Montana Senator Steve Daines, the head of the Republican Senate campaign arm, has expressed his strategic approach to the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s (NRSC) influence and support in the 2024 Senate election. Unlike his predecessor, Florida Senator Rick Scott, who adhered to a strict policy of staying out of primaries, Daines aims to be selective in allocating the NRSC’s resources. The disappointing results of the 2022 midterm elections for Republicans, where they failed to regain the majority, were partly attributed to the “candidate quality” issue, with far-right candidates winning primaries but losing in the general election.
In the West Virginia Republican primary between Governor Jim Justice and Representative Alex Mooney, Daines is endorsing Justice due to his popularity among the state’s voters. Daines cited polling data, showing Justice with a significant lead of over 20 points in the general election, and confidently stated, “He’ll be the next senator from West Virginia.” The Democratic incumbent is Senator Joe Manchin.
Regarding the Ohio Senate race, Daines has decided to stay out of the Republican primary, which will determine the candidate to challenge Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. Daines explained that with three strong candidates, any of them could potentially win the general election, so he is not concerned about the primary outcome.
In his home state of Montana, Daines has voiced his support for former Navy SEAL officer Tim Sheehy in the Republican primary. Daines emphasized the importance of the veteran population as a key voting block in Montana. He also mentioned having productive discussions with Representative Matt Rosendale about his potential candidacy and expressed a preference for avoiding a contentious primary.
In the 2024 cycle, the Democratic Party, with a slim 51-seat majority in the Senate, will have to defend 23 seats, including those held by independent senators who caucus with the Democrats. On the other hand, Republicans only need to defend 11 incumbents and have the opportunity to go on the offensive.
When it comes to potential Republican candidates in Michigan and Wisconsin, Daines mentioned the committee’s efforts to recruit Representative Mike Gallagher. Although Daines recognized the difficulty of convincing Gallagher to run for the Senate, he emphasized the importance of having serious conversations in order to explore all possibilities. He also hinted at upcoming recruiting endeavors in Wisconsin.
Regarding the Arizona Senate race, Daines remained noncommittal about backing a candidate, despite meeting with potential candidate Kari Lake. With Senator Kyrsten Sinema leaving the Democratic Party and Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego entering the race, Daines acknowledged the potential for an interesting three-way competition in a state where a significant portion of voters identify as neither Democrat nor Republican. While Daines expressed doubt about the success of an independent run by Sinema, he believes the dynamics would favor a Republican candidate if Sinema decides to run. Daines emphasized the importance of focusing on the future and addressing the country’s problems rather than dwelling on past grievances.
Regarding Lake, Daines acknowledged her intelligence and articulation while emphasizing that a competitive race would depend on her ability to focus on the future and the issues facing the nation, rather than dwelling on the past. While Daines did not rule out the possibility of supporting Lake, he also showed support for Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb’s candidacy, highlighting the appeal of a sheriff’s background in a border state like Arizona.
In terms of his relationship with former President Donald Trump, Daines mentioned their frequent conversations and collaborative approach for the 2024 elections. Daines has already endorsed Trump for the presidential race and emphasized the importance of having candidates who can win. While there haven’t been a wave of endorsements yet, Daines assured that thoughtful conversations are taking place to align their strategies.
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