Why I am resigning as Montana Democratic Party chair to endorse an independent Senate candidate

Shannon O'Brien has resigned as chair of the Montana Democratic Party, effective immediately, to back independent Seth Bodnar for the U.S. Senate over the party's own nominee, Alani Bankhead. Writing in MS NOW, O'Brien, a lifelong Democrat, argues that stopping Republican nominee Kurt Alme outweighs party loyalty, and that Bodnar is the better vehicle for that. Steve Bullock, Jon Tester and Max Baucus are among others O'Brien names as backing Bodnar.

O'Brien says Bankhead lacks the momentum, money and determination to win, questions the nominee's commitment to abortion rights and to working and poor people, and says Bankhead went after Bodnar early instead of focusing on Alme. O'Brien also points to Republican spending that was designed to split opposition voters, and says Bankhead, fairly new to Montana, has not sought out shared values or heeded experienced advisers.

O'Brien describes Bodnar as a good listener whose campaign centers on repairing a government that has stopped serving Montanans, and urges Democrats to back the strongest candidate even if he is not from their party.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →