FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1st, 2026

HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) Executive Board passed a resolution on Tuesday formally opposing Initiative 194 (I-194), also known as “The Montana Plan.” I-194 would clearly and egregiously strip Montana’s small, family-owned businesses, organizations, and associations of their constitutional First Amendment speech rights, all while privileging out-of-state billionaires with unrestricted spending in Montana’s elections.

According to publicly available records, the Transparent Election Initiative, the group behind The Montana Plan, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote I-194 and hire out-of- state signature gatherers – all while intentionally obscuring its donors. The organization that claims it is against dark money in politics is itself funded by dark money dollars. The irony is hard to miss.

This is yet another attempt by the Democrats to protect a dying party and its failed policies. The Montana Plan has been publicly endorsed by the likes of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pete Buttigieg, Montana Democrat candidate Sam Forstag, and former Senator Jon Tester.

The MTGOP believes in the basic First Amendment rights the U.S. Constitution guarantees its citizens. We also believe that as the size and scope of government increase, citizens need more speech, not less, to understand their government and hold it accountable.

In our state, Montanans’ voices matter more than those of wealthy out-of-staters. Montanans should not be fooled by out-of-state signature gatherers and other proponents of I-194 who falsely claim that it targets corruption or money in politics. In truth, it would silence the voices of Montana’s businesses and organizations while amplifying those of wealthy outsiders, thereby undermining self-government itself in Montana. Montanans should also ensure that paid signature gatherers are in compliance with new state laws requiring that they disclose their first name, state of residence, and status as a paid operative.

A full copy of the resolution can be found at: https://mtgop.org/2026-resolutions-2/