Jason Thielman

Jason Thielman
Born
Chester, Montana, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Montana
OccupationsPolitical strategist, businessman

Jason Thielman is an American political strategist and businessman who served as executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) from 2022 to 2024.[1][2] A native of Chester, Montana, he previously served as chief of staff to Secretary of State Bob Brown[3][4] and later as chief of staff to U.S. senator Steve Daines.[5] Following the 2024 elections, in which Republicans gained a Senate majority, Thielman co-founded Strategy to Results, a public affairs firm,[6] and co-founded the American Growth Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based business association.[7]

Career

Early career

Thielman was born in Chester, Montana and raised in Whitefish, where he attended Whitefish High School. He went on to study at the University of Montana, where he served as student body president and was appointed by Governor Marc Racicot as the student member of the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education.[4][8][9] After graduating with degrees in finance and history, he served as chief of staff to Montana Secretary of State Bob Brown.[3][4][10] In 2004, he served as campaign manager for Brown's gubernatorial campaign.[4]

Congressional service

Thielman served in staff positions in the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate before becoming chief of staff to U.S. senator Steve Daines.[2][5][11] He served as campaign chairman for Daines' 2012 U.S. House campaign, and was named chief of staff when Daines took office.[12][13] He served as campaign manager for Daines' 2014 Senate campaign, during which he was quoted by Montana media defending Daines' legislative record.[14] Thielman continued as chief of staff when Daines entered the Senate in 2015.

During the 2020 Montana Senate race, Thielman served as a chief spokesperson for Daines and was quoted by Roll Call commenting on campaign finance attacks from Democratic challenger Steve Bullock.[15]

National Republican Senatorial Committee

In November 2022, Thielman was appointed executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee under Senator Steve Daines, who served as NRSC chair.[16][1] During this period, he was quoted by Roll Call on the viability of Republican Senate candidates, including former U.S. representative Peter Meijer's bid.[17]

In 2023, the New York Times reported that Thielman was identified alongside Daines as an originator of a proposed Montana legislative change—a jungle primary bill—aimed at improving Republican prospects in the 2024 Senate race against incumbent Democratic senator Jon Tester.[18]

During the 2024 election cycle, Thielman submitted a legal affidavit on behalf of the NRSC in litigation over the rules governing joint fund-raising advertisements.[19] The Washington Post also reported on the NRSC's operations under Thielman's leadership, including the committee's strategic decisions and internal spending.[20] Prior to the November elections, Newsweek reported on Thielman's public warnings about vulnerabilities facing Republicans in the 2024 cycle.[21] Republicans gained a Senate majority in the 2024 elections.[22]

Post-NRSC career

Following the 2024 election cycle, Thielman has been quoted in national media as a political strategist commenting on Republican electoral strategy. In November 2025, he was quoted by NBC News analyzing the political implications of off-year election results.[23]

Thielman co-founded Strategy to Results, a public affairs firm, with former NRSC political director Tim Edson and Brock Lowrance.[6] He also co-founded the American Growth Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based business association.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Josh Kraushaar (November 20, 2022). "First look: NRSC's senior hires". Axios.
  2. ^ a b Office of the Secretary of the Senate (2022). Report of the Secretary of the Senate: April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 (PDF) (Report). U.S. Government Publishing Office. p. B-962.
  3. ^ a b Montana State Government Telephone Directory. Montana Department of Administration. 2001. p. 51 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ a b c d "Campaign chief has longtime bond with Brown". Helena Independent Record. July 12, 2004.
  5. ^ a b "Congressional Directory for the 115th Congress (2017-2018)". U.S. Government Publishing Office. 2018.
  6. ^ a b Caitlin Oprysko (February 11, 2025). "NRSC strategists hang a shingle". Politico.
  7. ^ a b Dana Mattioli (May 1, 2025). "Coming Soon for CEOs, a MAGA-Infused Business Association". The Wall Street Journal.
  8. ^ "Past Members". Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  9. ^ "Minutes of the Board of Regents Meeting, January 29, 1998". Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education. January 29, 1998.
  10. ^ "Montana GOP Candidate Quits Senate Race". Deseret News. October 10, 2002.
  11. ^ "Congressional Directory for the 116th Congress (2019-2020)". U.S. Government Publishing Office. 2020.
  12. ^ "Daines chooses staff". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. December 2012.
  13. ^ "Daines names chief of staff, spokeswoman". Billings Gazette. December 2012.
  14. ^ "Daines cites efforts to create jobs for Montana; most have not become law". Billings Gazette. 2014.
  15. ^ Kate Ackley (May 7, 2020). "Bullock attacks money in politics as super PAC goes after Daines". Roll Call.
  16. ^ "Daines Announces New Chief of Staff" (Press release). Office of Senator Steve Daines. November 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "At the Races: Cash course". Roll Call. February 2, 2023.
  18. ^ Nick Corasaniti (April 14, 2023). "Facing Tough Senate Race, Montana G.O.P. Looks to Change the Rules". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Luke Broadwater (October 25, 2024). "Late Lawsuit Could Shape Political Ad Wars in Final Days of Campaign". The New York Times.
  20. ^ Liz Goodwin, Clara Ence Morse and Isaac Arnsdorf (November 1, 2024). "Insiders question Senate GOP group's focus on Montana, big spending". The Washington Post.
  21. ^ "Republican leader warns of 'real problem' heading into election". Newsweek. 2024.
  22. ^ Ally Mutnick and Ursula Perano (November 12, 2024). "Republicans won big in the Senate. A warning lurks in the purple states". Politico.
  23. ^ Matt Dixon, Henry J. Gomez, Jonathan Allen and Garrett Haake (November 5, 2025). "Republicans look for lessons in election dominated by Democratic wins". NBC News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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