Political ads · 2026 · MT

Montana House District 2 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them

Troy Downing won · 58.2% to 32.2% · Called by AP on Nov 3

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Troy Downing (Republican), Michael Eisenhauer (independent) and Brian Miller (Democrat) are the nominees for Montana's 2nd congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. Troy Downing is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Troy Downing's campaign had raised $2.7 million (through October 14, 2026), Michael Eisenhauer's campaign $354,000 (through October 14, 2026) and Brian Miller's campaign $31,000 (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $150,000 for Troy Downing and $0 against.

Troy Downing (REP, incumbent), Michael Eisenhauer (IND), Brian Miller (DEM). 1 other filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.

Also on every Montana ballot: 3 statewide ballot measures → The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.

How to vote in Montana

From Montana's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.

Registration	Register by Mon, Oct 5 (regular registration closes 5:00 pm, 30 days before (MCA 13-2-301); late registration in person at county election office from Oct 6). Same-day registration: late registration in person at county election office through Election Day; page says registration ends 8 p.m., federal registration through noon; Saturday (SB 490) registration enjoined (passed)Source: votemt.gov ↗Source: votemt.gov ↗
Early voting in person	Fri, Oct 9 to Mon, Nov 2 (in-person absentee at county election office once ballots are available, 25 days before Election Day) (passed)Source: sosmt.gov ↗
By mail	Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Mon, Nov 2 (received by county election office by noon); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (received by 8:00 p.m. at election office or polling place; postmark doesn't count) (passed)Source: sosmt.gov ↗
Election Day	Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7 am to 8 pm (passed)Source: votemt.gov ↗
ID at the polls	Photo ID (driver's license, state ID, military, tribal, passport, carry permit, MUS ID). Without one, a non-photo ID showing name and current address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government documentSource: votemt.gov ↗

Check your registration and polling place ↗ Montana's official election site ↗

Checked October 6, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.

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Money in this race

From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.

Troy Downing (REP, incumbent)

Raised: $2.7M through 2026-10-14 individuals $1.5M · PACs $905K · from the candidate's other committees $267K · cash on hand $747K
Outside spending: $150K supporting Downing · latest reported 2026-10-14
Largest outside spenders: DEFEND AMERICAN JOBS — $150K supporting Downing Largest donors: FAIRSHAKE $37.0M (>99%) (its largest donors: RIPPLE LABS INC. $48.0M, an organization; COINBASE $25.0M, an organization; COINBASE COMMERCE (EXCHANGE) $8.2M, an organization); RIPPLE LABS INC. $250K (1%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)

Bundled through PACs: $15K through 1 PAC · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01 AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE — $15K from 9 gifts Lobbyist/registrant PAC

198 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election

A NEW NATION PAC $2,500
ACPAC ACA INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $8,500
AFLAC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AFLAC PAC) $5,000
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY PAC $2,500
ALLY FINANCIAL INC. ADVOCACY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
AMALGAMATED SUGAR COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
AMERICA'S CREDIT UNIONS PAC OF CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIA $3,500
AMERICA'S MOUNTAIN PAC $8,500
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) $7,500
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $7,000
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $7,500
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AXPPAC) $6,500
AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY S.I. FEDERAL PAC ( $3,500
AMERICAN FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION PAC $7,500
AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PAC $3,500
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS POLITICAL $7,500
AMERICAN INVESTMENT COUNCIL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE POLITICAL ACTION CO $5,000
AMERICAN LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION TITLE INDUSTRY PAC (TIPAC) $5,000
AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL A $5,500
AMERICAN SENIORS HOUSING ASSOCIATION (SENIORS HOUSING PAC) $2,500
AMERICAN SUGARBEET GROWERS ASSOCIATION PAC $4,000
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AMERIP $2,000
AMGEN INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
ASURION LLC PAC (ASURION PAC) $2,500
AZOA SERVICES CORP. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ALLIANZ OF A $1,000
B BRIGADE MAJORITY FUND $4,500
BACPAC $1,000
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC $2,000
BHFS-E PC PAC (BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK POLITICAL AC $1,000
BIG IDEAS CREATE EXCELLENCE PAC $1,000
BIG SKY OPPORTUNITY PAC $10K
BIPARTISAN VOLUNTARY PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE PNC FIN $10K
BLESSEY MARINE SERVICE INC. PAC $2,000
BMO FINANCIAL CORP GOOD GOVERNANCE FUND: FEDERAL (BMO PAC) $1,000
BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY RAILPAC (BNSF RAILPAC) $9,500
BOK FINANCIAL CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
BUILD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION $5,000
CALL TO SERVICE PAC $2,500
CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORP. ASSOC. POLITICAL FUND $5,000
CATERPILLAR INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CATPAC) $2,500
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
CHEVRON EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE - CHEVRON CORPO $1,000
CHS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,500
CITIGROUP INC. PAC - FEDERAL (CITI PAC - FEDERAL) $4,000
CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (C $1,000
CME GROUP INC. PAC $5,000
CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION CITIZENS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT $5,000
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FINANCE COUNCIL PAC $1,000
CONSUMER BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC $3,000
CONSUMER CREDIT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION DBA CONSUMER CREDIT IN $2,500
CORECIVIC INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CORECIVIC PAC) $1,000
CRH AMERICAS INC. PAC $2,000
CVS HEALTH PAC $8,500
DARRELL ISSA FOR CONGRESS $2,700
DELOITTE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
DEPOSITORY TRUST AND CLEARING CORPORATION PAC - DTCC PAC; TH $1,000
DOOLING FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER $278
ELECTING MAJORITY MAKING EFFECTIVE REPUBLICANS PAC $5,000
EMMER FOR CONGRESS $2,000
EMPLOYEES OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION PAC $6,000
ENACT HOLDINGS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ENACT PAC) $2,000
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
ERNST & YOUNG POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $8,000
EUREKA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
EXIGER LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (EXIGER PAC OR E-PAC) $2,500
FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (FICO PAC) $10K
FINSECA PAC $2,000
FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION PAC $2,000
FLORIDA SUGAR CANE LEAGUE PAC $1,000
FMR LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE - FEDERAL (FIDELITY PAC) $9,000
FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (FRANKLIN $6,000
FROGMAN PAC $5,000
FS PAC $3,000
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INSURANCE COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMM $1,000
GUARDIAN LEADERSHIP PAC $5,000
HEALTH CARE SERVICE CORPORATION EMPLOYEES' POLITICAL ACTION $7,500
HELPING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERS ORGANIZE PAC (HELO PAC) $1,000
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,500
HSBC TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES USA INC. FEDERAL STATE AND LO $1,000
HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (HBI- $1,000
IN THE ARENA PAC $5,000
INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BANKERS OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION CO $2,000
INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF AMERICA INC. PAC $8,500
INSTITUTE FOR PORTFOLIO ALTERNATIVES POLITICAL ACTION COMMIT $7,500
INSURED RETIREMENT INSTITUTE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (IRI $2,500
INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE INC PAC $1,000
INVESCO HOLDING COMPANY (US) INC. EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION $2,500
INVESTMENT ADVISER ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (I $1,000
INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ICI $8,500
JACKSON HOLDINGS LLC AND JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COM $2,000
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
K&L GATES LLP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (DC) $1,000
KPMG PARTNERS/PRINCIPALS AND EMPLOYEES PAC $8,000
LAND OF OPPORTUNITY PAC $1,000
LKQ CORPORATION EMPLOYEE GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $3,000
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION EMPLOYEES' POLITICAL ACTION COMM $3,000
LPL FINANCIAL LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (LPL PAC) $1,000
MAINTAINING ALL REPUBLICANS IN OFFICE PAC $1,000
MANAGED FUNDS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $6,000
MARSH & MCLENNAN COMPANIES INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INC. EMPLOYEE PAC (MASTERCARD PAC) $1,000
MERCK & CO. INC. EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (MER $1,000
MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY GROWERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE SUGAR PAC (MDSPAC) $1,000
MONTANA GAS AND OIL PAC $500
MORE JOBS LESS GOVERNMENT $1,500
MORGAN STANLEY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $7,000
MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (MOR $3,000
MR. SOUTHERN MISSOURIAN IN THE HOUSE PAC $5,000
MT MED PAC $400
MT MED PAC $500
MVL PAC $2,500
NASDAQ INC. PAC (NASDAQ PAC) $1,000
NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
NATIONAL ASSN. OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES PAC $7,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS POL $2,500
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE AGENTS POLITI $2,500
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANGERS INC. P $2,000
NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION PAC $5,000
NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMI $2,500
NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION PAC (NCBA-PAC) $5,000
NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL OF AMERICA COMMITTEE FOR THE ADVANCE $1,000
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION $2,500
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS FEDERAL PAC $1,000
NATIONAL MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COUNCIL AND REAL ESTATE TECHNOL $3,000
NATIONAL READY MIXED CONCRETE ASSN. PAC (CONCRETEPAC) $2,000
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND $1,000
NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION AMERICA'S EL $1,000
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION INC. POLITICAL ACTION C $2,500
NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY FINANCIAL & INVESTMENTS $2,000
NESTPOINT PAC $2,000
NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
NEXTERA ENERGY INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,000
NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTE $1,000
ON WISCONSIN PAC INC. $1,000
PATRIOTS IN ACTION $5,000
PERIMETER SOLUTIONS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
PHILLIPS 66 PAC $5,000
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE/THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON CORPO $5,000
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE I $12K
PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC. FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
RAPTOR PAC $4,500
REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
REPUBLICAN MAINSTREET PARTNERSHIP PAC $5,000
REPUBLICANS UNITED TO DEFEND YOU PAC $1,000
RGA REINSURANCE COMPANY FEDERAL PAC $2,000
ROCKET PAC $5,500
RUDY FOR INDIANA $4,000
SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL PAC (SCI-PAC) $10K
SCALISE FOR CONGRESS $2,000
SCHOMER FOR MONTANA $300
SEAL PAC SUPPORTING ELECTING AMERICAN LEADERS PAC $5,000
SECURITIES INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS ASSOCIATION POLITI $2,000
SECURITY FINANCE CORPORATION OF SPARTANBURG AND AFFILIATES P $4,000
SMALL BUSINESS INVESTOR ALLIANCE PAC $1,000
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BEET SUGAR COOPERATIVE POLITICAL ACTION C $2,000
SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. PAC $2,500
STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY FEDERAL POLIT $3,000
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY VOLUNTARY POLITICAL ACTI $2,000
STRUCTURED FINANCE COALITION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (STR $2,500
SUGAR CANE GROWERS COOPERATIVE OF FLORIDA (PAC) $500
SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (SY $7,500
T-MOBILE US INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (T-PAC) $1,500
TD BANK US HOLDING COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (TD BA $2,500
TEACHERS INSURANCE ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA PAC (TIAA $3,000
THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP INC. FEDERAL PAC $1,000
THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
THE COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS PAC $10K
THE EYE OF THE TIGER PAC $5,000
THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
THE GUARDIAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACT $5,000
THE HARTFORD INSURANCE GROUP INC. FEDERAL PAC (AKA HARTFORD $6,000
THE HOME DEPOT INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY POLITICAL ACT $1,000
THE SURETY & FIDELITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTIO $1,000
THE VANGUARD GROUP COMMITTEE FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT $3,500
THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
TRANSUNION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (TU PAC) $1,000
U.S. BANCORP FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,000
U.S. MORTGAGE INSURERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (USMI-PAC) $1,000
UBS AMERICAS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (UBS PAC) $5,000
UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION EMPLOYEE PAC - USAA E $8,000
UPPER HAND FUND $5,500
US CHAMBER PAC $1,000
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (VER $1,000
VISA INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,500
WELLS FARGO AND COMPANY EMPLOYEES GOOD GOVERNMENT FEDERAL FU $5,000
WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE ( $2,500
WESTERN SUGAR COOPERATIVE PAC $2,000
WHOLESALE & SPECIALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION (WSIA) PAC $7,500
WINE AND SPIRITS WHOLESALERS OF AMERICA INC. POLITICAL ACTI $1,000
WITH HONOR PAC $5,000
ZURICH HOLDING COMPANY OF AMERICA INC. COMMITTEE FOR GOOD G $2,500

All filings at the FEC ↗

Michael Eisenhauer (IND)

Raised: $354K through 2026-10-14 individuals $97K · PACs $7,500 · candidate's own money, incl. loans $250K · cash on hand $23K
Outside spending: none reported

Bundled through PACs: none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01

1 PAC gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election

MONTANANS FOR TESTER $2,500

All filings at the FEC ↗

Brian Miller (DEM)

Raised: $31K through 2026-10-14 individuals $24K · PACs $2,500 · candidate's own money, incl. loans $4,832 · cash on hand $669
Outside spending: none reported

Bundled through PACs: none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01

1 PAC gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election

YELLOWSTONE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE $1,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.

What this page is

An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in MT; or it ran mostly in MT and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
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