Daines Withdraws from Montana Senate Race to Block Dem Top Recruit

Sen. Steve Daines abruptly pulled out of Montana’s Senate race just minutes before the filing deadline to deny Democrats a chance to field a top recruit such as Jon Tester or Brian Schweitzer. Kurt Alme filed to replace him as Democrats would have faced a crowded primary; Trump publicly backed Alme, while critics accused Daines of coronating a successor and sidelining voters. The move echoes a similar tactic used by Democrat Chuy Garcia in Illinois last year.