Montana Voters to Decide on Initiative 194 in November
The ballot measure aims to restrict corporate contributions in political campaigns across the state.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Should Montana limit corporate contributions to political candidates and state ballot issues?
Montana voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide on Initiative 194, also known as The Montana Plan. The measure seeks to limit contributions from artificial persons to candidates, political parties, and state ballot issues.
Why it matters
Proponents claim the initiative will effectively remove corporate dark money from state elections. Conversely, opponents argue the policy silences local businesses while leaving the door open for out-of-state influence.
Initiative 194 would establish limits on contributions from artificial persons to campaigns and ballot issues. It is explicitly designed to create a state-level exception to the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United ruling.
The players
Marc Racicot
He is a former Governor of Montana who has publicly expressed his support for the initiative.
Steve Bullock
He is a former Governor of Montana who is backing the campaign to pass the measure.
Jon Tester
He is a former United States Senator from Montana who supports the implementation of the initiative.
Transparent Election Initiative
This is a nonprofit organization that serves as the primary sponsor and backer of the initiative.
Montana Chamber of Commerce
This organization represents businesses across the state and is leading the opposition to the proposed limits.
The details
The Transparent Election Initiative is the nonprofit organization leading the push for the measure, which faces opposition from the Montana, Billings, and Kalispell Chambers of Commerce. The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce has projected that the passage of I-194 would prevent them from continuing to host candidate forums.
Timeline
2010: The Supreme Court issued the Citizens United decision.
2012: A previous Montana law regarding campaign contributions was struck down.
October 9, 2026: Ballots were mailed to absentee voters.
November 3, 2026: Election Day for the ballot initiative.
Political Context
The initiative represents a formal attempt to legislatively contradict the legal environment established by the 2010 Citizens United decision. This move faces pushback from business advocacy groups who fear that such restrictions will stifle local commercial voices in the democratic process.
The passage of Initiative 194 would change how businesses are permitted to fund local campaigns and ballot initiatives. Residents should review the specific language of the proposal on their ballots to understand how these changes may affect the financial backing of future state political races.
The takeaway
This measure highlights the ongoing tension between limiting corporate influence and protecting local business advocacy in state politics. Voters are encouraged to research the specific impacts of the proposal on local candidate engagement before casting their ballots.
What happens next
Voters will cast their final ballots on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For additional context on upcoming votes in the state, visit the Montana Elections section.
More information
To verify polling locations or view sample ballots, visit the Montana state voter portal.
Live Poll
Should Montana limit corporate contributions to political candidates and state ballot issues?
