MTGOP Formally Opposes CI-132 – “Nonpartisan” Judicial Elections Are a Dangerous Deception
Montana Supreme Court has repeatedly struck down Republican legislation protecting women, children, voters, and the 2nd Amendment — now the same dark-money network wants to lock in “nonpartisan” judicial elections
The Montana Republican Party has formally passed a resolution strongly opposing Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132), the so-called “nonpartisan” judicial elections measure.
According to the official MTGOP resolution, the current “nonpartisan” system does not remove politics from the judiciary — it only hides it from voters. The Montana Supreme Court has acted as a partisan Democrat bench, striking down reasonable Republican legislation passed by elected representatives while claiming plaintiffs had no standing and using far-fetched interpretations of the Montana Constitution.
Since 2020, when Montanans elected a Republican Governor, Senate, and House, left-wing activists have filed 73 lawsuits targeting Republican bills. The Supreme Court has blocked or overturned many of them, including:
- HB 121 – Protecting women’s bathrooms and private spaces
- HB 112 – Protecting women’s sports
- SB 99 – Protecting children from surgical mutilation
- HB 136 – Protecting unborn babies from agonizing pain
- HB 102 – Allowing students to exercise 2nd Amendment rights on campus
- SB 169 – Strengthening voter ID for free and fair elections
- HB 506 – Prohibiting ballots from being sent to minors under 18
- HB 176 – Moving the voter registration deadline back one day
The resolution notes that the Montana Legislature twice tried to bring transparency by moving Supreme Court elections to district-based races (so voters could better know the candidates from their own area). The Supreme Court struck those laws down, claiming the legislature had no power to define judicial qualifications — even though the Montana Constitution explicitly gives the people’s representatives that authority.
The MTGOP resolution also highlights that the coalition pushing CI-132 includes organizations funded by the same Progressive Dirty Money Network (including Fireweed Campaigns) that is behind many of the far-left ballot initiatives and the Fireweed Candidates in the Republican primary.
The Montana Republican Party believes judicial elections should remain, but they should be reformed to be free, fair, and honest — allowing candidates to run with a political designation so voters know exactly who they are voting for.
Download the full MTGOP Resolution Opposing CI-132 here
Gallatin County Republicans stand with the MTGOP in opposing CI-132. This initiative is not about removing politics — it is about shielding activist judges from accountability while hiding their true agenda from voters.
We urge all conservatives to vote NO on CI-132 and to support candidates who will fight for fair, honest, and accountable courts.
Constitutional scholar Rob Natelson delivered a MUST-WATCH speech on CI-132 and Montana's serious judicial problems; watch it below!
