First financial reports show expensive contested races for Legislature

Following the deadline for 2026 candidates to file for office in early March, those running for the Legislature had to file their first required financial disclosures by March 20, offering the first glimpse at how some campaigns are rolling out. 

Among many candidates locked in tough primaries — namely those pitting moderate Republicans against more conservative Republicans — the early fundraising hauls have been impressive with many candidates raking in five- and even six-figures. 

After the 2025 Legislature’s party split saw nine moderate Republican state senators join with Democrats to pass major legislative priorities from Gov. Greg Gianforte, including the state’s budget and property tax bills, the state GOP has worked to call out and in the case of the senators, censure and remove them from party participation. 

Most recently, the state GOP put out a resolution earlier this month rebuking 17 Republican legislative candidates for working with a campaign management company the party considers to be tied to “progressive political groups.”

Those rebuked candidates are among the highest-dollar primary races, according to the latest financial reports filed with the Commissioner of Political Practices.

Among the 17 candidates the state GOP recently rebuked, 13 of them outraised their opponents, most of whom are supported by more conservative factions, such as the Montana Freedom Caucus. 

The single highest number reported for the first quarter came from George Nikolokakos, a sitting representative running for Senate District 12 around Great Falls to replace Sen. Wendy McKamey. He reported a total $107,290 for his campaign, but personally loaned his campaign $95,000 this quarter.

His primary opponent, Randy Pinocci, raised just $3,935 in comparison. 

While Nikolokakos’ personal loan is the largest, several other candidates have also given their own campaigns a boost including Llew Jones, running for Senate District 9, who loaned his campaign $25,000 during a previous fundraising quarter; Ed Buttrey, running for Senate District 11 loaned his campaign $20,000 this quarter; and Trish Schreiber, running for House District 76 from Avon, who also loaned herself $25,000 in a previous quarter. 

Schreiber, who is endorsed by the state Freedom Caucus and the conservative organization Americans for Prosperity, is challenging incumbent Rep. John Fitzpatrick, a longtime legislator who is among those in the crosshairs of the state GOP. 

In the first fundraising quarter of the year, Schreiber reported $28,223 in contributions with $38,815 cash on hand. Fitzpatrick, of Anaconda, reported raising $14,503 in the same time period, with just more than $14,000 in his campaign account. 

In House District 69, incumbent Rep. Ken Walsh reported contributions of $16,725, far outraising his Freedom Caucus-endorsed opponent Trevor Walter, who raised $6,875. 

In Belgrade, incumbent Rep. Jedidiah Hinkle, a member of the state’s Freedom Caucus, reported contributions of $7,509, higher than his opponent Russell Nelson at $6,985. Nelson is among those targeted by the state party. 

One challenger to a sitting candidate, Finley Warden in Polson, has earned several conservative endorsements and reported contributions of $11,810 this quarter, more than his more moderate opponent, incumbent Linda Reksten, who reported $9,150. 

In Kalispell, Rep. Courtenay Sprunger has drawn the ire of the conservative wing of her party following more moderate positions she took in her first and second terms, but has far outraised her Republican primary challenger. Sprunger reported nearly $11,000 in contributions, compared to just $720 reported by Luke Maxwell. 

On the Senate side, one of the most expensive races is for Senate District 9, where Rep. Llew Jones of Conrad and Rep. Zachary Wirth of Wolf Creek are facing off to join the upper chamber. 

Jones, considered a major target for conservative Republicans, reported $21,949 this quarter, while Wirth brought in $16,207. 

A similar case of two representatives looking to move into the senate — Rep. David Bedey and Rep. Kathy Love from the Bitterroot Valley — is also bringing in lots of money.

Bedey reported more than $17,000 this quarter, despite being among those targeted by the state party. Meanwhile, Freedom Caucus member Love brought in $12,178, including a personal loan of $3,000 this quarter. (Bedey previously loaned his campaign $10,000 in a previous quarter).

In Yellowstone County, incumbent Sen. Barry Usher, chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee and a Freedom Caucus member, reported $10,880 in contributions this quarter with more than $23,000 in his campaign account. His primary opponent, Chris Rindal outraised him so far this year, reported nearly $17,000 in contributions, but has less than $12,000 in his campaign account. 

While the most contentious primaries are occurring on the Republican ballots this June, the expensive primaries aren’t exclusively GOP affairs.

A Helena area senate primary between former senate minority spokesperson Erin Farris-Olsen and Dana Toole saw both candidates raise around $12,000 in the first quarter filings with a combined $46,000 in cash on hand heading into April. 

And in Bozeman, two Democratic house members are facing off for a senate seat. Rep. Becky Edwards reported raising $10,825 in the first quarter compared to Rep. Kelly Kortum’s haul of $8,778. 

After March’s quarterly financial report, candidates are required to fill out monthly reports in April and May before the June 2 primary.