Montana
Q&A: Michael Eisenhauer, independent eastern district U.S. House candidate
MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR’s Victoria Traxler speaks with Michael Eisenhauer, a independent running for Montana’s eastern district U.S. House seat.
Victoria Traxler: First question for you is, what makes you the best person for the job?
Michael Eisenhauer: Well, thanks, Victoria, thanks for the invite to be here. I’m happy to be able to visit with you today. There’s really two points to make. The bottom line is that an independent representative is better positioned to be a problem solver rather than be a part of the problem. So enough of this bickering in Congress, enough of the right versus left, enough of party bosses dictating who and where and how and when to vote. An independent congressman can deliver on issues important to Montanans. And in the end, that’s good for Montana. So the second point to make is that I personally have a very strong belief in public service and citizenship. I’m a 24-year Army veteran, 35 years as a practicing physician. I’ve always known that I’m not done, and I have more to give.
Victoria Traxler: What previous or relevant experience would you bring to Congress?
Michael Eisenhauer: Well, I learned long ago that it’s not OK to just complain about something without being willing to contribute towards a better solution, whether that be a specific military mission or whether that’s an area where controversy exists. So as a physician, I’ve really learned to follow a structured decision-making process, where you start out by first researching all sides of the issues, all possibilities surrounding any particular issue or dilemma. Second, then consider alternatives, such as consider an alternative medical diagnosis, for example. Third, and then recommend an outcomes-based or an evidence-based solution where we actually have tried something in the past and shown that it works, rather than just take a pie in the sky, “shoot an arrow in the sky and see what happens” approach. And then fourth, being able to monitor and adjust fire as needed. It’s not just a one touch and walk away approach.
Victoria Traxler: The United States Supreme Court overturned the tariffs President Trump enacted, saying he overstepped into congressional authority. Do you agree with that ruling?
Michael Eisenhauer: Yes, I do. The Constitution is very clear that Congress has the obligation and the power of the purse, and that includes tariffs and financial relationships like that with other nations. So yeah, those tariffs, I think, were a direct hit against our economy. Many of them were ill-conceived, many of them have now been reversed or, as you have just demonstrated, found to be non-constitutional.
Victoria Traxler: What is a top priority for constituents in your district?
Michael Eisenhauer: First is affordability, whether it be housing, health insurance, food, fuel, gas, and diesel prices, even more so in the last couple of months. Second, there’s an overwhelming concern that we need to maintain rural healthcare, which of course is important to me as a physician. And then third is this agricultural economy that I already kind of talked about where we have high input costs, low output costs. And then I might add that a Right to Repair is critically important
Victoria Traxler: The Trump administration made a huge push to downsize the federal government. Are you happy with the results of that effort?
Michael Eisenhauer: No, not completely, you know. It’s a good thing to reduce or eliminate waste fraud and abuse, and every effort to protect whistleblowers should be made to that end because that’s frequently where the best information about waste fraud abuse comes from. But the DOGE effort or the government right-sizing effort really took a sledgehammer to the problem.
Victoria Traxler: Do you believe that further downsizing is necessary?
Michael Eisenhauer: Government is too big, but yet there is a role for government in certain facets of our life. So with care, things can be trimmed or adjusted or reformed. But let’s just say, for example, I don’t agree with the elimination of the Department of Education.
Victoria Traxler: Now in your district, there’s a lot of discussion right now around energy and mineral development. How would you balance the protection and development of Montana’s natural resources if you were elected?
Michael Eisenhauer: Well, this kind of touches on the whole public lands and public hands issue. Certainly, I would protect public lands. But at the same point in time, Montana is gifted with a certain amount of energy that can be put into production and minerals that, if managed appropriately, can provide significant funding for our public schools and for our local communities. Now, that said, there can be. And there really should be a happy medium.
Victoria Traxler: That was Michael Eisenhower running for Montana’s Eastern U.S. House seat. Thanks so much for joining us today.
Michael Eisenhauer: Absolutely my pleasure, Victoria. Thanks for having me.
Montana
Montana State doctoral student awarded national research service grant for gut microbiome, arsenic research
MISSOULA — Four out of five members of Montana’s Public Service Commission were in a federal courtroom in Missoula Thursday morning, as the PSC’s former president challenges the disciplinary action taken against him earlier this year. Now, newly released documents are shedding more light on to what led up to this point.
(Watch the video for a closer look at the case.)
New documents shed light Montana PSC dispute
Commissioner Brad Molnar has sued President Jeff Welborn, Vice President Jennifer Fielder and Commissioner Annie Bukacek – the three PSC members who voted in May to require him to work remotely, after an investigation into complaints about his workplace conduct. Molnar has claimed he is being unfairly punished for constitutionally protected speech, and he asked Senior U.S District Judge Donald Molloy to allow him to return to the PSC offices.
Matthew Monforton, Molnar’s attorney, told the judge that barring Molnar from the building was limiting his ability to do his job.
“He has not been officially kicked out of office, but his voice has clearly been diminished,” said Monforton.
But Natasha Jones, an attorney representing the other three commissioners, said the findings were about behavior, not just speech, and that the PSC’s action was a reasonable response.
“These are serious concerns about a pattern of conduct that has made employees quit,” she said.
Jonathon Ambarian
On Tuesday, Molloy ordered the release of redacted versions of two full investigative reports into Molnar’s conduct – more than 100 pages of documents. Monforton had moved for the full reports to be made public, and Molloy ruled attorneys for the other PSC members hadn’t shown a compelling reason to keep the documents under seal as long as the names of people involved in the investigation were obscured.
While the names remained redacted in the investigation reports, the attorneys for Welborn, Fielder and Bukacek also filed additional documents – including a public declaration from Bukacek and from former PSC executive director Alana Lake, providing information about their allegations against Molnar.
The two reports, from an outside investigator, cover Molnar’s alleged actions over two periods: the first from February to August 2025, and the second from August to October 2025. The investigation began after the first formal complaint, filed by Bukacek in May 2025 – though the reports say employees had been bringing up concerns about Molnar’s behavior informally for several months prior.
Bukacek’s complaint claimed Molnar had repeatedly made what she called “sexualized and demeaning comments.” The examples she cited included saying the PSC should replace “Taco Tuesdays” with “Topless Tuesdays,” reminiscing about watching girls in bikinis as a teenager, and commenting about the beauty of women in areas of China who didn’t get “old and wrinkly.”
In her declaration, Bukacek also claimed Molnar had “maliciously disseminated false information” about her and “engaged in behavior that was dismissive, derisive and otherwise abusive.”
“My primary concern now is not for my safety nor my feelings, but for the rest of the staff who may not have the temperament to speak up or may feel too intimidated to speak up given concerns over job security,” Bukacek said in her declaration.
MTN News
The investigators determined Molnar had violated the PSC’s code of conduct by making comments of a sexual nature, and that it appeared his behavior had continued for some time after he was warned about it. They also found he had behaved unprofessionally and in a belittling manner toward Bukacek, though they said Bukacek herself had at times used “language that could be considered inappropriate” in emails to staff or other commissioners. Bukacek told MTN she “readily self corrected” any behaviors that were brought to her attention.
The investigation also found a violation in connection with a complaint from a PSC staff member, who said he “felt bullied” by Molnar when the commissioner sent an email complaining about his team not being “people with competence.”
However, much of the first report and the entire second report was focused on conduct after the initial complaints, when Molnar was accused of retaliating against people who participated in the investigation. Lake said in her declaration that she saw “an immediate and significant change in his behavior toward staff involved in the process.” She claimed he said he would use an attorney and private investigator to go after people who filed complaints, and she accused him of publicly criticizing her in interviews and removing her job responsibilities because of her handling of the investigation.
Lake said Molnar’s actions led to “declining morale within the agency,” undermined staff members’ ability to do their jobs and damaged her reputation. She said that led her to resign as executive director.
“I believe no employee should be forced to choose between reporting misconduct and protecting their career, reputation, or personal well-being,” she said in her declaration.
Lake has since become Helena city manager.
Jonathon Ambarian
The report said there was evidence to show Molnar had retaliated, including by “making disparaging statements about investigation participants” including Lake, by sending an email warning he could file complaints of his own against people involved, and by taking other actions investigators said could dissuade employees from reporting behavior in the future.
Monforton said during Thursday’s hearing that the initial comments Bukacek complained about were jokes Molnar had admitted were inappropriate, that he regretted saying them, and that he hasn’t made any similar comments in about a year. But he argued the vast majority of the findings against Molnar were about retaliation – and that those were primarily based on speech that the other commissioners don’t have the right to interfere with.
Monforton said it’s unreasonable to punish Molnar for what he said in the July news conference where he announced he was under investigation, in interviews with the media or in commission meetings. He said Molnar’s conduct doesn’t rise to the level of actual retaliation.
“This is an elected official, engaging in speech in his forum,” Monforton said.
He said Molnar may have made harsh comments toward staff, but that he had the right to raise objections about the way the agency does business.
Jonathon Ambarian
Monforton also argued the retaliation claims no longer justify keeping Molnar out of the office, since Welborn, Fielder and Bukacek voted to remove him as president in October and he no longer has the authority he’s accused of misusing. He said there haven’t been further complaints about his behavior since that time.
“We’re not asking for the moon and stars, we’re asking for the status quo as it existed for the last seven months,” he said.
Jones said there is enough evidence to show Molnar would have been punished regardless of whether any protected speech was excluded.
“This is not about a couple of jokes,” she said.
Jones said Molnar made maliciously false statements about people like Lake, and that type of statement isn’t covered by free speech protections.
She also said Molnar’s exclusion from the PSC offices is temporary, and that the PSC will reconsider whether to let him return if he apologizes for his actions, accepts the agency’s code of conduct and undergoes training.
Molloy indicated he saw indications that there was “acrimony” on both sides of the situation, and said he was skeptical it would be resolved easily.
“It would be nice if instead of juvenile behavior, there was professional behavior,” he said.
However, the judge said there was an avenue for Molnar to pursue if he wanted to reach a resolution.
Molloy took no immediate action Thursday. He told the parties he would rule as quickly as he could.
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