Hear from Montana's candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives

There are five candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives, two for the Eastern District and three for the Western District. Read on to hear their responses to the Exponent’s 2024 candidate questionnaire.

Candidates were given three weeks to respond to the questionnaire and were given word counts for each response. Not all of the candidates responded despite multiple emails and phone calls by Exponent staff, and by no means is this an exhaustive account of all of the policy positions and ideas supported by each candidate in a particular race. It is the Exponent’s hope, however, that this concise guide to candidates’ ideas in their own words can serve as a useful resource for voters to decide who they want to vote for. All photos were provided by the candidates’ respective campaigns. 

U.S. House of Representatives - Eastern District

Candidates: Troy Downing (R), John Driscoll (D)

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Troy Downing (R)

Would you be able to provide a brief biography of yourself? 

Downing: Troy Downing began his career as a research scientist and educator at NYU. He founded a technology startup company that he merged with Yahoo! Inc.

After 9/11, Downing joined the Air Force and completed two tours in Afghanistan.

In 2020, Downing was elected to serve as Montana's State Auditor.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them? 

Downing: If elected to represent Montana’s second congressional district, my top three priorities will be securing our southern border, reigning in federal spending , and prioritizing national security.

First, securing the southern border is non-negotiable. I will work to ensure we have the resources to increase border patrol support, and utilize advanced technology to combat illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human smuggling.

Second, addressing the national debt is critical for future generations. We need responsible leadership that will reduce wasteful spending, reform outdated programs, and prioritize fiscal discipline to get our nation back on a sustainable path.

Lastly, national security is key to our economic and global security. We have abundant domestic resources in oil, gas, coal, beef, and farmland. I will push to expand their development while also supporting market innovation. This will create jobs, lower costs, and keep us from relying on foreign adversaries.

These priorities will strengthen our nation, protect our communities, and secure a brighter future for the next generation.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you? 

Downing: MSU students, faculty, and staff can count on me to champion the issues that impact their future. I’m focused on creating more economic opportunities, while supporting affordable education and well resourced classrooms. I’ll push for policies to assist students transitioning into the workforce and create pathways to high paying jobs. I will also ensure faculty have the tools they need to be effective educators.

By focusing on a strong economy, secure borders and a sustainable future, I am committed to making Montana a place where we all can thrive for generations to come.

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John Driscoll (D)

Would you be able to provide a brief biography of yourself?

Driscoll: Raised in Montana, with degrees from Gonzaga, Columbia, Harvard and UM, I’ve been a Smokejumper, Army Officer Legislator and Regulator. The rest of my 78 years have been used  to explore Montana, people’s stories and wilderness. I got my Montana Dinosaur Trail T-shirt, have six grandkids and live in Helena.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them? 

Driscoll: I want to get elected without raising or spending other people’s money on a campaign to prove it can be done so other members will stop spending their work time raising money. I want to codify into federal law the wisdom of Roe vs. Wade. I want to draft and get passed a Joint Resolution establishing no first use of nuclear weapons as our U.S. nuclear war-fighting policy.

The first priority relies completely on Montana’s voters. The second priority presumes a  majority of House and Senate members agree with me that women’s rights are a priority. The  third priority will be the first step toward building bipartisan support for a comprehensive  nuclear arms reduction treaty.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you? 

Driscoll: Students, faculty and staff as our future problem solvers need to support an experienced  candidate with a record of advancing legislative and regulatory policies based upon long-run  economic benefits. Responding to climate change requires that approach. I have the benefit of  32 years of military experience and 18 years of political experience where the competent in both areas of public responsibility speak to each other respectfully and do not have time for  disruptive tactics — they get the job done. I want to get Congress working smoothly and fully expect to connect with members of both political parties who feel as strongly about it as do I. I’ve told everyone in every way available to me what I intend to to. As with every other job I’ve  been given, I’ll do it well.

U.S. House of Representatives - Western District

Candidates: Ryan Zinke (R), Monica Tranel (D), Dennis Hayes (L)

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Ryan Zinke (R)

As of press time, Zinke had not responded to the Exponent’s questionnaire. Responses submitted after press time will be published on msuexponent.com.

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Monica Tranel (D)

Would you be able to provide a brief biography of yourself? 

Tranel: I was raised on a ranch in Montana with my nine siblings and was a two-time rowing Olympian. I’ve spent my career working for Montana’s ranchers and families, going toe to toe and won against some of the most powerful corporations to lower costs for consumers and working families. I’m raising my daughters in Montana.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

Tranel: My top priority is to get things done for the good of Montana. I plan on addressing the housing crisis on day one in office. I spoke to graduating MSU students who got great jobs but couldn’t afford to stay in Montana due to the cost of living. I’ve developed a housing plan based on conversations I’ve had with local officials, nonprofit leaders, and community members in all 16 counties and both tribal nations here in western Montana. It involves building more housing, holding bad actors accountable, and ensuring affordable places for all Montanans.

I will always stand for freedom and privacy. Every person should have the freedom to choose how they live their life and the privacy to decide whether they have children, and who they love. Ryan Zinke has voted repeatedly to restrict abortion access and supports letting states ban abortion without exceptions, taking away our freedom and privacy.

Public lands belong to all of us. I’ll fight to ensure they remain accessible and prevent wealthy, out-of-state corporate interests from shutting Montanans out or turning our lands into exclusive playgrounds for the rich.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

Tranel: The future of Montana is on the ballot this November — everything from our freedom and privacy to being able to afford to live here. As I’ve traveled across the state, I’ve listened to your concerns and worked to bring real solutions to the table. I believe in protecting our rights, keeping Montana affordable, and preserving the land we all love. I’m not afraid to stand up to anyone when it comes to defending our home, and I will always put Montanans first. I ask for your vote on Nov. 5, a vote for freedom, opportunity, and a stronger future.

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Dennis Hayes (L)

Would you be able to provide a brief biography of yourself?

Hayes: My name is Dennis Hayes I was born in Oklahoma I came to Montana in 2004 like the state plenty of room I used to hunt and fish now I'm retired and living on Social security.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

Hayes: My top priorities are the corruption that's in this government from the Republicans and Democrat Party they are not in there for the people anymore they're in there for their own back pockets and to put another page in their portfolio there's too much communist and Corruption it's in our government along with the court system the forest service the BLM the dnrc DEQ there's too many liberal communist bureaucrats better trying to run our country and take our freedom away you have lost so much of your freedom now that God gave you it's pitiful this country is going down the toilet with the Democrat and Republican Party it's time we get a third party in there so we can expose all the corruption from the Democrats and Republicans.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you? 

Hayes: Not for sure why the student should vote for me but if you would look at what the principles and the Deans and deacons how much money they are making it's ridiculous I will go in there to get tuition costs down and start cutting salaries on people in the colleges and in schools that are getting paid too much money for what they're doing. And a little bit of advice to the students you are going to college to get a degree to make a living a lot of the college students are going there and taking classes that will not support them when they graduate and you're stuck with 100,000 to 200,000 loan payment that you took classes that will not pay for it the college kids needs to reevaluate why they're going to school for a lot of students would be better off taking a vocational College instead of a major college you need to rethink your degrees that you're taking.