Steve Daines
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| Steve Daines | |
|---|---|
| Name | Steve Daines |
| State | Montana |
| Jr/sr | United States Senator |
| Alongside | Jon Tester |
| Term start | January 3, 2015 |
| Predecessor | John Walsh |
| State1 | Montana |
| District1 | At-large |
| Term start1 | January 3, 2013 |
| Term end1 | January 3, 2015 |
| Predecessor1 | Denny Rehberg |
| Successor1 | Ryan Zinke |
| Office2 | Member of the Montana Senate |
| Term start2 | 2009 |
| Term end2 | 2011 |
| Predecessor2 | John Brueggeman |
| Successor2 | Verdell Jackson |
| Birth date | 20 August 1962 |
| Birth place | Van Nuys, California, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Cindy Daines, 1984 |
| Education | Montana State University (BS) |
| Signature alt | Cursive signature in ink |
Steve Daines is an American politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Montana since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the U.S. Representative for Montana's at-large congressional district from 2013 to 2015. Daines has held leadership roles including Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and is known as a staunch conservative with a focus on energy policy, public lands management, and national security.
Early life and education
He was born in Van Nuys, California, but his family moved to Bozeman, Montana, when he was a child. Daines graduated from Bozeman High School and subsequently attended Montana State University in Bozeman. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the university's Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. During his college years, he was actively involved in the Sigma Nu fraternity.
Business career
Before entering politics, he built a lengthy career in the private sector. He spent over 12 years with the Procter & Gamble Company, holding various management positions in the United States and Asia. Following his tenure there, he served as a vice president for RightNow Technologies, a Bozeman-based software firm later acquired by Oracle Corporation. Daines also co-founded and served as chief executive officer of a small business consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
He first won election to the United States Congress in 2012, securing Montana's sole House seat. During his single term in the 113th United States Congress, he served on the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Homeland Security. He was a prominent advocate for the Keystone XL Pipeline and sponsored legislation such as the Resilient Federal Forests Act. Daines did not seek re-election to the House of Representatives in 2014, opting instead to run for the United States Senate.
U.S. Senate
He was elected to the United States Senate in 2014, defeating Amanda Curtis to succeed appointed Democrat John Walsh. He was re-elected in 2020, defeating Governor Steve Bullock. In the Senate, he serves on several influential committees including the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Indian Affairs. He chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 2022 election cycle. Daines played a key role in the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and has been a leading voice on issues related to public lands access and energy development.
Political positions
He is a conservative Republican with a voting record aligned with the Congressional Leadership Fund. He is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. On energy policy, he advocates for expanded fossil fuel development on federal lands and has been critical of the Environmental Protection Agency. He opposes the Affordable Care Act and has voted to confirm conservative judicial nominees, including those to the Supreme Court of the United States like Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Daines is a proponent of border security and has supported funding for the Border Patrol and construction of a border wall.
Personal life
He is married to Cindy Daines, and the couple has four children. The family resides in Bozeman and are members of the Grace Bible Church. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys fly fishing, hunting, and hiking in the Rocky Mountains. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from Montana Category:Montana Republicans Category:Montana State University alumni