Vetting Doesn’t Divide Republicans — Dishonesty Does

I’m new to state politics — and I’ll be honest, from the outside it looks like a game. But once you’re inside it, you realize quickly it’s no joke. Too many people treat lawmaking like a sport, where scoring points matters more than doing what’s right. But this isn’t a game — it’s people’s families, livelihoods, and the Montana way of life on the line.

Lately, we’ve all seen headlines about “division” and “discord” within the Montana GOP. Some say the party is tearing itself apart. Others blame conservative leaders for demanding too much accountability. But I think the truth is far simpler — and far less dramatic:

Vetting candidates doesn’t divide the party. Dishonesty does. Accountability doesn’t weaken us. It strengthens us.

The Questionnaire: My Pledge to the People

Recently, I received a questionnaire asking where I stand on key Republican Party planks — the issues that define who we are as constitutional conservatives. I was glad to see it. After all, I’ve been a registered candidate actively campaigning for six months, and not once has anyone asked how conservative or liberal I am.

That should concern everyone. If you claim the Republican banner — the party and the voters — deserve to know where you stand.

This questionnaire wasn’t a “loyalty oath,” and it wasn’t some attempt to control anyone ‒ It was a clarity test. A truth test. A trust test.

And for me, it became more than paperwork. It became a pledge. A commitment — to the people of Montana — that I will follow the conservative values of the Republican Party.

Does that mean I’ll agree with the party on every vote? Of course not — no honest representative can say that.

But when the party is united behind the same principles — defending families, limiting government, fighting federal overreach, protecting constitutional freedoms — we shouldn’t be fighting each other. We should be developing action plans, strengthening our platform, and steering Montana back to the values that once made us strong.

If You’re Proud of Your Principles, You Don’t Hide Them

Some argue that answering a party questionnaire is “submission to party bosses.” I think that’s nonsense.

Every Republican elected official is quick to say they represent conservative values — yet when asked to answer plainly and transparently, a few suddenly refuse. That raises a simple question: If someone truly embraces Republican principles, why would they fear answering conservative questions?

In every other part of life, we expect clarity:

• Employers vet job applicants.
• Boards vet new members.
• Communities expect transparency from public servants.

None of that is authoritarian. It’s responsible. It’s honest. It’s basic integrity.

If a candidate sees issues like fiscal responsibility, limited government, parental rights, national sovereignty, or the sanctity of life as “controversial,” voters deserve to know that before the primary — not after.

Unity Requires Knowing Who’s On the Team

There are people in both parties who still believe in the Constitution and share Montana values. But both parties also have a growing progressive faction that’s out of step with what most Montanans believe — faith, family, freedom, and hard work.

And here’s the problem: When Republicans aren’t aligned on core principles, the progressive agenda wins by default.

We’ve seen it in Helena:

• Good conservative bills get watered down by “poison pill” amendments.
• Bloated budgets pass because a handful of Republicans join liberal interests.
• Property tax reform gets gutted at the last minute.
• Efforts to defend parental rights or cut government waste get sabotaged by internal fractures.

This is not because conservatives are weak — it’s because the party has not been unified. And unity requires clarity, not chaos.

A questionnaire:

• Ensures transparency
• Prevents deception
• Reveals candidates who run as Republicans but vote opposite to conservative principles
• Helps voters understand the differences between candidates
• Strengthens unity around shared principles
• Protects the integrity of the Republican brand

This is not “centralizing power.” This clarifies principles. This is restoring trust. This is giving voters the truth they deserve. Voters — not party insiders — still decide the election. But voters cannot make an informed decision if candidates refuse to reveal what they actually believe.

Montana Deserves Better Than Political Theater

I didn’t enter politics because I needed a job. I have one. This campaign costs me time, energy, and money — but I’m doing it because I’m tired of watching politicians grow government, waste tax dollars, and act like celebrities in a political soap opera.

Montanans don’t need actors. They don’t need opportunists. And they certainly don’t need Republicans who campaign as conservatives and then vote liberal progressive agendas once they get to Helena.

Montanans deserve honesty. Montanans deserve clarity. Montanans deserve leaders who stand proudly in the light — not candidates who hide from accountability.

Where We Go From Here

If we want to stop the political theater and protect Montana’s future, we need:

• Transparency
• Unity around shared conservative principles
• Honesty about votes and values
• Courage to stand up to the progressive agenda — in both parties
• Representatives who mean what they say and say what they believe

I answered the Republican questionnaire because I believe the people deserve to know exactly what they’re voting for.

And I’ll continue answering — publicly, honestly, and without hesitation because that’s how you rebuild trust. That’s how you strengthen a party. That’s how you bring Montanans back together.

Let’s get back to work — not for a faction, not for a political game, but for Montana.