HELENA — The head of a California-based self-storage company has filed to run against U.S. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana in 2018.
Troy Downing filed his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on May 8, but said Wednesday that he hadn’t planned a public announcement until later this month.
This is the 50-year-old Downing’s first run for office, and he’s the second Republican to announce a challenge to Tester. State Sen. Al Olszewski of Kalispell will also compete for the GOP nomination.
Downing is CEO AC Self Storage Solutions, which buys and manages storage facilities in five states. He says he has residences in Gallatin County and San Diego County, but that he became a full-time Montana resident several years ago.
Downing says he decided to run because he’s tired of the dysfunction and anger in Washington, D.C.