Montana State Auditor and Congressional candidate Troy Downing ahead of a political rally featuring former President Donald Trump in Bozeman on Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)
Montana Auditor Troy Downing will likely be exchanging his office in Helena for one in Washington, D.C., as very early results appeared to track with the state’s deep-red bent in the central and eastern Congressional district.
With just more than 11,000 votes in, Downing had a 71% to 29% lead over Democratic challenger John Driscoll. Downing will likely beat a field of two Democrats (including a write-in) and one independent for the eastern Congressional seat in Montana.
It was a slightly less crowded field than the primary earlier this year when eight Republicans, including former U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg and current Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen, ran for the opportunity to run for Montana’s Second District, which is solidly Republican.
Downing was leading Driscoll, who had run a low-budget campaign, and Democrat Reilly Neill, who entered the race as a write-in after she criticized Driscoll for an anemic effort. Independent John Metzger was also running.
After the primary, Downing maintained a large lead in polls, with many showing him ahead by more than 20 points from the start.
Downing would replace two-term Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale, who was among the most conservative in the U.S. House. Rosendale had planned a rematch run against U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, but was passed over by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who was leading the National Republican Senatorial Campaign for the GOP. Daines handpicked Republican candidate Tim Sheehy. Rosendale ended his Senate bid after six days.
Downing was elected State Auditor in 2020, following Rosendale in that position. His four-tenure was marked by relative stability and a focus on working against consumer fraud and protection.
Downing received the support of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, just days before the primary election, all but assuring of him of victory