Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. House · Montana's 2nd District

4 candidates on the ballot.¹

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Troy Downing

REP · Incumbent

Currently represents Montana's 2nd District in the U.S. House.

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Troy Downing — 1 issue

Banking and investment rules
His campaign website says that on the House Financial Services Committee he pushes for policies to strengthen financial markets, widen access to capital and help small businesses in rural areas.²³

Brian J Miller — 11 issues

Discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity
His campaign website's LGBTQ rights page says his approach is to let people live their own lives, that he does not like to see hatred directed at people because of their sexual orientation, that it is not government's role to make people accept how others live, and that differences should be tolerated.²⁴
Federal minimum wage
His campaign website says he wants to consider raising the minimum wage for big employers like Walmart and Amazon, and to use wage subsidies for small and mid-size employers.^25,26
Union fees and right-to-work laws
His campaign website says he opposes right-to-work legislation in any form.²⁵
Union organizing rules
His campaign website says he fully supports the right of workers to unionize and wants to do more to support efforts to organize workers, as one way to raise wages.^25,26
Child care costs
His campaign website's farm page lists passing and fully funding the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023 among things he would like to see done.¹³
Foreign aid
Restore or increase foreign aid, including programs cut in 2025
His campaign website's farm page lists restoring funding to USAID among things he would like to see done.¹³
Military spending
Cut military spending
His campaign website says he wants to cut wasteful military spending and bring the military budget down rather than up.^15,19
Federal spending levels
His campaign website says annual deficit spending should be kept to no more than 3 percent, to be reached by raising revenue from wealthy people and corporations and cutting areas of the national budget such as defense industry spending.²²
High-speed internet access
His campaign website's farm page lists increasing and fully funding the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program among things he would like to see done.¹³
Who has authority on tribal lands
His campaign website says tribal autonomy should be respected, that he would treat tribes as equal sovereigns and work with them on policies and funding that respect their independence, and that he would make missing and murdered Indigenous women in Montana's tribal lands a priority.²⁷
VA staffing
His campaign website lists reductions in VA employees, in new enrollment in VA health care and in housing programs for veterans under the current administration, and says the trend of cuts to veterans' programs needs to be reversed completely.¹⁹

Michael D Eisenhauer — 24 issues

Who sets abortion law
His Issues page says the federal government has a role in bringing some consistency across state lines and protecting basic individual rights wherever people live, and that the next Congress will probably need to take up again the regional differences in abortion access.⁹
Farm payments and crop insurance
His Issues page says conventional bailouts will not fix farmers' underlying problems, that some short-term farm aid is needed as a safety net to prevent more bankruptcies, and that the federal government might have to guarantee a minimum price for some agricultural products.⁹
Foreign ownership of farmland
His Voter Contract page says he will protect Montana agricultural land from inappropriate foreign ownership, and his Issues page says sales of agricultural land and assets to foreign entities must be curtailed, with stronger enforcement and higher penalties added to the American Foreign Investment Disclosure Act.^8,9
Police funding
Increase police funding, for example to hire more officers
His Voter Contract and Issues pages say he will work to protect and increase federal support for police, fire and emergency services, particularly in smaller and rural communities.^8,9
Who sets tariffs
His Voter Contract page says he will fight to return to Congress its constitutional power over tariffs and trade policy, and his Issues page says Congress, not the president, should again control tariffs and trade.^8,9
Student loan forgiveness
His Voter Contract and Issues pages say he does not support blanket student loan forgiveness.^8,9
Transgender students in school sports
His Why Independent page lists fighting against biological males in women's sports among actions of President Trump that he clearly supports.¹⁷
US Department of Education
Keep the department and its programs, or expand it
His Voter Contract page says he does not support eliminating the federal Department of Education, and his Issues page says he does not think it was wise to shut it down and describes the programs it oversees as vital.^8,9
Stock trading by members of Congress
His Voter Contract page says he will lead a push to bar members of Congress and their relatives from insider trading.⁸
Term limits for Congress
Shorter limits, such as three House terms (six years) and two Senate terms (12 years)
His Voter Contract and Issues pages say he supports limiting House members to three two-year terms and senators to two six-year terms, and the Contract says he will lead an effort for legislation on term limits.^8,9
Nuclear power
His Voter Contract page lists nuclear energy among the sources in an all-of-the-above energy policy and says he will support developing small modular nuclear reactors, and his Issues page says he will work in a bipartisan way to invest federally in small modular reactors and foster a growing nuclear power industry.^8,9
Background checks for gun sales
His Voter Contract page says he will back improvements to the background-check system, closing what it calls the gun-show loophole, and a 72-hour waiting period, and his Issues page says gun-show sales should be treated like commercial point-of-sale purchases.^8,9
Rules for gun accessories and parts
Loosen rules, such as ending federal registration for suppressors and short-barreled rifles
His Issues page says the National Firearms Act should be retained but revised, including by removing the mandatory ATF Form 1 or Form 4 submission for suppressors and short-barreled long guns.⁹
Federal Medicaid funding
Reverse the 2025 changes or increase federal funding
His Voter Contract page says he will lead the effort to restore Medicaid cuts and protect rural hospitals and clinics, and his Issues page says he will work with lawmakers from both parties to undo the Medicaid and SNAP cuts right away.^8,9
Help for first-time homebuyers
His Voter Contract and Issues pages say he will support significant down-payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.^8,9
Large investors buying single-family homes
His Voter Contract page says he will support policies that prohibit large corporate and private-equity investors from buying up Montana's housing supply.⁸
Zoning and new housing
His Voter Contract page says he will support zoning changes that permit duplexes, triplexes and other kinds of housing, and his Issues page lists zoning changes that remove barriers to duplexes, triplexes or multi-family housing and government incentives for towns and cities to make larger tracts of land available for development.^8,9
Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
His Voter Contract page says Dreamers brought here as children deserve a humane pathway to legal status and that a pathway to citizenship is humane and appropriate, and his Issues page says he does not think it is fair to deport Dreamers.^8,9
Social Security payroll tax cap
His Voter Contract page says he will support lifting the salary cap to better fund Social Security.⁸
Social Security retirement age
Keep it at 67
His Voter Contract and Issues pages say he will work to protect Social Security and Medicare and provide cost-of-living increases without raising the retirement age.^8,9
Fraud and improper payments in federal programs
His Voter Contract page says he will push for more openness in federal spending and expose waste, fraud and abuse, and his Why Independent page lists reducing waste, fraud and abuse in government spending among actions of President Trump that he clearly supports.^8,17
Property taxes
His Voter Contract page lists property-tax relief for eligible homeowners and first-time buyers among housing policies he will support, and his Issues page also lists higher property tax rates for corporate and large private-equity landlords.^8,9
Targeted tax breaks for individuals and families
Add or expand breaks for costs such as education savings, adoption and selling a home
His Issues page lists targeted cuts in capital gains taxes for older homeowners who sell their homes among housing measures he supports.⁹
Rules for artificial intelligence
Set rules for specific risks and uses, such as deepfakes, hiring decisions and safety disclosures
His Voter Contract page says he will support clear identification of AI-generated content, safeguards against deepfakes and abusive surveillance, and enforceable AI regulations, and his Issues page says he would at a minimum promote legislation requiring AI-generated material to be clearly labeled.^8,9

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.

All 2026 races in Montana

Fact	Troy Downing	Patrick McCracken	Brian J Miller	Michael D Eisenhauer
Party on the ballot	REP¹	LIB¹	DEM¹	IND¹
Status	Incumbent²	Challenger	Challenger	Challenger
Raised	$2,733,160 through October 14, 2026³	Not found in the public sources we checked	$30,958 through October 14, 2026⁴	$354,191 through October 14, 2026⁵
Cash on hand	$746,648³	Not found in the public sources we checked	$669⁴	$23,304⁵
Outside spending	$149,966 for · $0 against⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Abortion law	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says that on abortion he will always side with trusting women and with securing their bodily autonomy.⁷	His Voter Contract and Issues pages say he is firmly pro-choice and will defend a woman's right to make her own reproductive health care decisions, including so that she does not have to travel across state lines for care.^8,9
Tariffs	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Lower or remove most tariffs His campaign website calls for repealing the tariffs now, says he has called for repeal since the start, and says he also called for an end to the trade war with Canada.¹⁰	His Issues page says the tariffs set by the current administration have been excessive and raise costs for consumers and businesses, and it lists reducing tariffs on lumber and building supplies among housing measures he supports.⁹
Campaign finance rules	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United His campaign website says he does not take dark money or PAC money, supports the Montana Plan fully, and opposes the Citizens United decision, saying the Founders would not have agreed that corporations have free speech rights.¹¹	Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United His Voter Contract page says he will propose legislation to end the Citizens United decision, similar to the Montana Plan.⁸
Data centers and electricity costs	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Pause or limit new data centers His campaign website says Montana should not be building data centers; it says his campaign is fighting a proposed data center in Broadview, Montana, and urges residents to press county officials for zoning rules that protect communities from data centers.^12,13	Require data centers to pay the full cost of the power plants and lines they need His Issues page says any new data center must supply its own power so that local customers are shielded from higher electricity rates, and lists as an example rule that data centers pay for their own energy use instead of passing costs to ratepayers; it also says decisions about data centers should be made locally and that he opposes a permanent statewide ban and a two-year moratorium.⁹
Selling or transferring federal lands	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Keep federal lands in federal ownership His campaign website says he will do everything he can to keep public lands in public hands forever.¹⁴	Keep federal lands in federal ownership His Voter Contract page says he will oppose any sale of federal public lands made just to balance the budget, and his Issues page also opposes selling public lands.^8,9
Food assistance (SNAP)	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Undo the 2025 changes or expand benefits and eligibility His campaign website's farm page lists restoring the funding that was cut from SNAP among things he would like to see done.¹³	Undo the 2025 changes or expand benefits and eligibility His Issues page says he will work with lawmakers from both parties to undo the Medicaid and SNAP cuts right away.⁹
Iran's nuclear program and sanctions	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says the war in Iran is not a war of necessity, that the U.S. should leave the Middle East and bring its troops home, and that he opposes spending any more money on war in the Middle East.¹⁵	His Issues page lists ending the war in the Middle East, in a way that keeps international shipping open, among steps to help farmers, and says the war in Iran has periodically blocked the Strait of Hormuz and driven up fertilizer prices.⁹
Military aid to Israel	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Reduce or end military aid to Israel His campaign website says the U.S. should provide no more money or weapons to Israel.¹⁶	His Why Independent page lists support for Israel in its fight against Hamas, which it says refers to the organization rather than the people living in Gaza or the West Bank, among actions of President Trump that he clearly supports.¹⁷
Health insurance system	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says the goal should be health care for all Americans, that the system should move from for-profit to non-profit, and that the federal government should set national objectives and provide financial support while states try different approaches such as single payer, a public option, Medicaid for All or a multi-payer system.¹⁸	His Voter Contract page says he will oppose efforts to turn the health care system into a government-run single-payer system, and his Issues page says he does not believe a single-payer system would be workable and that any change must protect people's ability to see the doctor of their choice and keep coverage for pre-existing conditions.^8,9
Homelessness	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website's veterans page lists a loss of 1,000 beds in the GPD program for homeless veterans and a $2.2 billion cut to HUD's Housing First housing support for veterans among cuts to veterans' programs, and says the trend of such cuts needs to be reversed completely.¹⁹	His Voter Contract and Issues pages say he will champion temporary housing next to existing VA facilities where homeless veterans can stay for up to 6 to 12 months and get medical and mental health care, job help and assistance moving into permanent housing.^8,9
Immigration enforcement inside the country	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says he opposes the policy of mass deportations and wants to keep the border secure, stop the aggressive use of federal power, and find, arrest, detain and deport actual criminals.²⁰	His Issues page says it is reasonable to remove people in the country illegally who have been convicted of serious crimes or violence, and that he is worried ICE is being overly aggressive in rounding up both legal and illegal immigrants.⁹
Legal immigration levels	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website's Social Security page says immigrant labor can and should be brought into the country in a lawful way to help support Social Security.²¹	His Issues page says immigrants should be welcomed but must come into the country legally through a managed process, and that the reliance of many farm sectors on migrant workers to bring in their crops needs to be supported.⁹
Social Security benefit levels	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says reversing the One Big Beautiful Bill's negative effects and taking up immigration reform would help Social Security's finances, that a serious conversation is needed about bringing in more funding and possibly reducing some benefits, and that he would make the program's solvency a top priority.²¹	His Voter Contract page says he will oppose efforts to balance federal finances by cutting Social Security benefits that seniors have earned.⁸
Corporate tax rate	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says raising revenue from corporations and wealthy people is part of the solution to the national debt.²²	His Issues page says it is unfair to cut taxes for the very wealthy and large multinational corporations when the middle class and small businesses keep carrying the tax burden, and says he will back bipartisan efforts to set reasonable tax rates for large and multinational corporations.⁹
Federal income tax rates	His campaign website says he advocates for lower taxes and less government regulation.²³	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website's national debt page says raising revenue from the wealthy is part of the way to control the debt, and credits periods with what it calls fair tax rates on higher earners with strong economic growth.²²	His Issues page says he will support targeted tax relief for middle- and lower-income Americans, and says it is unfair to cut taxes for multimillionaires and billionaires while the middle class shoulders the tax burden.⁹