A Helena consulting firm with deep ties to Democrat-aligned organizations is managing multiple Republican legislative campaigns across Montana

Montana Republican primary voters deserve to know who is behind the campaigns asking for their vote.

Public campaign finance filings show that Fireweed Campaigns, a Helena-based political consulting firm, is actively managing multiple Republican legislative campaigns in the 2026 election cycle. 

The firm is led by Lauren Caldwell, who previously served as interim director of the Montana Democratic Party and currently works as Political Director for the Montana Federation of Public Employees, a major public-sector union aligned with Democrat political efforts. 

A Pattern of Coordinated Support

According to filings with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices:

• Fireweed staff made maximum donations to multiple Republican candidates
• Those same candidates are paying Fireweed for campaign services
• Additional donations came from out-of-state PACs tied to national funding networks 

This pattern appears across a slate of candidates, suggesting a coordinated political operation rather than isolated support.

Candidates identified in public filings as receiving this support include:

• Linda Reksten — HD 13 — Polson
• Susan Geise — HD-17 — Augusts
• Brad Barker — HD 55 — Red Lodge
• Russell Nelson — HD 67 — Belgrade
• Kenneth Walsh — HD 69 — Twin Bridge
• John Fitzpatrick — HD 76 — Anaconda
• Michele Binkley — HD 85 — Hamilton
• Curtis Cochran — HD 90 — St. Regis
• Llew Jones — SD 9 — Conrad
• David Bedey — SD 43 — Hamilton

Connections to Progressive Ballot Campaigns

Fireweed Campaigns has also managed and been paid to run major progressive ballot initiatives in Montana.

These include:

• The campaign to keep Montana judicial elections officially nonpartisan, opposing efforts to allow judges to run with party labels
• The campaign supporting ranked-choice voting and changes to Montana’s election system
• The campaign tied to expanding abortion policy through a constitutional initiative, CI-128

The judicial issue is especially significant.

In the 2025 legislative session, Senate Bill 42 and House Bill 838 would have allowed partisan affiliation in judicial elections. Both bills failed after a bloc of Republicans voted with Democrats to defeat them. 

At the same time:

• The “keep courts nonpartisan” campaign paid Fireweed more than $126,000 for management
• That campaign shares personnel and infrastructure connected to the same network supporting these Republican candidates 

The same political operation working to influence Montana’s court system is also managing Republican legislative campaigns.

Connections to Montana Free Press

Public records also show overlap between this network and Montana’s largest nonprofit news outlet, Montana Free Press.

Campaign finance filings indicate that Anne Avis—who contributed to multiple candidates connected to the Fireweed network—is also listed as Board Vice Chair of Montana Free Press. 

Montana Free Press has received funding from national donors who have also contributed to political committees and PACs tied to the broader network described above. 

This report does not allege editorial bias. However, it highlights that:

• A board leader of a major Montana news outlet
• Has financially supported candidates connected to this campaign network
• While that same outlet covers Montana politics and legislative activity

These overlapping roles may not violate any rules—but they are relevant for voters seeking a complete picture.

Why It Matters

Primary elections are where Republican voters decide who will represent their values.

Campaign management shapes messaging, strategy, and voter outreach. When those services are provided by consultants with long-standing ties to Democrat-aligned organizations, voters should be aware.

This is not a question of legality. These activities are disclosed in public filings. It is a question of transparency and alignment.

A Decision for Republican Voters

Voters now face a clear choice:

• Candidates whose campaigns are managed by a firm led by a former Democratic Party leader
• Or candidates running campaigns rooted entirely within conservative political circles

Montana voters deserve transparency. Republican voters deserve the full picture before they cast their ballots.

Read the full memo here.