Steve Daines | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| United States Senator fromMontana | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2015 Serving with Tim Sheehy | |
| Preceded by | John Walsh |
| Chair of theNational Republican Senatorial Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Leader | Mitch McConnell |
| Preceded by | Rick Scott |
| Succeeded by | Tim Scott |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMontana'sat-large district | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Denny Rehberg |
| Succeeded by | Ryan Zinke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Steven David Daines (1962-08-20)August 20, 1962 (age 63) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Jay Owenhouse (brother-in-law)[1] |
| Education | Montana State University (BS) |
| Website | Senate website Campaign website |
Steven David Daines (/ˈdeɪnz/DAYNZ; born August 20, 1962) is an American politician and formercorporate executive serving as theseniorUnited States senator fromMontana, a seat he has held since 2015, and the firstRepublicanClass II Senator from Montana in 102 years. Previously, he representedMontana's at-large congressional district in theU.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015.
Daines was born inLos Angeles and grew up inBozeman, Montana. Before entering politics, he held positions atProcter & Gamble and the Montana-based software serviceRightNow Technologies. He wasRoy Brown'srunning mate in the2008 Montana gubernatorial election, losing in the general election to incumbent governorBrian Schweitzer and lieutenant governorJohn Bohlinger. Daines ran again for public office in2012 forMontana's at-large congressional district; he won the general election, defeating Democratic nomineeKim Gillan.
After incumbent U.S. SenatorMax Baucus announced he would not run for reelection in the2014 Senate election, Daines ran for U.S. Senate. He defeated Democratic nomineeAmanda Curtis, becoming the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate seat in Montana in the 21st century. He was reelected in2020, defeating the Democratic nominee, incumbentgovernorSteve Bullock. In 2023, he became chairman of theNational Republican Senatorial Committee, succeedingRick Scott. Republicans gained four Senate seats in the2024 election cycle and won a majority in the chamber. Daines became Montana's senior senator and the dean ofMontana's congressional delegation whenJon Tester left office in 2025 followinghis defeat.
Daines was born in theVan Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles[2] to Sharon R. and Clair W. Daines. The family moved to Montana in 1964. He was raised inBozeman, where he attended school from kindergarten through college.[3]
Daines graduated fromBozeman High School, where he served as student body president[4] and participated in policy debate; his partner was future U.S. Ambassador to RussiaMichael McFaul.[5][6][7] He earned aBachelor of Science degree inchemical engineering fromMontana State University. At Montana State, he became a brother of theSigma Nu fraternity.[8]
Daines was one of the youngest delegates at the1984 Republican National Convention. "I was a big fan ofRonald Reagan. He was the first president I got to vote for," he has said.[9] Daines was also the president of MSU College Republicans. In 2007, he and his wife started a website,GiveItBack.com, which urged governorBrian Schweitzer to return the state's $1 billion surplus to taxpayers. From 2007 to 2008, he was Montana state chairman for theMike Huckabee 2008 presidential campaign and a national surrogate for Huckabee.[10]
Daines spent 13 years withProcter & Gamble.[11] After seven years managing operations in the United States, he and his family moved toHong Kong andChina for six years, opening factories to expand Procter & Gamble's Asian business.[11] During his 2014 Senate campaign, Democratic opponents alleged that Daines had outsourced U.S. jobs to China. He stated that he created hundreds of jobs in Montana when he worked forRightNow Technologies.[12]
In 1997, Daines left Procter & Gamble to join the family construction business in Bozeman. Three years later, he metGreg Gianforte, founder of RightNow Technologies, and was put in charge of running RightNow's customer care division.[4] Daines went on to become vice president of North America Sales and vice president of theAsia-Pacific division. During his tenure, thecloud-basedsoftware company became publicly traded and Bozeman's largest commercial employer. Daines remained with the company until March 2012, when he left to campaign for Congress full-time.[4]
Daines ran forlieutenant governor of Montana in 2008 withRoy Brown, the Republican nominee forgovernor. They challenged incumbent Democratic GovernorBrian Schweitzer and his running mateJohn Bohlinger. Brown and Daines lost the election 65% to 33%, winning only 7 of Montana's56 counties.[13][14][15]
On November 13, 2010, Daines announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat held byJon Tester in 2012.[16]
When U.S. RepresentativeDenny Rehberg announced his intention to challenge Tester, Daines dropped out of the Senate race and announced hiscandidacy for the House seat Rehberg was vacating.[17] He won the three-way Republican primary with 71% of the vote.[18][19] In the general election, Daines defeated Democratic state senatorKim Gillan, 53% to 43%. He won 48 of the state's 56 counties.[20][21]
On June 5, 2013, Daines introduced theNorth Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013, which would withdraw 430,000 acres offederal lands in Montana from programs to develop geothermal and mineral resources.[22][23] The law would forbidmountaintop removal mining and othernatural resource development.[23] The affected lands lie adjacent toGlacier National Park and already have some protections.[22] Daines emphasized his desire "to rise above partisan politics, preserve the pristine landscape, and 'protect this critical watershed'" when he announced that he would be introducing the bill,[23] and said that both conservationists and energy companies supported it.[23] The bill, also supported by Tester and Walsh, passed in the House, but Senate Republicans prevented it from being voted on.[24][25]
In July 2013, Daines attended a NRSC fundraiser in Washington, prompting speculation that he would run forMax Baucus's soon to be vacant U.S. Senate seat.[30] In the second quarter of 2013, he disclosed raising $415,000 in campaign funds, fueling more speculation.[31] On November 6, 2013, Daines announced his candidacy.[32]
In February 2014, Baucus resigned from the Senate to accept a post as U.S. ambassador to China. GovernorSteve Bullock, a Democrat, appointed lieutenant governorJohn Walsh to the vacant Senate seat for the remainder of Baucus's term. Walsh had already declared his intention to run for the Senate in 2014, and it was suggested that his appointment might give him the advantage of incumbency, improving Democratic chances of holding the seat.[33][34][35]
Daines won the Republican primary on June 3, 2014, with 83.4% of the vote against Missoula state representativeChamp Edmunds and political newcomer Susan Cundiff.[36][37] Walsh won the Democratic primary with 64% of the vote.[38]
In August 2014, Walsh withdrew from the race following the publication of aNew York Times article that accused him of plagiarism in a paper written as part of his master's degree work at theU.S. Army War College. With only 50 days until the election, a special convention called by the Montana Democratic party nominated State RepresentativeAmanda Curtis.[39][40][41]
Daines won the general election with 57.8% of the vote to Curtis's 40.1%.[42]
Daines was reelected in 2020, defeating Bullock with 55% of the vote.[43][44] Democrats outspent Republicans by $19 million on the race, $82–63 million; it was one of the most expensive Senate races in the 2020 cycle.[45]
In April 2016, Daines signed on to theRestoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, legislation to address the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools program by renewing the federal government's commitment to manage forest resources.[46]
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In January 2017, Daines announced his support ofExecutive Order 13769, ordered by President Trump, which imposed a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.[47]
In August 2017, Daines co-sponsored theIsrael Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison,[48] for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel andIsraeli settlements in the occupiedPalestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.[49]
In May 2018, Daines announced his support for the so-callednuclear option "to speed up consideration of President Trump's judicial nominees". He has argued that changing the Senate's rules to a simple majority vote would "ensure a quicker pace on Trump's court picks".[50]
DuringBrett Kavanaugh's Supreme Courtnomination in October 2018, Daines, who supported the nomination, was absent during the vote due to his attendance at his daughter's wedding that day; SenatorLisa Murkowski, who opposed Kavanaugh's confirmation, voted "present" to compensate for Daines's absence.[51]
In the2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, when Congress would not meet Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for aU.S.–Mexico border wall, Daines voted for a bill that put $5.7 billion toward the border wall and against a bill that would have funded the government without putting resources toward a wall.[52]
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In January 2019, Daines was one of 11 Republican senators to vote to advance legislation intended to block Trump's lifting of sanctions against three Russian companies.[53] In June 2019, he was one of 8 senators to sign a letter toPremier of British ColumbiaJohn Horgan expressing concern over "the lack of oversight of Canadian mining projects near multiple transboundary rivers that originate in British Columbia and flow into"Alaska,Idaho,Washington, andMontana. The senators requested that British Columbia replicate American efforts to protect watersheds.[54]
Daines voted to acquit Trump inhis impeachment trial on charges ofabuse of power andobstruction of Congress related to his request thatUkraine announce an investigation intoJoe Biden, which became known as theTrump–Ukraine scandal.[55] He said Trump had not committed a crime, that Democrats had "not done their complete homework", and that it was the most partisan impeachment trial in history.[56] Daines said the purpose of the impeachment was to "[overturn] the election of 2016 and [try] to define the election of 2020".[56] During the trial, he voted not to hear witnesses and to block the Senate from subpoenaing documents from the White House.[57][58]
In June 2020, Daines argued against statehood for theDistrict of Columbia, saying that most Americans oppose statehood for the U.S. capital and suggesting that members of Congress "get out of this city, go out to where the real people are at across our country and ask them what they think."[59] Critics objected to his implication that D.C., a city of more than 705,000, nearly half of whom are Black, are not "real people". Further pressed, Daines explained that people outside the D.C. "bubble" oppose statehood, while those in D.C. support it.[59][60]
Before the2021 United States Electoral College vote count, Daines said he would object to certifying the electoral count over unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.[61] He was participating in the certification when Trump supportersstormed the U.S. Capitol. During the attack, he tweeted "I condemn any kind of violence and intimidation. This is unacceptable."[62] Daines changed his mind on objecting to the certification during the attack. He also called the attack "a sad day for our country" and said, "destruction and violence we saw at our Capitol today is an assault on our democracy, our Constitution and the rule of law, and must not be tolerated." He called for a peaceful transfer of power.[63][64] TheBillings Gazette electoral board called for Daines to apologize toJoe Biden for his role in opposing the certification. Daines rejected calls for Trump to resign or be impeached in the wake of the attack.[65][66]
During the Biden administration, Daines sought to blockDeb Haaland's nomination as Interior Secretary.[67]
On November 16, 2022, Daines was elected chairman of theNational Republican Senatorial Committee, succeedingRick Scott.[68]
Current
Previous
Daines is considered politicallyconservative. The American Conservative Union's Center for Legislative Accountability gives him a lifetime rating of 84.79.[69] The politically liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave him a score of 5% for 2019.[70]
Daines opposes legalizedabortion except to protect the life of the mother.[71]
Daines introduced his first bill, the Balanced Budget Accountability Act in February 2013. The bill would have required members of Congress to pass a budget that would balance in 10 years or have their pay terminated.[72] Daines supported theNo Budget, No Pay Act of 2013, which would put members of Congress's salaries in an escrow account unless they passed a budget by April 15, 2013.[73]
Daines has opposed an internet sales tax, which would allow states to collect taxes on online sales. He has called legislation to provide the authority "a job-killing tax hike that hurts American small businesses".[74]
According to theHelena Independent Record, Daines had by 2020 "aggressively tied himself to Trump, both backing and defending the president over the last three years".[57] During Trump's presidency, Daines voted with Trump's stated public policy positions 86% of the time.[75]
Daines was supportive of Trump's response to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[76][77][78]
In June 2020, amidprotests against racism and police brutality in the wake of themurder of George Floyd, Daines defended Trump's decision to disperse protestors with a chemical irritant so that he could stage aphoto op in front of St. John's Church, saying he was "grateful for the president's leadership".[79][80][81]
In October 2020, during the lead-up to his reelection bid, Daines began to shift his rhetoric about Trump.[82][clarification needed]
On January 2, 2021, Daines joined 11 other Republican senators in an attempt tooverturn the presidential election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania.[83][84] Trump and his allies made false claims of fraud in the election.[85] Daines later withdrew his objection tocounting the two states' electoral votes.[86]
On May 28, 2021, Daines voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the2021 United States Capitol attack.[87]
Daines has proposed abolishing theU.S. Department of Education. In 2019, he co-authored the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act, a bill that would allow state and local governments to withdraw from federal education requirements.[88]
Dainesrejects thescientific consensus onclimate change. In 2019, he said, "to suggest that [climate change] is human-caused is not a sound scientific conclusion."[89]
Daines criticized PresidentBarack Obama forhis administration's positions on natural resource development, calling Obama's 2013 climate change proposal a "job killer" and a "war on American energy".[90][91] He co-sponsored the Northern Route Approval Act, which would allow for congressional approval of theKeystone pipeline.[92] Daines expressed strong support of Montana's coal industry[93] and oil production in eastern Montana and theBakken formation.[94]
Daines has called for litigation reforms to allow more logging in Montana's forests.[95][96] In April 2016, he signed on to theRestoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, a bill that would address the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools program by renewing the federal government's commitment to manage forest resources.[46]
In July 2019, Daines co-founded the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus, a group of Republican members of Congress meant to focus on environmental issues with specific priorities including reducing water andocean plastic pollution, and heightening access to public lands and waters in the United States for outdoor recreation, hunting and fishing.[97]
In February 2021, while Texas was suffering power outages amid a snowstorm, Daines tweeted, "This is a perfect example of the need for reliable energy sources like natural gas & coal" in a criticism of renewable energy such as wind turbines and solar energy. Failures in natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy systems caused nearly twice as much power outage as frozen wind turbines and solar panels, though wind power was reduced by a far higher percentage.[98]
In November 2021, Daines criticized theBiden administration for stricter regulations of methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector (which had signaled that it was open to the Biden administration's regulatory shift).[99]
Daines was a supporter of strong China-US relations, but became more critical ofChina during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[100]
In January 2020, Daines expressed support for the US military'sassassination of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani by drone strike at the Baghdad International Airport.[101]
Daines opposesgun control legislation. He has signaled opposition to proposals for expanded background checks andred flag laws, saying he does not believe such legislation would reduce gun violence.[102]
In 2017, Daines voted to repeal theAffordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).[103][104]
Daines opposes allowingDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to apply for temporary protection to stay in the United States; he believes the program is an executive overreach.[105]
Daines supported Trump's 2017executive order to impose a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.[47]
Daines opposesnet neutrality and praised its 2017 repeal by theFederal Communications Commission (FCC).[106] In May 2018, he voted against a bill that would overturn the FCC's ruling and restore net neutrality.[107]
In May 2020, Daines andRon Wyden co-sponsored an amendment that would have requiredfederal law enforcement andintelligence agencies to obtainfederal courtwarrants when collectingweb search engine data from American citizens, nationals, or residents under theForeign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).[108][109]
In September 2020, after JusticeRuth Bader Ginsburg's death, Daines supported moving forward with Trump's nominee to fill the vacancy on the court before the November presidential election. He tweeted that he wanted to "protect our Montana way of life". In March 2016, after JusticeAntonin Scalia's death, Daines said Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court should not be considered, as the "American people have already begun voting on who the next president will be" and Americans should "have their voices heard" via the 2016 election.[110]
Daines opposessame-sex marriage and said he was "disappointed" in theSupreme Court's decision that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional.[111]
Daines and his wife have four children. He enjoys mountain-climbing and has scaledGranite Peak andGrand Teton.[4]
Daines is aPresbyterian.[112]
| 2008 Montana gubernatorial election – Republican primary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidates | Votes | % | +% |
| Republican | Roy Brown/Steve Daines | 65,883 | 80.81% | |
| Republican | Larry Steele/Harold Luce | 15,643 | 19.19% | |
| 2008 Montana gubernatorial election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidates | Votes | % | +% |
| Democratic | Brian Schweitzer(incumbent)/John Bohlinger(incumbent) | 318,670 | 65.47% | |
| Republican | Roy Brown/Steve Daines | 158,268 | 32.52% | |
| Libertarian | Stan Jones/Michael Baker | 9,796 | 2.01% | |
| 2012 Montana's at-large congressional district election – Republican primary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +% |
| Republican | Steve Daines | 82,843 | 71.25% | |
| Republican | Eric Brosten | 21,012 | 18.07% | |
| Republican | Vincent Melkus | 12,420 | 10.68% | |
| 2012 Montana's at-large congressional district election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +% |
| Republican | Steve Daines | 255,468 | 53.25% | |
| Democratic | Kim Gillan | 204,939 | 42.72% | |
| Libertarian | David Kaiser | 19,333 | 4.03% | |
| 2014 U.S. Senate election in Montana – Republican primary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +% |
| Republican | Steve Daines | 110,565 | 83.37% | |
| Republican | Susan Cundiff | 11,909 | 8.98% | |
| Republican | Champ Edmunds | 10,151 | 7.65% | |
| 2014 U.S. Senate election in Montana | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +% |
| Republican | Steve Daines | 213,709 | 57.79% | |
| Democratic | Amanda Curtis | 148,184 | 40.07% | |
| Libertarian | Roger Roots | 7,933 | 2.15% | |
| 2020 U.S. Senate election in Montana | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +% |
| Republican | Steve Daines(incumbent) | 333,237 | 55.01% | |
| Democratic | Steve Bullock | 272,531 | 44.99% | |
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| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMontana's at-large congressional district 2013–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of Montana 2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromMontana (Class 2) 2014,2020 | Most recent |
| Preceded by | Chair of theNational Republican Senatorial Committee 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Montana 2015–present Served alongside:Jon Tester,Tim Sheehy | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | Order of precedence of the United States as United States Senator | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States senators by seniority 52nd | Succeeded by |
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