Why It Matters
The sudden exit of a major political action committee from Montana’s U.S. Senate race has upended the Democratic primary contest, removing the financial advantage that propelled one candidate to a first-round victory while leaving the field wide open for the general election this November.
What Happened
Progressive Vet PAC announced in late June that it was abandoning its support for Democratic candidate Alani Bankhead, stating that she “does not have a viable path” in the general election. The decision marked a dramatic reversal for a newly formed organization that had poured resources into the race with little regard to the preferences of voters or the Democratic establishment.
Bankhead won a five-way Democratic primary with 44 percent of the vote in May, significantly ahead of second-place finisher Reilly Neill at 33 percent. Progressive Vet PAC’s spending had been nearly the sole source of advertising and phone banking support for Bankhead during the primary, with the organization spending more than $3 million on her behalf while candidates raised minimal funds of their own.
The PAC’s withdrawal leaves Bankhead without her primary financial engine at a critical moment. No spending on behalf of the Democratic primary winner has occurred since June 3, while competing candidates now face better-funded opposition. Independent candidate Seth Bodnar and Republican Kurt Alme have both mounted seven-figure campaigns, while nearly $869,000 in PAC advertising supporting either Alme or Bodnar has been placed since the primary concluded.
Bankhead responded to the development by emphasizing the limits of outside spending. “Regardless of the PAC money or whatever, no candidate can run without the support of the people,” she said. “We have to scale up because it’s a bigger game.”
The PAC’s Shadowy Origins
Progressive Vet PAC emerged on April 27—just 12 days before Montana voters received absentee ballots—with no prior political history and a structure designed to obscure its funding sources. The organization was run by Moffie Funk, a former Montana legislator from Helena, and operated out of a contract mail service address in Billings rather than a traditional office.
The PAC’s timing and operations raised questions about its true purpose. A second organization, 1912 Collaborative, was created the day after Progressive Vet PAC formed. Additionally, the American Values Project PAC, which spent $1.76 million in the Democratic primary through a related entity called More Jobs PAC, disclosed a sole donor: Jason Carroll, founder of Hudson River Trading, a New York-based investment firm with no apparent connection to Montana politics.
By the Numbers
$24,000 — total funds raised by Bankhead through mid-May
$3.3 million — Progressive Vet PAC’s spending from May 1 through June 3
$194,467.25 — Progressive Vet PAC’s spending specifically opposing Neill
$1.76 million — More Jobs PAC spending in the Democratic primary
$22 million — More Jobs PAC’s spending to advance Republican Tim Sheehy in 2024
44% — Bankhead’s vote share in the five-way Democratic primary
33% — Neill’s vote share in the primary
Less than $325,000 — combined receipts from all Democratic candidates
Zoom Out
The Montana Senate race reflects a broader national pattern of outside groups wielding outsized influence in primary elections while individual candidates struggle to raise competitive funds. The 2024 cycle saw similar dynamics across several states, with well-funded independent groups effectively selecting nominees regardless of grassroots support or party preference. Bodnar has secured backing from prominent Democrats including former Senator Max Baucus and current Senator Jon Tester, suggesting a potential party consolidation behind the independent candidate for the general election.
What’s Next
Bankhead faces the challenge of rebuilding campaign infrastructure and fundraising networks without her former financial backbone. The general election matchup between Bodnar, Alme, and a weakened Bankhead will test whether a candidate abandoned by major outside groups can survive in a three-person race. Montana voters will decide the race in November.