A Campaign Finance Analysis of Overlapping Donor Networks, Dark Money Intermediaries, and Consulting Relationships in Montana Legislative Races and Ballot Initiatives, 2022–2025

Please follow us on X and Telegram

A recent report provided to the Montana Sentinel by our sources highlights how a series of funding relationships connects progressive leftist organizations to Montana-based political consulting firms and so-called “conservative” organizations actively campaigning against conservatives. It is an established and effective strategy to brand an organization or person in Montana as conservative or Republican in order to gain votes while continuing to adhere to liberal, big-government, and leftist value systems. One example is former Montana Governor Marc Racicot, who spent most of his political life as a Democrat, filed as a Republican for Governor, and recently appeared in leftist-backed commercials and events.

The report’s primary conclusion:

“The simultaneous servicing of Republican legislative candidates and progressive ballot initiative committees by a single firm whose principals hold positions in progressive labor and advocacy organizations is the central structural finding of this analysis.”

The report’s summary of funding relationships is provided here:

1. GISWF*, a self-described left-of-center 501(c)(4), contributed $500,000 to Way Back PAC (tagged Liberal/Democrat on OpenSecrets).
2. Way Back PAC contributed $250,000 to Guarantee PAC.
3. Guarantee PAC contributed $80,000 to Conservatives for Montana.
4. John Arnold contributed $312,500 to Guarantee PAC directly and $312,500 to Guardian of Rights Fund, which contributed $250,000 to Way Back PAC.
5. GISWF granted $2,000,000 to Western Futures Fund, which paid Fireweed Campaigns $107,500 as an independent contractor.
6. Fireweed Campaigns simultaneously managed progressive ballot initiative committees (CI-126, CI-128, CI-132) and Republican candidate campaigns (Kassmier, Frazer, Binkley, Huestis).
7. Four Fireweed candidate clients were among the 27 Republicans supported by C4MT.
8. Unite America PAC contributed $75,000 to C4MT and $700,000 to the CI-127 ranked choice voting initiative.
9. GISWF contributed directly to both Montana ballot initiative committees ($250,000 to CI-128, $100,000 to CI-132) and to the intermediary chain reaching C4MT ($500,000 to Way Back PAC).
10. Arnold Ventures, the philanthropic vehicle of John and Laura Arnold, donated $150,000 to Montana Free Press while John Arnold simultaneously funded Guarantee PAC and Guardian of Rights Fund.

*GISWF = Global Impact Social Welfare Fund, C4MT = Conservatives 4 Montana

**When a PAC advocates for specific candidates, it does not imply that the candidate supports the PAC or their political philosophy; in fact, candidates or their staff are not allowed to coordinate with PACs. In the complete report attached below, there are freshman candidates who are now legislators whose voting records will likely lead these PACs to stop supporting them, or even support an opposing candidate of either party. Sentinel staff will monitor these PACs and identify which candidates they will no longer support. For example, Representative Gregg and Tracy’s voting records did not reflect any leftist desires and will likely not receive any support.

The complete report is attached below. To verify this report and further your own research, visit the websites listed below the report.

MONTANA CAMPAIGN FINANCE ANALYSIS – SHARED INFRASTRUCTUREDownload

Open Secrets

Montana’s Campaign Electronic Reporting System

Open The Books

Data Republican

The Montana Secretary of State

The IRS Non-Profit Search

IRS Form 990 Searches

---

For those who like to dig into details, the screen captures and excel files attached below are provided.

fireweedDownload

COMBINED SPENDINGDownload

cfmtcontDownload

c4mtspendDownload

‘NO AD’ subscription for CDM!  Sign up here and support real investigative journalism and help save the republic!