U.S.POLITICS

Montana Democratic Party chair resigns, endorses independent in…

O'Brien had led the state party since twenty twenty-five and cited deep division in an MS NOW op-ed; the independent she backed is running weeks before November.

On air: Kenji Moonfield on Late Night BBN
Published 11:04 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

Watch the segment

Interviews“Allegedly, and I was never there, I was that man on a ballot night.”Lyle Okonkwo-Reyes▶ Full · 1:28Montana Democrats: Party Chair Quits, and an Inmate Weighs InInterviews · Oct 12

At a glance

First reported by The Hill: “Montana Democratic Party chair resigns, endorses independent in Senate race”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 11:04 PM ET on Late Night BBN, by Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: Democratic, Maine Senate.
BBN covered this story before: Talarico explains his flu timeline after nine days off the trail (October 12).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The HillMontana Democratic Party chair resigns, endorses independent in Senate race

What BBN said about it

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentShannon O'Brien, chair of the Montana Democratic Party, resigned Monday and endorsed independent Senate candidate Seth Bodnar, a few weeks before the midterms.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentJoining us from FCI Danbury is inmate 40417, Lyle Okonkwo-Reyes. Lyle, a party boss quits and backs the other guy. Good move?
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesKenji, it's the oldest play there is.
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesIn here, when the table by the window falls apart, the smart one walks over to the table by the microwave, and everybody calls it leadership.
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesAllegedly, and I was never there, I've watched it happen at a vote.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentShe wrote in an op-ed that the party is more divided than ever. Is that a reason to leave?
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesIt's the only reason.
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesI keep a laminated seating chart of the cafeteria, and I can tell you a divided room is a room where one man with a clipboard decides everything.
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesAllegedly, and I was never there, I was that man on a ballot night.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA ballot night.
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesA very boring night. Nothing was counted twice.
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesLook, a chair who walks out is telling voters the building is on fire, and voters love a fire sale.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo who would you endorse in Montana, since you're so sure of the play?
Lyle Okonkwo-ReyesWhoever gets me the extra pudding. That's the whole race, my friend, and it's been the whole race since before they locked me up.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentFair. In a few minutes, four teams are missing this week, so who's holding your fantasy roster together?
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentRosa, what has the crime desk got tonight, and is any of it ballot related?