‘Montana model’ is on the ballot this June

A “Montana model” of better government has taken shape. This June, its future will be on primary ballots. The choice? Solutions driven traditional Republicans versus a radical faction hell-bent on importing the worst kind of toxic politics into our state.

Amidst national politics consumed by outrage culture and division, something unique recently emerged in Montana. A group of legislators blazed a different path by rejecting orders from party bosses and special interests instead focusing on solving problems and putting Montana first. That work has garnered the national spotlight. 

Montana has always prided itself on independence and good governance. We balance our budget every session and term-limit legislators. We hear every bill and keep them single-subject. We insulate our judiciary from party machines. And because our districts are close-knit, voters expect face-to-face conversations. Even well-funded special interests run into a very real, very democratic check: the people. 

Thanks to that culture we have bucked the national trend of gridlock and dysfunction. With Gov. Greg Gianforte’s leadership, Republicans worked together to pass conservative policies: cutting income taxes, paying off all state debt, reducing red-tape, promoting energy production, protecting women’s sports and spaces, etc. But as structural problems required solutions, Republicans also built coalitions to tackle property tax relief through a Homestead Exemption, improve housing affordability through deregulation, and created a trust to responsibly get ahead of pension liabilities and infrastructure obligations. 

That is what governing looks like.  

Montana, however, is not immune to the national virus of polarization and hyper-partisanship. Recently, an out-of-state-inspired “Freedom” Caucus movement has tried to drag us into the same toxic swamp paralyzing Washington, D.C. Their model is not conservative governance. It is outrage for clicks and national social-media fights stuffed into state-level debates. It is demanding blind loyalty and ideological purity tests over thoughtful, balanced representation. 

Having hijacked state party machinery and incapable of compromise these “woke-right” radicals have launched an effort to purge the GOP of independent thought.  Like their “woke-left” counterparts they are drawn to collectivist thought, trapped in perpetual victimhood mindset and offer no meaningful solutions to real-world problems. Their recent barrage of anonymous, misleading attack ads is not random. It is meant to send a message: fall in line or be destroyed. Unfortunately, these shameful tactics can work. 

In my time in elected office, I’ve learned that political courage is painfully rare. The incentives are perverse. Driven by self-promotion and preservation? Obey, keep your head down, appease special interest groups, tailor voting to absurd political “scorecards” and deny that complex problems require nuanced collaboration. I’ve watched decent people who ran for office determined to do right get broken by bullying and pressure only to become indistinguishable from the forces they originally opposed. Worse yet, the capitulation only empowers and emboldens them.  

The reality is straightforward: if Republicans who govern responsibly are punished, we get fewer Republicans willing to govern responsibly. 

But if Montanans back those who stand for putting people over politics, if we reward courage and those willing to travel harder paths, Montana will continue being a beacon for our nation. 

The “Montana model” survives only if good, solutions-minded people are willing to defend it, not just at the ballot box, but by stepping up to lead themselves. If you’ve ever thought about running for office, or even if you haven’t, there has never been a better time.  

Montana can, in fact, remain the “last, best place.” But only if we fight for it.   

Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Great Falls.