FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1st, 2026

HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) Executive Board passed a
resolution on Tuesday rebuking 17 Republican legislative candidates and three elected
party officers for working with progressive political groups tied to out-of-state billionaire
donors.

According to publicly available records, these progressive billionaires are attempting to
advance their agenda in Montana through a multi-layered, deceptively designed
network of political action committees (PACs) and dark-money nonprofits, including
Helena-based Fireweed Campaigns Inc., which manages political candidates and liberal
ballot initiatives.

Fireweed began billing 11 Republican primary candidates thousands of dollars in
January 2026 for “campaign management” services. Additionally, Fireweed’s staff made
maximum contributions to the 11 candidates for whom they provided services, as well
as six other Republican candidates.

The same candidates supported by Fireweed are also backed by Conservatives4MT, a
phony group that shares leadership with progressive organizations like Big Sky Fiscal
Guardians, Treasure State Stewards, and Montanans for Election Reform Action Fund.
Three elected officers of MTGOP county central committees are tied to the progressive
PAC infrastructure.

The resolution passed by the Executive Board rebukes the candidates and officers for
betraying the MTGOP and Montana Republican voters by coordinating with out-of-state,
far-left organizations to elect primary candidates who are antithetical to Republican
policies and principles.

The resolution calls on the candidates to return any money received from Fireweed or
related organizations and calls on the officers to resign from the PAC infrastructure and
disavow the progressive groups. The Executive Board will consider further action to
protect the trust of Montana voters if the candidates and officers continue to coordinate
with the liberal network.

The 11 Republican primary candidates paying Fireweed for campaign management
services include:

● David Bedey, SD 43 (Hamilton)
● Llew Jones, SD 09 (Conrad)
● Kenneth Walsh, HD 69 (Twin Bridges)
● Brad Barker, HD 55 (Roberts)
● Michele Binkley, HD 85 (Hamilton)
● Linda Reksten, HD 13 (Polson)
● Shelley Vance, SD 34 (Belgrade)
● Curtis Cochran, HD 90 (St. Regis)
● Susan Geise, HD 17 (Helena)
● Russell Nelson, HD 67 (Belgrade)
● John Fitzpatrick, HD 76 (Anaconda)

The six candidates who received contributions from Fireweed include:

● George Nikolakakos, SD 12 (Great Falls)
● Melissa Nikolakakos, HD 20 (Great Falls)
● Valerie Moore, HD 29 (Plentywood)
● Eric Albus, SD 14 (Saco)
● Ed Buttrey, SD 11 (Great Falls)
● Doug Martens, SD 18 (Forsythe)

The three elected party officers involved in the progressive PAC infrastructure include:

● Ross Fitzgerald, Chair of Teton County Central Committee
● Roger Hagan, Precinct Committeeman of Cascade County Central Committee
● Ted Kronebusch, Chair of Pondera County Central Committee

“Montana Republican voters need to be confident that the candidates and officers
they vote for are actually working in their best interest and promoting Republican
policies and principles, not doing the bidding of out-of-state progressive
billionaires,” MTGOP Chairman Art Wittich said.

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