Campaign Steve Daines not running for reelection in Montana by Tara Suter - 03/04/26 8:41 PM ET by Tara Suter - 03/04/26 8:41 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said Wednesday he is not making a reelection bid in this year’s midterm, ending a career in Congress that included serving in the House and Senate. “Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate the past 13 years has been the greatest honor of my professional career. I’m grateful to God for allowing me to serve, but after much careful thought, I’ve decided not to seek reelection,” Daines said in a video posted to the social platform X on Wednesday. “Prior to public service, I spent 28 years in the private sector. While I found those years very rewarding, they didn’t compare to the fulfillment I found in public service. I’m energized, I’m encouraged and I’m ready for whatever comes next,” he added . Daines, who first won election to Congress in 2012 as a House member, previously served as the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, flipping four seats during the 2024 election cycle . The Montana Republican joins a large swath of congressional Republicans who are not running for their seats again this year . The party has faced multiple political challenges in recent months, including President Trump’s unpopularity, worries around affordability and concerns over files linked to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a polling average from Decision Desk HQ, Democrats lead Republicans on a generic congressional ballot at 44.6 percent support to Republicans’ 38.7 percent. Daines was not the only congressional Republican on Wednesday to announce he wasn’t seeking reelection, with Utah Rep. Burgess Owens doing so earlier in the day . Add as preferred source on Google Tags 2026 midterms Burgess Owens Jeffrey Epstein Montana senate republicans Steve Daines Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Campaign News See All Campaign Greene fumes over Trump’s demand in Texas Senate runoff by Tara Suter 57 minutes ago Campaign  /  57 minutes ago