U.S. House, Montana 2nd Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Montana's 2nd Congressional District?
Troy Downing has the strongest record in Montana's 2nd Congressional District. Troy Downing scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Eisenhauer at 56 and Brian Miller at 56, as of October 5, 2026. Troy Downing's highest marks are relevant experience and showing up. Michael Eisenhauer's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Patrick McCracken (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Troy Downing
58 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 38
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 69
Independent
Michael Eisenhauer
On the ballot as Michael D Eisenhauer
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Libertarian
Patrick McCracken
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 45
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Brian Miller
On the ballot as Brian J Miller
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Troy Downing
- Mark against2023-08
The Legislative Audit Division issued qualified opinions on the State Auditor's Office financial schedules for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, with seven recommendations on internal controls, accounting errors and federal compliance, under his leadership.
Source: Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 22-20, August 2023
- Mark against2020-07-16 to 2020-10-30
The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices issued five findings of sufficient evidence of campaign practice violations against his 2020 state auditor campaign, reported by Montana Free Press as seven violations including unreported mailings and ads.
Sources: Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, campaign finance decisions index, 2020, Montana Free Press, Oct. 16, 2020
- Mark against2018-07-18
Pleaded guilty on July 18, 2018 in Gallatin County Justice Court to two misdemeanors, obtaining resident hunting licenses as a non-resident and unlawfully procuring a license; fined $2,110, 18-month license forfeiture, one-year deferred sentence.
Sources: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, July 18, 2018, Montana Public Radio, July 19, 2018, Montana Free Press, Oct. 16, 2020, Montana Public Radio, Sept. 28, 2017
- On the record2020-11-03 to 2024-12
Elected Montana state auditor and commissioner of securities and insurance in November 2020 and served through December 2024; the office collected $134 million and $144 million in taxes and fees in fiscal 2023 and 2024.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Nov. 4, 2020, Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 24-20, August 2025
- Credit2025-08
The Legislative Audit Division's audit of the State Auditor's Office for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, his last two years there, gave an unmodified opinion and found all four prior accounting recommendations fully implemented.
Source: Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 24-20, August 2025
- Credit2025-12-11 to 2026-09-25
Primary sponsor of two measures enacted in the 119th Congress: H.J.Res. 104, signed Dec. 11, 2025, and H.R. 7250, extending the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System authorization, signed Sept. 25, 2026.
Sources: GovTrack, enacted legislation, GovTrack, H.J.Res. 104 (119th Congress), GovTrack, H.R. 7250 (119th Congress), Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Sept. 21, 2026
- Credit2001 to 2009
Enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard after the September 11, 2001 attacks, served eight years with the 129th Rescue Squadron and deployed twice to Afghanistan.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Troy Downing, NBC Montana, March 6, 2026, Montana Free Press, Nov. 4, 2020
Michael Eisenhauer
- On the record2026-09-10 to 2026-09-14
Democratic opponent Brian Miller sued in September 2026 to disqualify signatures from his ballot petition; the suit was dismissed without prejudice on Miller's own motion on Sept. 14, 2026.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Sept. 10, 2026, KTVH, Sept. 14, 2026
- Credit2009 to 2024
Retired Army colonel who received a Bronze Star as a senior medical officer in Iraq, then practiced as an interventional cardiologist and department director at Benefis Health System in Great Falls until 2024.
Sources: NBC Montana, March 6, 2026, Montana Free Press, Aug. 26, 2026
Patrick McCracken
- On the record2026-02
Filed for the 2nd District seat with the Secretary of State listing a residence address in Columbia Falls, Flathead County, which lies in Montana's 1st Congressional District.
Sources: Montana Secretary of State 2026 candidate filing list, Wikipedia, Montana's 2nd congressional district, county list (Flathead County not listed), Wikipedia, Montana's 1st congressional district, largest cities
Brian Miller
- On the record2026-09-10 to 2026-09-14
Filed a state district court lawsuit in September 2026 seeking to disqualify petition signatures for independent Michael Eisenhauer, then moved to dismiss it after missing the Sept. 14 scheduling conference; dismissed without prejudice.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Sept. 10, 2026, KTVH, Sept. 14, 2026, Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Montana Free Press report), Sept. 12, 2026
- Credit2010 to 2026
Has practiced civil litigation at the Helena law firm Morrison, Sherwood, Wilson and Deola since 2010, trying cases across Montana for about 15 years.
Sources: KTVH, May 1, 2026, KTVQ, June 2, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Troy Downing. Pleaded guilty in July 2018 to two misdemeanor hunting license violations, with a $2,110 fine and 18-month license forfeiture. In 2020 the Commissioner of Political Practices issued five findings of campaign finance violations against his campaign. Financial disclosures on file.
Sources: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, July 18, 2018, Montana Public Radio, July 19, 2018, Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, campaign finance decisions index, 2020, Montana Free Press, Oct. 16, 2020, House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078011, House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10068399, House Clerk financial disclosure search, Downing, filing year 2025 (form search, returns FD Original and Extension only), House Committee on Ethics site search for Downing, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00855288
Michael Eisenhauer. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from October 2025 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or House Ethics record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00930750, House Committee on Ethics site search for Eisenhauer
Patrick McCracken. Campaign committee McCracken for Montana is registered with the FEC. No FEC administrative fine or House Ethics record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00942367, House Committee on Ethics site search for McCracken
Brian Miller. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or House Ethics record found. No candidate financial disclosure was found in the House Clerk's 2026 index.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00922831, House Committee on Ethics site search for Brian Miller
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Troy Downing. No public record found.
Michael Eisenhauer. No public record found.
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Troy Downing. Held a virtual town hall in April 2025 and telephone town halls reported in March 2026. No 2026 general election debate or forum with his opponents was found in news reports as of the check date.
Sources: NBC Montana, April 7, 2025, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, March 19, 2026, Office site, home page
Michael Eisenhauer. No public record found.
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. Took part in the Montana Democratic Party's April 12, 2026 candidate forum in Helena and told Montana Free Press in September 2026 he was traveling the district to meet voters. No 2026 general election debate was found.
Sources: Montana Free Press, April 12, 2026, Montana Free Press, Sept. 15, 2026, Montana Free Press, May 4, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Troy Downing. In July 2018 pleaded guilty in Gallatin County Justice Court to two misdemeanors over resident hunting licenses obtained as a non-resident, with a $2,110 fine, an 18-month license forfeiture and a one-year deferred sentence.
Sources: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, July 18, 2018, Montana Public Radio, July 19, 2018, Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, campaign finance decisions index, 2020, Montana Free Press, Oct. 16, 2020, House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078011, House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10068399, House Clerk financial disclosure search, Downing, filing year 2025 (form search, returns FD Original and Extension only), House Committee on Ethics site search for Downing, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00855288
Michael Eisenhauer. Retired Army colonel after about 25 years of active duty as a physician, then a cardiologist and department director at Benefis Health System in Great Falls. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: NBC Montana, March 6, 2026, Montana Free Press, Aug. 26, 2026, Campaign site, About Mike
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. Has practiced civil litigation in Montana for about 15 years, at the Helena firm Morrison, Sherwood, Wilson and Deola since 2010. No formal conduct finding found.
Sources: KTVH, May 1, 2026, House Committee on Ethics site search for Brian Miller
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Troy Downing. Took the oath as Montana state auditor in 2021 and as a U.S. representative in January 2025. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified election results found.
Sources: Montana Free Press, Nov. 4, 2020, GovTrack, Troy Downing, House Committee on Ethics site search for Downing
Michael Eisenhauer. Served about 25 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, retiring as a colonel. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: NBC Montana, March 6, 2026, Campaign site, About Mike
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Troy Downing. Incumbent U.S. representative for the 2nd District since Jan. 3, 2025. Earlier held statewide office as Montana state auditor from January 2021 through December 2024, and served in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard.
Sources: GovTrack, Troy Downing, Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 24-20, August 2025, Montana Free Press, Nov. 4, 2020, Ballotpedia, Troy Downing
Michael Eisenhauer. Retired Army colonel who served as a senior medical officer in Iraq and received a Bronze Star; interventional cardiologist and former department director at Benefis Health System. Has not held elected office.
Sources: NBC Montana, March 6, 2026, Montana Free Press, Aug. 26, 2026, Campaign site, About Mike
Patrick McCracken. Worked about 10 years as a financial advisor after college in Bozeman, per his public radio interview. Has not held elected office.
Brian Miller. Attorney in private practice in Helena since 2010, with about 15 years of civil litigation in state and federal courts. First run for office.
Sources: KTVQ, June 2, 2026, KTVH, May 1, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Troy Downing. Sits on the House Financial Services and Natural Resources committees and five subcommittees. Sponsored the enacted Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System reauthorization and answered the Montana Free Press pre-primary questionnaire with specific positions.
Sources: Office site, Committees and Caucuses, GovTrack, H.R. 7250 (119th Congress), Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Troy Downing questionnaire
Michael Eisenhauer. Publishes detailed plans on his campaign site, including a five-point data center policy and specific housing measures such as transferable mortgages and down payment assistance, and answered the Montana Free Press questionnaire.
Sources: Campaign site, Core Issues, Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Michael D Eisenhauer questionnaire, Nonstop Local via Yahoo News, Sept. 4, 2026
Patrick McCracken. Publishes issue pages on topics including the Jones Act, meat packing and housing, and answered the Montana Free Press questionnaire, in general terms.
Sources: Campaign site, issue menu, Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Patrick McCracken questionnaire, Nonstop Local via Yahoo News, Sept. 4, 2026
Brian Miller. Published positions on a campaign issues index and in the Montana Free Press election guide questionnaire, in general terms.
Sources: Campaign site, We need an independent Congress, Campaign site, issues index, Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Brian J Miller questionnaire
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Troy Downing. Offers an e-newsletter, holds telephone town halls, answered the Montana Free Press pre-primary questionnaire and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and did not answer MTFP's October affordability question.
Sources: Office site, home page, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, March 19, 2026, Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Troy Downing questionnaire, Montana Free Press, Oct. 5, 2026, Ballotpedia, Troy Downing
Michael Eisenhauer. Answered the Montana Free Press election guide questionnaire and publishes issue pages. Gave a Montana Public Radio candidate interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Michael D Eisenhauer questionnaire, Campaign site, Core Issues, Montana Public Radio, April 27, 2026, Ballotpedia, Michael Eisenhauer
Patrick McCracken. Answered the Montana Free Press election guide questionnaire and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Patrick McCracken questionnaire, Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Patrick McCracken
Brian Miller. Answered the Montana Free Press election guide questionnaire, publishes issue pages, took part in the April 12, 2026 Democratic candidate forum and gave a public radio candidate interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Montana Free Press 2026 Election Guide, Brian J Miller questionnaire, Campaign site, issues index, Montana Free Press, April 12, 2026, Yellowstone Public Radio and Montana Public Radio, April 24, 2026, Ballotpedia, Brian Miller
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Troy Downing. Campaign site says he lives in Helena with his wife. Moved to Montana from California after the 1998 sale of WebCal. FEC by-state contribution totals could not be retrieved, so the in-state share is not reported.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Troy Downing, Ballotpedia, Troy Downing, Montana Secretary of State 2026 candidate filing list
Michael Eisenhauer. Lives in Great Falls, where he moved in 2015 and practiced cardiology. Campaign filing address is in Great Falls. FEC by-state contribution totals could not be retrieved.
Sources: Campaign site, About Mike, Montana Free Press, Aug. 26, 2026, Montana Secretary of State 2026 candidate filing list
Patrick McCracken. Lifelong Montanan raised in Billings, but his Secretary of State candidate filing lists a Columbia Falls address in Flathead County, which lies in the 1st Congressional District, outside the district he seeks to represent.
Sources: Montana Secretary of State 2026 candidate filing list, Wikipedia, Montana's 2nd congressional district, county list (Flathead County not listed), Wikipedia, Montana's 1st congressional district, largest cities, Montana Public Radio, April 17, 2026
Brian Miller. Has lived in Montana for about 25 years and in Helena since 2007, where he practices law. FEC by-state contribution totals could not be retrieved.
Sources: KTVQ, June 2, 2026, Campaign site, More about me, Montana Secretary of State 2026 candidate filing list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Troy Downing. Led the Montana State Auditor's Office from 2021 to 2024, which collected $134 million and $144 million in taxes and fees in fiscal 2023 and 2024. The Commissioner of Political Practices issued five findings of violations against his 2020 campaign.
Sources: Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 24-20, August 2025, Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, campaign finance decisions index, 2020, Montana Free Press, Oct. 16, 2020, FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00855288
Michael Eisenhauer. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine found. Served as a hospital department director at Benefis; no size of the department was found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00930750, Montana Free Press, Aug. 26, 2026
Patrick McCracken. Campaign committee is registered with the FEC. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00942367
Brian Miller. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from July 2025 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00922831
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Troy Downing. Primary sponsor of two measures enacted in the 119th Congress: H.J.Res. 104, signed Dec. 11, 2025, and H.R. 7250 reauthorizing the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System, signed Sept. 25, 2026. No Center for Effective Lawmaking score exists yet.
Sources: GovTrack, enacted legislation, GovTrack, H.R. 7250 (119th Congress), GovTrack, H.J.Res. 104 (119th Congress), Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Sept. 21, 2026
Michael Eisenhauer. No public record found.
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Troy Downing. Missed 4 of 676 roll call votes, 0.6 percent, from January 2025 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Michael Eisenhauer. No public record found.
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Troy Downing. Lists district offices in Helena and Billings and offers help with federal agencies. News reports in 2025 and 2026 document virtual and telephone town halls.
Sources: Office site, Contact, Office site, Services, NBC Montana, April 7, 2025, Daily Montanan via Yahoo News, March 19, 2026
Michael Eisenhauer. No public record found.
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Troy Downing. No public record found.
Michael Eisenhauer. No public record found.
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Troy Downing. The Legislative Audit Division issued qualified opinions on the State Auditor's Office financial schedules for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 with seven recommendations. Its next audit, for 2023 and 2024, gave an unmodified opinion with all prior recommendations implemented.
Sources: Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 22-20, August 2023, Montana Legislative Audit Division, report 24-20, August 2025
Michael Eisenhauer. No public record found.
Patrick McCracken. No public record found.
Brian Miller. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 5, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Montana's 2nd Congressional District?
Troy Downing has the strongest record in Montana's 2nd Congressional District. Troy Downing scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Eisenhauer at 56 and Brian Miller at 56, as of October 5, 2026. Troy Downing's highest marks are relevant experience and showing up. Michael Eisenhauer's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Patrick McCracken (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Montana's 2nd Congressional District in 2026?
Troy Downing (Republican, incumbent), Michael D Eisenhauer (Independent), Patrick McCracken (Libertarian), Brian J Miller (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Troy Downing a good candidate for Congress?
Troy Downing scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 38 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Michael Eisenhauer a good candidate for Congress?
Michael Eisenhauer scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Patrick McCracken a good candidate for Congress?
Patrick McCracken has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Brian Miller a good candidate for Congress?
Brian Miller scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Montana race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Montana 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.