Montana News
Supporters of constitutional initiatives are outraising opponents
With Montana News, I'm Elinor Smith. Groups backing three constitutional initiatives in Montana this election cycle are far outrasing their opponents. That's according to data compiled by the research group Open Secrets. Montanans for election reform have raised nearly $5 million in support of CI126 and 127. Those initiatives would change Montana's primary election process and require candidates to receive 51% of the vote to win an election. About half of the money backing the efforts is from the National Group Article 4, which advocates for more competition in elections. The opposition to a pair of measures that would change how the state conducts elections have not reported any fundraising. The campaign to add the right to abortion to the state's constitution, backed by Montana's securing reproductive rights, has raised nearly $12 million. Some of the largest contributions are from out-of-state interest groups based in California and Washington, D.C. Opponents have raised about $105,000, according to Open Secrets. The majority of that comes from the conservative Montana Family Foundation based in Billings.