MTGOP Executive Board Rebukes Fireweed Campaigns and “RINO” Candidates – Shelley Vance and Russ Nelson Named in Resolution

Gallatin County Republicans stand for principle, transparency, and loyalty to conservative values — not backroom deals with former Democratic operatives.

A new investigative report reveals that Fireweed Campaigns, a Helena consulting firm run in part by former Democratic Party staffers (including owner Lauren Caldwell, ex-director of the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee), is managing campaigns for several "moderate" Republicans in contested primaries. These candidates are paying Fireweed thousands of dollars per month for “campaign management” while Fireweed staff simultaneously donate the maximum allowed amount to the same campaigns.

The Montana Republican Party Executive Board took strong action on April 1, 2026, passing a formal resolution rebuking this coordinated effort. The resolution states that progressive out-of-state dollars are being funneled through a network of PACs and dark-money groups into Republican primaries via Fireweed. It calls on the involved candidates to return the money and dissociate from these groups.

Two names from our area stand out prominently in the resolution:

• Senator Shelley Vance (SD 34 – Belgrade): One of the nine Republican senators who aligned with Democrats to strip the Senate Majority power away from Republicans, undermining the will of the voters, and voted with Democrats on key legislation during the 2025 session. She is up for re-election and has paid Fireweed the majority of her campaign expenses. Fireweed staff also maxed out donations to her campaign.

• Russell Nelson (HD 67 – Belgrade): Recruited to run against conservative Rep. Jed Hinkle by Shelley Vance and Llew Jones, according to the Bozeman Chronicle. Nelson is also listed among the Fireweed candidates receiving paid services and staff donations.

The resolution names 11 Fireweed-managed candidates and 6 others who received direct staff contributions, including Vance and Nelson. It calls on all of them — and three Republican Party officers tied to the same progressive PAC network — to immediately return the funds and disavow these outside groups. The Executive Board made clear that continuing to coordinate with Fireweed and its associated progressive infrastructure is “utterly antithetical to Republican policies and principles.”

As conservatives, we expect our elected officials and candidates to fight for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the rule of law — not partner with former Democratic operatives to defeat stronger conservative challengers in the June 2 primary.

The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee fully supports the MTGOP Executive Board’s resolution and will continue to highlight these issues so voters have the facts before they cast their ballots.

Montana’s future depends on electing principled conservatives who put Montana families first — not candidates backed by out-of-state money and Democratic-aligned consultants.

Primary Election Reminder: June 2, 2026. Your vote in the Republican primary will decide the direction of our party and our state.