Montana 2nd District
Troy Downing (R) holds this seat and is running again. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Troy Downing
Republican · holds this seat today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 43 of 44 votes and bills.
Raised $2,733,160 since January 2025: 57% from people, 33% from PACs and other committees, 10% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Brian Miller
Democrat · Helena civil trial attorney
FLiberty Score F30 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Miller has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Miller.
Raised $30,958 since January 2025: 76% from people, 16% the candidate’s own money, 8% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Troy Downing. Troy Downing: A, 95 out of 100 from recorded votes. Brian Miller: F, 30 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Montana: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Brian Miller, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Miller, so the grade above comes from this list: what Miller has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Names the State of Israel, with the military industrial complex, as having hijacked the US government on matters of war.
“The “military industrial complex” (and now the State of Israel) has hijacked our national government on matters of war.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
He treats Israel as a hostile influence on US policy, not as an ally, which is the against side.
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Wants to repeal the 2025 tax and spending law, which he describes as tax cuts for the top 1 percent.
“First, we need to repeal and replace the One Big Beautiful Bill, which cut $ 1 trillion from Medicaid in order to give $ 1Trillion dollars in tax cuts to the Top 1%.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Repealing a named tax cut is on the higher taxes, against side of this measure.
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Lists repealing the Canadian tariffs as a first action in office.
“(1) repeal the Canadian tariffs”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty by this test.
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Says he will not vote for any funding for the Department of War until US military equipment is out of the Middle East.
“I will not vote for one penny for the “Department of War” until all of our military stuff is out of the Middle East.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Refusing to fund the armed forces on a condition is on the against side of funding and equipping them.
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Supports a path to full citizenship for unlawful entrants who are contributing to society.
“We need to have a pathway for people who are a part of our American society and are contributing to our economy and our way of life to become full citizens.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people here illegally is against liberty by this test.
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Says a nation cannot survive porous and open borders and that the border must stay secure.
“A nation cannot survive when it has porous and open borders.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border is with liberty by this test.
Also on the ballot
Michael Eisenhauer (Independent), Patrick McCracken (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Discussion
Montana 2nd District
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