Almost every Republican voter you talk to is, by definition, conservative. I mean genuinely conservative. Just read the GOP state platform if you have any doubt about what it means to be a Republican.

Conservatism is both a commitment to the Constitution’s system of limited government, and a moral philosophy that places the sovereignty of the individual over the coercive, collective action of government itself. Our God-given rights as inviolate. Government as protector, not provider. As a minister of justice, not a redistributor of our property.

The philosophy of the Democrat Party is the diametric opposite. Big Government politically. Socialism economically. Scoffers and deniers of God’s teachings and the sanctity of life. This is why Republicans never vote for Democrats.

Or do we?

If Montana’s strongly Republican electorate never votes for Democrats, then explain why every session of the legislature continues to grow government, spend more money, subsidize more tax takers, impose more regulations, plead for more federal tax dollars, manipulate more of our economy, enact predatory property tax policies and concoct “government solutions” to problems government created? And explain why the highest priority conservative bills never reach the governor’s desk?

The problem is, we are electing “conservatives” who aren’t. I call them DIRCs — Democrats in Republican clothing. Right now, there are approximately 20 of these rogue elephants running for reelection, along with a collection of first-time candidates of similar liberal persuasion. Have we taken the time to know who they are? Do we understand the influence the DIRCs (or RINOs if you prefer) have exercised over the Legislature, shifting the balance of power to the Democrats on key issue after key issue?

One reliable way to identify the GOP’s problem children is to see if the radical, pro-abortion Fireweed staff is helping manage their campaigns. Another clear indicator is noticing which Republican candidates are receiving shocking amounts of out-of-state money, either directly from far-left billionaires and their groups, or indirectly through the laundering of dirty dollars by imposter organization Conservatives4Montana.

Hear me, Republicans! Your party is being stolen from you. Session after session, the DIRCs have corrupted the legislative process, and made it impossible to pass critically important conservative legislation. We can — and must — renew the conservative integrity of our own party, by VOTING in the June 2 primary. If we want to repair a broken legislature, then get informed and get to the polls on Tuesday.

Roger Koopman
Roger Koopman is president of Montana Conservative Alliance. He served four years in the Montana House of Representatives and eight years as a Montana Public Service Commissioner.

Published in Lee Enterprises newspapers, May 30, 2026: https://helenair.com/opinion/column/article_f30afc98-eda8-5775-a50e-2607172593d5.html