[1][2] Downey was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2008, defeating nine-term Rep. Ron Erhardt, and was re-elected in 2010.

In the general election of November 2012, Downey was defeated by the DFL endorsed candidate Melisa Franzen.

[5] Downey was elected the Chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota on April 6, 2013, succeeding Pat Shortridge.

He was a member of the Hennepin County SW Transportation Corridor Policy Advisory Committee from 2006 to 2008.

In 2008, Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed him as a board member of the Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation.