State Sen. Windy Boy joins race for eastern congressional seat • Daily Montanan

Montana state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, announced on Tuesday he is joining the race for Montana’s eastern congressional district for the chance to run against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Downing.

In a press release announcing his candidacy, Windy Boy said he would bring leadership grounded in experience, effectiveness and a deep understanding of the state’s communities to the job if elected.

“My record shows that I don’t just talk about solutions, I pass them, ” Windy Boy said. “I’ve worked across party lines to get legislation to the finish line, and I will bring that same effectiveness to Congress.”

Windy Boy has held a legislative office since 2008 when he first won a seat in the state Senate. He served two terms in the state Senate and four terms in the state House before returning to the Senate in the 2025 session. At the end of the session, he was honored as the incoming Dean of the Senate for 2027, an unofficial title bestowed on the longest-serving member of the chamber.

Across his 24 years of service in Montana, Windy Boy said he has focused on bipartisan collaboration to pass legislation that strengthens the economy and provides measurable outcomes for Montanans.

The eastern congressional district includes five of the state’s Tribal reservations — Rocky Boy, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, Crow, and Northern Cheyenne — and the state’s largest city and its capital.

“I am running to ensure that every Montanan, rural and urban, Tribal and non-Tribal, has a voice in Washington,” Windy Boy said. “I approach every bill with one question: Does this make sense for Montana? If it strengthens our communities, protects our freedoms, and builds economic opportunity, I will support it.”

Windy Boy described himself in a press release as a “moderate, pro-life Democrat and an independent thinker.”

Among his priorities for his campaign are ensuring tribal communities have strong representation, improved access to resources, and a meaningful seat at the table in federal policy decisions; protecting and strengthening Medicaid to ensure rural hospitals remain open and families have access to affordable care; supporting public education while advancing innovative solutions that expand opportunity for Montana students; and reducing business equipment taxes and supporting policies that allow Montana farmers, ranchers and small businesses to thrive.

“If we stay on the same course, Montana families will continue to feel the consequences,” he said. “We need leadership that understands Montana values and delivers real results.”

Downing won his race for Congress with nearly 66% of the vote in 2024.

Windy Boy joins a Democratic primary field that includes Brian Miller of Helena and Sam Lux of Great Falls.