Seth Bodnar
INDFormer president of the University of Montana
Filed as an independent on March 4, 2026, the same day Sen. Steve Daines withdrew.
Seth Bodnar is an independent candidate for the open Montana U.S. Senate seat. He is a former Green Beret, General Electric executive and University of Montana president who argues both major parties have failed the state.[1]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
In their words — priorities
- "This country is in crisis, and our national political parties are failing us. Montanans are an independent people, and they deserve an independent voice fighting for them in Washington, DC. I'm not a politician, I'm a soldier, a businessman, a husband, a father."[1]
Background
- Earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and two master's degrees from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and Truman Scholar.[4]
- Served as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army beginning in 1997.[1][4]
- Worked as a manager and executive at General Electric.[1]
- Served as president of the University of Montana.[1]
Campaign money
Raised $3.2M · spent $2.3M · $978K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗