someone that didnt answer to any master in DC - and most importantly - paved the road for more independents (and independent thought) is someone i want.

True at the state level in Montana, too. Obviously. More bill$ on wildlife than taxes.

That's information I'm interested in learning. Depending upon what study is cited, 40%+/- of Montanans say they are Independent, around 20%+/- say they are Dems, and 40%+/- say they are Repubs.

Yet, if you look at the voting results, those independents vote way higher towards R than D. If given a viable Independent candidate, would they vote that way and not feel the need to vote R. When 70%+/- say they do not feel the system provides them with a good option, and they say they voted for the lesser of two evils, does that provide a prime opening for an Independent?

I don't know that answer. Maybe people say that, but they are so influenced by other factors, peer pressure, or whatever it might be, that they end up voting for their same old party.

Some retired guys I occasionally meet with say they are Independent, but if you even crack a joke about their MAGA man, they get pissed. That causes me to wonder if the MT polls where people say they are Independent have any validity. If you asked two of those guys, they'd claim to be Independent, but they vote for anyone who is running against a D. I suspect they'd vote for Epstein if he was alive and ran as an R in their district. Would they vote for an I? I'm not sure, but I'm gonna ask them.

I'll be interested to see what traction Bodnar can gain. It takes so much money to match the media blitz the other sides can afford, that an Independent better have a solid game plan.

In Nebraska a few years ago, an Independent got 45% in a US Senate race. I think he's running again this cycle - https://www.osbornforsenate.com/

At least in smaller population states, where 225K votes will win a three-way Senate race, I think it is possible (maybe I'm hoping against sanity). Still a huge uphill challenge, but if it is the right person came along at the right time of the political swing, I think it could be done.

Appreciate any additional questions folks would want me to ask.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Appreciate any additional questions folks would want me to ask.

How do you partner with someone to move the needle for good practical legislation as independent?

Is he more of an active managment or minimal public lands management?

Would he wear a mike lee kicks puppys hat?

Where does he stand on the esa?

What about the EAJA act and how its been applied to fund frivelous lawsuits?