Steve Daines won’t seek reelection to Montana Senate seat

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, will not seek re-election, opting to leave the Senate just minutes before Wednesday’s filing deadline in the Treasure State, three sources confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Montana’s senior senator is in his second term and was widely expected to get a third in Big Sky Country, where President Donald Trump won by nearly 20 points in 2024. He previously served two terms in the House before making the jump to the upper chamber.

Daines played a key role this election cycle as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, helping Republicans regain a majority in the upper chamber. He also supported Sen. Tim Sheehy, Republican of Montana, in a grueling race against former Sen. Jon Tester, Republican of Montana, helping the Republican Party secure unified control of Washington.

Sen. Steve Daines, Republican of Montana, plans to retire at the end of his term, opening up his Big Sky Country seat as Republicans seek to maintain their hold on the upper chamber. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The lawmaker said in a video statement that after “careful consideration, I have decided not to run for office.”

He thanked his wife, Cindy, and noted that for the past 13 years, she “selflessly dropped me off at the airport at 5 a.m. most Mondays for that drive back to Washington.”

“And together, Cindy and I look forward to the next chapter, like cherishing moments with seven grandchildren, spending a little more time in Montana and continuing to make a difference,” he said.

With Daines set to leave the Senate, Republicans will now look to retain their seat. Montana’s primary election is scheduled for June 2.

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President Donald Trump answers questions from the media during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme filed the complaint just minutes before Daines withdrew from the race, according to Montana’s secretary of state. Earlier Wednesday, former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar entered the race as an independent.

Trump wasted no time praising Daines and quickly supporting Alme in an article on Truth Social.

“Steve Daines of Montana is one of our truly great United States senators,” Trump said. “He honorably served 12 years in the Senate and 2 years in the House of Representatives. He did a job like few others are capable of but, unfortunately for our country, Steve’s term is up and he has decided to leave the Senate and ‘pass the torch’ to Kurt Alme, my TRUMP 45 and TRUMP 47 U.S. Attorney.”

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Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., arrives for a caucus meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill on May 10, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Three Democrats are also running on the opposite side of the primary: Alani Bankhead, Reilly Neil and Michael Blackwolf.

A spokesperson for Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, told Fox News Digital in a statement that “Republicans’ midterm prospects are so bleak in 2026 that another senator is running for the hills.”

“Steve Daines is increasingly joining his colleagues who are deciding to throw in the towel rather than defend their toxic record,” they said. “This news is the latest flashing warning signal to all Republican senators: Your jobs are not secure, you retire or you lose them.”

Daines’ departure follows Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, announcing earlier this week his intention to retire from the House.

Zinke cited several undisclosed surgeries resulting from injuries he suffered as a Navy SEAL.

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“My judgment and experience tell me it is better for Montana and America to have full-time representation in Congress than to run the risk of uncertain absence and missed votes,” Zinke said.

Her open primary has already attracted several Montana Republicans, including Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and conservative radio host Aaron Flint, who quickly gained support from Zinke and Trump.

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