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Alani Bankhead

Democratic candidate for United States Senator, Montana · Open seat

Retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and former federal special agent (Air Force Office of Special Investigations)

Alani Bankhead, 44, is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and former federal special agent who moved to the Helena area in 2022. She won the June 2026 Democratic primary for the open U.S. Senate seat over former state legislator Reilly Neill and Michael Black Wolf. She did not withdraw before the August 10, 2026 deadline, so she will appear on the November 3 ballot alongside Kurt Alme (R), Seth Bodnar (I) and Kyle Austin (L).

Where Bankhead stands

Healthcare: Supports universal healthcare modeled on the military's TRICARE program, paid for by cutting administrative waste and drug middlemen. Supports protecting the Medicare and Medicaid payments that rural hospitals depend on.
Public lands: Opposes ever selling public lands or opening them up for exploitation. Supports corner crossing.
Campaign finance: Says she takes no corporate PAC money. Supports I-194, The Montana Plan, which she says would end dark money in Montana.
Abortion: Supports abortion rights. Says the Supreme Court took away a constitutional right in 2022 and points to Montana voters adding reproductive rights to the state constitution.
Guns: Says she is a gun owner who carried a firearm professionally for 21 years, and that she respects firearm use for hunting, sport and family protection.
Data centers: Opposes AI and large-scale data centers on public lands. Elsewhere, opposes them unless there are studies, full disclosure and protections in place.
Climate and energy: Proposes funding wildfire prevention, drought protection for ranches, restoring clean-energy credits through co-ops (incentives, not mandates), and a border charge on foreign polluters.
Immigration: Says she supports securing the border, fixing what she calls a broken immigration system, and treating people humanely.
Trade and tariffs: Opposes blanket tariffs. Argues they act as a tax on groceries and cost Montana farmers their export markets.
Iran and war powers: Opposes the war with Iran, which she calls illegal and unauthorized by Congress. Says Congress should reclaim its war powers.

Background

Retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel; served about 21 years
Former special agent, Air Force Office of Special Investigations; work included child sex-trafficking cases
Civilian roles at a nonprofit and in the Hawaii attorney general's department
Education: double major in Latin American Studies and Criminal Justice (institution not confirmed)
Moved to Helena, Montana, in 2022
Won the 2026 Montana Democratic U.S. Senate primary (June 2026); no prior elected office

In the news

U.S. Senate Race: Bankhead Embraces Underdog Status in U.S. Senate Bid, Refusing to Roll Over Flathead Beacon, October 19, 2026
Four candidates face-off in chaotic Senate race Montana Public Radio, October 14, 2026
Montana Democratic Party chair steps down, endorses independent candidate The Washington Post, October 12, 2026
Montana Democrat who refuses to drop out may spoil party's Senate hopes The Washington Post, October 10, 2026
Democrats can ask and ask. I won't drop out of Montana's Senate race. The Washington Post (opinion by the candidate), October 9, 2026

Also running for United States Senator

Kurt Alme Republican
Kyle Austin Libertarian
Seth Bodnar Independent

Sources

Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.