Steve Daines

Steve Daines
Born	Steven David Daines 20 8, 1962
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former corporate executive
Known for	Senior United States Senator from Montana
Education	Montana State University (BS)
Children	4
Website	[Official Senate website Official site]

Steven David Daines (born August 20, 1962) is an American politician and former corporate executive who has served as the senior United States Senator from Montana since January 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Daines was the first Republican to win Montana's Class II Senate seat in over a century when he was elected in 2014. Before entering politics, Daines spent years in the private sector, holding positions at Procter & Gamble and the Bozeman-based cloud computing company RightNow Technologies. He represented Montana's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015 before moving to the Senate. Daines was reelected to the Senate in 2020, defeating incumbent governor Steve Bullock. He served as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 2023 to 2025, a cycle in which Republicans gained four Senate seats and recaptured the chamber's majority. Following the defeat of Senator Jon Tester in 2024, Daines became Montana's senior senator and the dean of the state's congressional delegation in 2025. In February 2026, Daines filed for reelection to a third Senate term.

Early Life

Steven David Daines was born on August 20, 1962, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Bozeman, Montana, where he was raised and developed ties to the state that would later define his political career. Daines's upbringing in southwestern Montana, a region shaped by agriculture, outdoor recreation, and natural resource industries, informed many of his later policy positions on energy, public lands, and forestry.

Education

Daines attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Montana State University, the state's land-grant institution, is located in the city where Daines grew up and later made his home.

Career

Private Sector

Before entering public life, Daines built a career in the corporate sector. He held positions at Procter & Gamble, the multinational consumer goods corporation. He subsequently worked at RightNow Technologies, a cloud-based customer relationship management software company headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. RightNow Technologies was a significant employer in the Bozeman area and was later acquired by Oracle Corporation. Daines's experience in the private sector, particularly in technology and consumer products, became a central part of his political identity and campaign messaging when he transitioned into politics.

Early Political Career

Daines's first foray into electoral politics came in 2008, when he ran for lieutenant governor of Montana on the Republican ticket. The bid was unsuccessful. Despite the loss, the campaign provided Daines with statewide exposure and experience in Montana politics.

U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2015)

In 2012, following the decision by Republican congressman Denny Rehberg to vacate Montana's at-large congressional district to run for the U.S. Senate, Daines entered the race for the open House seat. He initially considered running for the Senate seat himself but ultimately chose to pursue the House race instead. Daines won the Republican primary in June 2012. He went on to win the general election in November 2012, succeeding Rehberg as Montana's sole representative in the House.

During his single term in the House, Daines focused on issues related to energy, natural resources, and the economy, reflecting the priorities of his Montana constituency. He was critical of the Obama administration's energy policies, arguing that federal regulations on energy production were harmful to Montana jobs. In a press release, Daines stated his opposition to what he characterized as a "war on energy" that hurt Montana's economy.

Daines was an active supporter of Montana's coal mining and timber industries. He signaled support for coal mining and logging projects in the state, positions that aligned with the interests of many rural Montana communities dependent on natural resource extraction. He toured oil-related businesses in eastern Montana and visited a lumber mill in Livingston, Montana, to highlight what he described as a lumber shortage affecting the state's housing and construction industries.

On forestry policy, Daines cosponsored legislation aimed at restoring active forest management on federal lands while supporting funding for schools and counties. He also criticized President Barack Obama's climate change proposals, arguing they would impose burdensome costs on Montana's energy sector.

In the 113th United States Congress, Daines was involved in legislative activity including work related to H.R. 3, an energy-related bill.

U.S. Senate

2014 Election

In 2014, Daines ran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Democratic Senator Max Baucus, who had been appointed U.S. Ambassador to China. Daines won the general election, becoming the first Republican to win Montana's Class II Senate seat since 1913—a span of more than 100 years. He succeeded John Walsh, who had been appointed to the seat after Baucus's departure and whose own Senate campaign collapsed amid a plagiarism scandal.

Daines took office on January 3, 2015, and Ryan Zinke succeeded him in Montana's at-large congressional district.

First Senate Term (2015–2021)

In the Senate, Daines continued to focus on issues related to energy policy, natural resources, public lands access, and the Montana economy. As a senator from a state with vast federal land holdings, Daines engaged in debates over the management of public lands, timber harvesting, and mineral extraction. He maintained his opposition to what he viewed as overregulation of energy production and continued to advocate for Montana's coal, oil, and natural gas industries.

Daines supported the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, which addressed a range of energy issues including efficiency, infrastructure, and supply.

2020 Reelection

Daines sought reelection in 2020 in a contest that drew national attention. His Democratic opponent was Steve Bullock, who was serving as Governor of Montana and had also sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. The race was considered one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country. Daines won reelection, defeating Bullock and securing a second term in the Senate.

Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (2023–2025)

In January 2023, Daines became chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the campaign arm responsible for electing Republicans to the U.S. Senate. He succeeded Senator Rick Scott of Florida in the role. The position placed Daines at the center of Republican campaign strategy and fundraising for the 2024 election cycle.

Under Daines's chairmanship, Republicans gained four Senate seats in the 2024 elections, recapturing the majority in the chamber. The cycle included the defeat of Montana's other senator, Democrat Jon Tester, by Republican Tim Sheehy. Daines's tenure as NRSC chairman was succeeded by Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina in January 2025.

Senior Senator and Current Role

Following Tester's defeat in 2024, Daines became Montana's senior senator and the dean of the state's congressional delegation beginning in January 2025. He serves alongside junior senator Tim Sheehy.

In December 2025, Daines, along with Senator Sheehy and Congressman Troy Downing, introduced the "Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act," a bill aimed at increasing access to public lands and improving forest management in Montana.

In February 2026, Daines officially filed for reelection to a third term in the United States Senate. Early polling in February 2026 showed Daines in a strong position for the race, including in scenarios featuring an independent candidate.

Personal Life

Steve Daines lives in Bozeman, Montana, the city where he grew up. He and his wife have four children. Daines's brother-in-law is Jay Owenhouse, a Montana-based illusionist and entertainer.

Daines is known for his interest in Montana's outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, hunting, and fishing—activities common to the state's culture and landscape. His engagement with public lands and sportsmen's issues in the Senate has reflected these personal interests.

Recognition

Daines's election to the Senate in 2014 was noted as a historic event in Montana politics, as he became the first Republican to hold the state's Class II Senate seat since 1913. His role as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 2024 election cycle, which resulted in a Republican majority in the Senate, was noted by political observers as a significant achievement in party leadership.

Legislative Positions

Throughout his congressional career, Daines has focused on a consistent set of policy areas:

• Energy policy: Daines has advocated for the development of Montana's coal, oil, and natural gas resources and has opposed federal regulations he considers harmful to the energy sector.
• Public lands and forestry: Daines has supported legislation to increase active forest management on federal lands, address timber supply issues, and improve public access to public lands for recreation and sportsmen.
• Natural resource industries: Daines has been a supporter of Montana's coal mining and timber industries and has toured businesses in the oil and lumber sectors across the state.