Quick Info
| Profession | Academic administrator, former Green Beret, and U.S. Senate candidate |
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| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 02/02/1979 |
| Age | 47 years |
| Birthplace | Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Latest News about Seth Bodnar
04/03/2026
Bodnar filed as an independent candidate on the final day of candidate filing in Montana, launching a campaign against incumbent Republican Senator Steve Daines. He had been rumored to run for weeks after a text message attributed to former Democratic Senator Jon Tester expressed support for an independent Bodnar bid.
21/01/2026
Seth Bodnar resigned as president of the University of Montana, ending a tenure that began in January 2018. He stepped down while preparing a campaign for the U.S. Senate as an independent candidate.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Seth Andrew Bodnar is an American academic administrator and former U.S. Army Special Forces officer. He served as the 19th president of the University of Montana from 2018 until his resignation in January 2026, and is running as an independent candidate for U.S. Senate from Montana in the 2026 election. |
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| Early Life | Raised in Franklin, Pennsylvania, by two educators. He joined the military after turning 18. |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Undergraduate | BS in economics, United States Military Academy at West Point, graduated first in his class |
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| Postgraduate | Two master's degrees from the University of Oxford, in social policy and economic history |
| Scholarships |
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Personal Life
| Military Service | Commissioned as an infantry officer; served with the 101st Airborne Division and the 1st Special Forces Group; deployed to Iraq in 2003-2004 and again in 2008; reported as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Montana National Guard as of 2022 |
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| Residence | Reported to live in Erie, Pennsylvania, as of an earlier profile; Montana-based campaign |
Relationships & More
| Spouse | Chelsea Bodnar, a pediatrician and fifth-generation Montanan |
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Family
| Spouse | Chelsea Bodnar |
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| Children | Three |
| Parents | Two public school teachers |
Career
| Military | Commissioned U.S. Army infantry officer; Green Beret detachment commander with the 1st Special Forces Group; special assistant to the commanding general in Baghdad, Iraq |
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| Academia | Assistant professor of economics at West Point, approximately 2009-2011 |
| Business | Joined GE in July 2011; held strategy, finance, and product management roles; executive in Global Locomotive Operations at GE Transportation |
| University of Montana | President from January 2018 until his resignation effective January 2026 |
| Politics | Independent candidate for U.S. Senate from Montana in the November 3, 2026 general election, challenging incumbent Republican Steve Daines's seat |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Graduated two months before the September 11, 2001 attacks | |
| 2. Serves on the board of directors of the Missoula Economic Partnership | |
| 3. Campaign focuses on veterans' issues | |
| 4. Endorsed by the Montana Federation of Public Employees in August 2026 |
