Steve Daines | |
---|---|
Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee | |
Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
Leader | Mitch McConnell |
Preceded by | Rick Scott |
United States Senator from Montana | |
Assumed office January 3, 2015 Serving with Jon Tester | |
Preceded by | John Walsh |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana's at-large district | |
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Denny Rehberg |
Succeeded by | Ryan Zinke |
Personal details | |
Born | Steven David Daines August 20, 1962 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Cindy Daines (m. 1986) |
Children | 4 |
Relatives | Jay Owenhouse (brother-in-law)[1] |
Education | Montana State University (BS) |
Website | Senate website |
Steven David Daines (/ˈdeɪnz/ DAYNZ; born August 20, 1962) is an American politician and former corporate executive serving as the junior United States senator from Montana since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Montana's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015.
Daines was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Bozeman, Montana. Before entering politics, he held positions at Procter & Gamble and the Montana-based software service RightNow Technologies. He was Roy Brown's running mate in the 2008 Montana gubernatorial election, losing in the general election to incumbent governor Brian Schweitzer and lieutenant governor John Bohlinger. Daines ran again for public office in 2012 for Montana's at-large congressional district; he won the general election, defeating Democratic nominee Kim Gillan.
After incumbent U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced he would not run for reelection in the 2014 Senate election, Daines won, defeating Democrat Amanda Curtis and becoming the first Republican to win a Senate seat in Montana in the 21st century. He was reelected in 2020, defeating the Democratic nominee, incumbent governor Steve Bullock. In 2023, he became chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, succeeding Rick Scott.
Under Daines's leadership, Republicans gained four Senate seats in the 2024 election cycle, winning a 53-seat majority in the chamber. Daines will become Montana's senior senator and the dean of Montana's congressional delegation when Jon Tester leaves office in 2025.