by Michelle Hutcherson, Communications Director for I-194, Whitefish
Montana Farmers Union, one of the state’s largest and most influential agricultural organizations, has endorsed I-194, The Montana Plan, adding the voices of thousands of family farmers and ranchers to the growing bipartisan coalition supporting the initiative ahead of the November 2026 election.
The endorsement reflects a shared belief that Montana elections should be accountable to the people who live and work here—not to corporations, wealthy special interests, or dark-money groups that can spend millions while hiding the sources of their funding.
“Currently every statewide elected official in Montana is an out-of-state millionaire or billionaire that had corporate backing and could hide donations in dark money PACs,” said Montana Farmers Union President Walt Schweitzer. “The reward for these donors was tax breaks and special rules for the rich. If this initiative passes, it will prevent corporations from influencing our elections and will allow voters to know who is supporting a campaign before they vote.”
I-194 would eliminate the power of corporations, unions, nonprofits, and other artificial entities to spend treasury funds to support or oppose candidates or ballot measures in Montana’s local, state, and federal elections. Political spending by real people would remain protected, with disclosure requirements ensuring voters can see who is financing election campaigns.
“For Montana’s farmers and ranchers, transparent and accountable elections are about more than knowing where campaign dollars come from,” said Russell Cleveland, Executive Director of Partnerships for The Montana Plan. “They are about having a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape their livelihoods and communities. From Right to Repair to Country of Origin Labeling and countless other agricultural issues, public policy should be shaped by the people most affected, not by corporations using hidden political spending to buy access and influence.”
“Montana Farmers Unions endorsement reflects exactly what The Montana Plan is building: a broad coalition of Montanans who believe elections should be decided by people, not by corporations and hidden donors,” said JeMangan, founder of The Montana Plan. “Family farmers and ranchers understand what happens when concentrated economic power becomes political power, and we are honored to have Montana Farmers Union standing with Montana voters in this effort.”
About the Montana Plan PAC: The Montana Plan PAC is a Montana ballot initiative committee formed to support I-194, “The Montana Plan,” in the November 2026 election. The campaign is working to end corporate and dark-money political spending in Montana elections by restoring a clear principle: elections should be decided by real people, not by corporations, LLCs, unions, nonprofits, or other artificial entities spending treasury funds to support or oppose candidates or ballot measures. Learn more at montanaplan.org.
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