Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Steve Daines

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Steve Daines made an impact.

Steve Daines is the senior United States Senator from Montana, serving since 2015. A Republican, he is the first from his party to hold Montana's Class II Senate seat in over a century. Prior to his Senate tenure, Daines represented Montana's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015. Before entering politics, he worked as a corporate executive.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1984: Delegate at Republican National Convention

In 1984, Steve Daines was one of the youngest delegates at the Republican National Convention.

1997: Left Procter & Gamble

In 1997, Steve Daines left Procter & Gamble to join the family construction business in Bozeman.

2007: Started GiveItBack.com website

In 2007, Steve Daines and his wife started a website, GiveItBack.com, urging governor Brian Schweitzer to return the state's $1 billion surplus to taxpayers.

2008: Montana state chairman for Mike Huckabee

From 2007 to 2008, Steve Daines was the Montana state chairman for the Mike Huckabee 2008 presidential campaign and a national surrogate for Huckabee.

2008: Ran for Lieutenant Governor

In 2008, Steve Daines ran for lieutenant governor of Montana with Roy Brown, the Republican nominee for governor. They lost the election.

2008: Unsuccessful Lieutenant Governor's Race

In 2008, Steve Daines ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor of Montana.

November 13, 2010: Announced Senate Run

On November 13, 2010, Steve Daines announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jon Tester in 2012.

March 2012: Left RightNow Technologies

In March 2012, Steve Daines left RightNow Technologies to campaign for Congress full-time.

2012: Senate Run

In 2012, Steve Daines announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jon Tester.

2012: Elected to Congress

In 2012, Steve Daines was elected to represent Montana's at-large congressional district in Congress.

February 2013: Introduced Balanced Budget Accountability Act

In February 2013, Steve Daines introduced his first bill, the Balanced Budget Accountability Act, which would have required members of Congress to pass a budget that would balance in 10 years or have their pay terminated.

April 15, 2013: Supported No Budget, No Pay Act

On April 15, 2013, Steve Daines supported the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013, which would put members of Congress's salaries in an escrow account unless they passed a budget.

June 5, 2013: Introduced North Fork Watershed Protection Act

On June 5, 2013, Steve Daines introduced the North Fork Watershed Protection Act of 2013, which would withdraw 430,000 acres of federal lands in Montana from programs to develop geothermal and mineral resources.

July 2013: Attended NRSC Fundraiser

In July 2013, Steve Daines attended a NRSC fundraiser in Washington, prompting speculation that he would run for Max Baucus's soon to be vacant U.S. Senate seat.

November 6, 2013: Announced Senate Candidacy

On November 6, 2013, Steve Daines announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

2013: Representative of Montana's at-large congressional district

In 2013, Steve Daines began representing Montana's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, a role he held until 2015.

February 2014: Baucus Resigned from Senate

In February 2014, Max Baucus resigned from the Senate to accept a post as U.S. ambassador to China, leading to a special election.

June 3, 2014: Won Republican Primary

On June 3, 2014, Steve Daines won the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat with 83.4% of the vote.

August 2014: Walsh withdrew from the race

In August 2014, John Walsh withdrew from the race following the publication of a New York Times article that accused him of plagiarism.

2014: Elected to the Senate

In 2014, Steve Daines was first elected to the Senate, becoming the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate seat in Montana in the 21st century.

2015: Became Senator of Montana

In 2015, Steve Daines became the senior United States Senator from Montana, a position he has held since then. He is the first Republican Class II senator from Montana in 102 years.

April 2016: Signed on to Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act

In April 2016, Daines signed on to the Restoring 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.

2016: Election of 2016

In 2016, Daines said the purpose of the impeachment was to "[overturn] the election of 2016 and [try] to define the election of 2020".

January 2017: Supported Executive Order 13769

In January 2017, Daines announced his support of Executive Order 13769, ordered by President Trump, which imposed a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

August 2017: Co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In August 2017, Daines co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which made it a federal crime for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.

May 2018: Supported nuclear option

In May 2018, Daines announced his support for the so-called nuclear option "to speed up consideration of President Trump's judicial nominees".

October 2018: Absent for Kavanaugh Vote

In October 2018, during Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, Steve Daines was absent during the vote due to his attendance at his daughter's wedding that day.

2018: Voted for Border Wall Funding

In 2018, during the 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, Steve Daines voted for a bill that put $5.7 billion toward the U.S.–Mexico border wall.

January 2019: Voted to Advance Legislation Blocking Sanctions Lifting

In January 2019, Steve Daines was one of 11 Republican senators to vote to advance legislation intended to block Trump's lifting of sanctions against three Russian companies.

June 2019: Signed Letter on Canadian Mining Projects

In June 2019, Steve Daines was one of 8 senators to sign a letter to Premier of British Columbia John 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, and Montana.

2019: Voted for Border Wall Funding

In 2019, during the 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, Steve Daines voted for a bill that put $5.7 billion toward the U.S.–Mexico border wall.

May 2020: Co-sponsored amendment on web search data collection

In May 2020, Steve Daines and Ron Wyden co-sponsored an amendment that would have required federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to obtain federal court warrants when collecting web search engine data from American citizens, nationals, or residents under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

June 2020: Argued against D.C. Statehood

In June 2020, Steve Daines argued against statehood for the District of Columbia, suggesting that members of Congress should consult people outside the D.C. "bubble" to understand their opposition to statehood. This was controversial due to its implications about D.C. residents.

June 2020: Defended Trump's decision to disperse protestors

In June 2020, amid protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Daines defended Trump's decision to disperse protestors with a chemical irritant so that he could stage a photo op in front of St. John's Church.

October 2020: Shift in rhetoric about Trump

In October 2020, during the lead-up to his reelection bid, Daines began to shift his rhetoric about Trump.

2020: Tied himself to Trump

According to the Helena Independent Record, by 2020 Steve Daines had aggressively tied himself to Trump, both backing and defending the president over the last three years.

2020: Election of 2020

In 2020, Daines said the purpose of the impeachment was to "[overturn] the election of 2016 and [try] to define the election of 2020".

2020: Re-elected to the Senate

In 2020, Steve Daines was re-elected to the Senate, defeating the Democratic nominee, incumbent governor Steve Bullock.

2021: Electoral College Vote Count

In 2021, before the United States Electoral College vote count, Steve Daines initially said he would object to certifying the electoral count but changed his mind during the attack on the U.S. Capitol. He condemned the violence and called for a peaceful transfer of power.

November 16, 2022: Elected Chairman of NRSC

On November 16, 2022, Steve Daines was elected chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, succeeding Rick Scott.

2023: Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee

In 2023, Steve Daines became chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, succeeding Rick Scott.

2024: Republicans gained Senate majority

In the 2024 election cycle, Republicans gained four Senate seats and won a majority in the chamber, while Steve Daines was chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee

2025: Became Montana's Senior Senator

In 2025, Steve Daines became Montana's senior senator and dean of Montana's congressional delegation, following the defeat of Jon Tester in his reelection.