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Photo of Steve DainesR
Public domain
RepublicanRunning for MT U.S. Senate · 2026

Steve Daines

Steven David Daines is an American politician and businessman serving as the senior United States senator from Montana , a seat he has held since 2015. He is the first Republican Class II senator from Montana in 102 years. Daines represented Montana's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015.
Born 1962 · Los Angeles , California , U.S.
In brief
AI · verified vs data · 2026-07-03

Steve Daines, Montana's senior U.S. senator since 2015, is seeking re-election. Previously a U.S. representative from Montana (2013–2015), Daines has raised about $5 million for his 2026 campaign. He is the first Republican Class II senator from Montana in 102 years. The race is rated safe Republican.

Independence scorecard
Computed · FEC money mix

Who Daines's money comes from.

C−
32/100
Independence index
Funding mix leans on concentrated money — pac independence is the weak spot.
3 watch items · pac independence
Small-dollar reliance14
7% of individual + PAC money from donors under $200
PAC independence0
49% of individual + PAC money from PACs
In-state funding13
87% of itemized receipts come from out of state
Outside-money exposure100
No significant outside spending in support so far
MONEY-MIX INDEX, COMPUTED FROM FEC FILINGS ONLY: SMALL-DOLLAR SHARE, PAC RELIANCE, IN-STATE MONEY AND OUTSIDE (IE) SPENDING. IT DOES NOT SCORE VOTES OR DONOR–VOTE ALIGNMENT. HIGHER = MORE INDEPENDENT · GREEN ≥70 · AMBER 50–69 · RED <50.
Governing & voting record

What Daines did in office.

MeasureYearAction
A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees ar
Became Public Law No: 119-90.
2025
Became law
A bill to rename the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana
Became Public Law No: 118-76.
2023
Became law
A bill to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Bozeman, Mo
Became Public Law No: 116-262.
2019
Became law
B-47 Ridge Designation Act
Became Public Law No: 116-167.
2019
Became law
Alex Diekmann Peak Designation Act of 2017
Became Public Law No: 115-122.
2017
Became law
A resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3194-3195; text: CR S3218-
2026
Sponsored
A resolution designating June 2026 as "Great Outdoors Month".
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S3220)
2026
Sponsored
SPONSORED LEGISLATION VIA CONGRESS.GOV · ENACTED BILLS FIRST, THEN THE MOST RECENT · ROLE SHOWS THE BILL'S LATEST STATUS.
Where they stand
—
Key positions not yet compiled
Positions are drawn from the candidate's public record and statements. We haven't compiled a verified set for this candidate yet.
How Daines votes

With the party, against it, and where on the spectrum.

Ideological placement · roll-call record
Dem median
GOP median
Daines
← LiberalCenterConservative →
Center-right
Overall lean
79
DW-NOMINATE · 0–100
DW-NOMINATE FIRST-DIMENSION SCORE FROM ROLL-CALL VOTES IN THE 119TH CONGRESS (SENATE), VIA VOTEVIEW. 0 = MOST LIBERAL, 100 = MOST CONSERVATIVE.
Party unity · 826 roll-calls · 119th Congress (Senate)
100%voted with Republicans · 0% broke ranks
Ratings from advocacy groups
—
No advocacy-group ratings
Interest-group scorecards have no machine-readable feed — they're curated per candidate, and none are on file yet.
Career & history
1984Delegate
1984–1984
2013United States representative
2013–2015
2015United States senator
since 2015
Public favorability
—
No favorability data
This candidate isn't tracked by YouGov's public-figure panel, and no published state polling on their favorability was found.
Donors & money
FEC itemized filings · cycle-to-date

Who funds the campaign.

$4.7M
Raised
$2.2M
Spent
$4.3M
Cash on hand
Source of funds · individual + PAC
7% small (<$200)44% large indiv.49% PAC
13% in-state · 87% out-of-state (itemized)
Top contributors · bundled by employer / org
INFORMATION REQUESTED PER BEST EFFORTS
$74k
BLACKSTONE
$57k
YELLOWSTONE BANK
$35k
DELTA AIR LINES
$26k
REYES HOLDINGS
$21k
KKR
$19k
Top industries · itemized $
Securities & investment$76k
Air transport$26k
OWN-COMMITTEE TOTALS FROM FEC FILINGS THROUGH 2026-03-31 · INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE ITEMIZED RECEIPTS CLASSIFIED BY EMPLOYER — A KEYWORD APPROXIMATION, NOT OPENSECRETS CODING.
Race

The contest Daines is running in.

MT · SENATE · 2026safe r
Open full race detail →
Related prediction markets
All markets →

Live contract prices tied to Daines and the seat. Prices are ¢-per-share of the YES outcome; context only, never merged into our polling averages.

Sources & provenance
Biography
Public record
Wikipedia + state records
Money & donors
FEC filings
itemized + committee totals
Markets
Live venues
Polymarket · Kalshi
ALL FIGURES DRAWN FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RECORDS · CANDIDATE PROFILES ARE NONPARTISAN AND CARRY NO ENDORSEMENT. · PHOTO: U.S. SENATE PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO · PUBLIC DOMAIN (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)
Related coverage
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nytimes.com · 2026-07-01
Montana Primary Election Results
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nytimes.com · 2026-07-01
Montana U.S. Senate Primary Election Results
H
helenair.com · 2026-07-01
Progressive pop-up PAC abandons Alani Bankhead in Montana’s Senate race
F
fairfieldsuntimes.com · 2026-06-30
Group responsible for $3 million to Democrat in Montana Senate race pulls support
Photo of Steve DainesR
Republican · MT U.S. Senate

Steve Daines

Steven David Daines is an American politician and businessman serving as the senior United States senator from Montana , a seat he has held since 2015. He is the first Republican Class II senator from Montana in 102 years. Daines represented Montana's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015.

$4.7M
Raised
In brief
AI · verified vs data · 2026-07-03

Steve Daines, Montana's senior U.S. senator since 2015, is seeking re-election. Previously a U.S. representative from Montana (2013–2015), Daines has raised about $5 million for his 2026 campaign. He is the first Republican Class II senator from Montana in 102 years. The race is rated safe Republican.

Governing & voting record
A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees ar
2025 · BECAME LAW
Became
A bill to rename the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana
2023 · BECAME LAW
Became
A bill to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Bozeman, Mo
2019 · BECAME LAW
Became
B-47 Ridge Designation Act
2019 · BECAME LAW
Became
Alex Diekmann Peak Designation Act of 2017
2017 · BECAME LAW
Became
A resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
2026 · SPONSORED
Sponsored
A resolution designating June 2026 as "Great Outdoors Month".
2026 · SPONSORED
Sponsored
Where they stand
—
Key positions not yet compiled
Positions are drawn from the candidate's public record and statements. We haven't compiled a verified set for this candidate yet.
Career & history
1984Delegate
1984–1984
2013United States representative
2013–2015
2015United States senator
since 2015
Public favorability
—
No favorability data
This candidate isn't tracked by YouGov's public-figure panel, and no published state polling on their favorability was found.
Independence scorecard

Who Daines's money comes from.

C−
32/100
Independence index
Funding mix leans on concentrated money — pac independence is the weak spot.
3 watch items · pac independence
Small-dollar reliance14
7% of individual + PAC money from donors under $200
PAC independence0
49% of individual + PAC money from PACs
In-state funding13
87% of itemized receipts come from out of state
Outside-money exposure100
No significant outside spending in support so far
MONEY-MIX INDEX, COMPUTED FROM FEC FILINGS ONLY: SMALL-DOLLAR SHARE, PAC RELIANCE, IN-STATE MONEY AND OUTSIDE (IE) SPENDING. IT DOES NOT SCORE VOTES OR DONOR–VOTE ALIGNMENT. HIGHER = MORE INDEPENDENT · GREEN ≥70 · AMBER 50–69 · RED <50.
How Daines votes
Ideological placement · roll-call record
Dem median
GOP median
Daines
← LiberalCenterConservative →
Center-right
Overall lean
79
DW-NOMINATE · 0–100
DW-NOMINATE FIRST-DIMENSION SCORE FROM ROLL-CALL VOTES IN THE 119TH CONGRESS (SENATE), VIA VOTEVIEW. 0 = MOST LIBERAL, 100 = MOST CONSERVATIVE.
Party unity · 826 roll-calls · 119th Congress (Senate)
100%voted with Republicans · 0% broke ranks
Ratings from advocacy groups
—
No advocacy-group ratings
Interest-group scorecards have no machine-readable feed — they're curated per candidate, and none are on file yet.
Donors & money
$4.7M
Raised
$2.2M
Spent
$4.3M
Cash on hand
Source of funds · individual + PAC
7% small (<$200)44% large indiv.49% PAC
13% in-state · 87% out-of-state (itemized)
Top industries · itemized $
Securities & investment$76k
Air transport$26k
OWN-COMMITTEE TOTALS FROM FEC FILINGS THROUGH 2026-03-31 · INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE ITEMIZED RECEIPTS CLASSIFIED BY EMPLOYER — A KEYWORD APPROXIMATION, NOT OPENSECRETS CODING.
Race
MT · SENATE · 2026safe r
Open full race detail →
Related prediction markets
All markets →
Sources & provenance
Biography
Public record
Wikipedia + state records
Money & donors
FEC filings
itemized + committee totals
Markets
Live venues
Polymarket · Kalshi
ALL FIGURES DRAWN FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RECORDS · CANDIDATE PROFILES ARE NONPARTISAN AND CARRY NO ENDORSEMENT. · PHOTO: U.S. SENATE PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO · PUBLIC DOMAIN (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)