Steve Daines

In the 2020 Senate race for MT Senate seat, Steve Daines (R) defeated Steve Bullock (D) 55.0% to 45.0%. Steve Daines received 333,174 votes compared to 272,463 for Steve Bullock, a comfortable 10.0-point margin indicating a moderately safe district.

This race flipped the seat from Democrat to Republican. Jon Tester (D) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. The 2020 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.

In the 2014 Senate race for MT Senate seat, Steve Daines (R) won with 57.8% of the vote, defeating Amanda Curtis (D) who received 40.1%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Steve Daines's 17.7-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Republican, Steve Daines benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.

In the 2012 House race for MT-00, Steve Daines (R) won with 53.3% of the vote, defeating Kim Gillan (D) who received 42.7%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Steve Daines's 10.5-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2012 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.