Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Friday endorsed Seth Bodnar, an independent, in Montana's U.S. Senate race over the Democratic nominee, The Hill reported. The endorsement was first reported by ABC News, which said Buttigieg is endorsing Bodnar, an independent Montana U.S. Senate candidate.
ABC News's headline described the move as an endorsement of the independent "over Democratic nominee" in the Montana Senate race. The ABC summary available for this report does not name the Democratic nominee.
The Hill, in a report written by Ryan J. Karlin, said Buttigieg's endorsement is "the latest in a string of Democratic efforts" to swing the race toward the independent candidate. The Hill's headline noted that a Democrat remains on the ballot. The report also said some believe Bodnar has a better chance to beat the Republican in the race. The summary of that report cuts off before naming the Republican candidate.
The two reports differ in emphasis. ABC News centered its headline on the choice between the independent and the party's nominee, while The Hill centered its headline on the Democrat still on the ballot. Both describe the same endorsement of Bodnar by Buttigieg, and the available summaries give no further detail on the race's current standing.
Both reports identify Bodnar as the independent candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Montana. Neither summary says what Bodnar or the Democratic nominee has said about the endorsement.
Sources: ABC News: Buttigieg endorses independent over Democratic nominee in Montana Senate race; The Hill: Buttigieg endorses independent in Montana Senate race with a Democrat still on the ballot.