Draft:Transparent Election Initiative


Transparent Election Initiative
AbbreviationTEI
Formation2024
FounderJeff Mangan
TypeNonprofit political reform organization
PurposeCampaign finance reform; limiting corporate and dark money in elections
HeadquartersHelena, Montana, U.S.
Region served
Montana, United States
Websitewww.transparentelection.org

Transparent Election Initiative (TEI) is a Montana-based political reform organization focused on restricting corporate spending and dark money in elections. The group is best known for promoting the "Montana Plan," a legal strategy aimed at restricting the power of corporations and other artificial entities to spend money in state and local elections.[1]

TEI is the sponsor of Initiative I‑194, a 2026 Montana ballot measure that would limit corporations and other artificial persons spending money to influence elections in the state.[2]

History

The Transparent Election Initiative was founded in Montana by former state Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan to address the influence of corporate and dark money in state elections.[3]

In 2025–2026, TEI developed the "Montana Plan," a proposal to use state corporate law to limit the powers granted to corporations and other artificial persons, including the power to spend money in elections. The organization argues that by redefining corporate powers under state law, Montana can effectively neutralize the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission without directly restricting speech.[4]

Initiative I‑194

Main article: Initiative I-194

Background

Following the Citizens United decision in 2010, Montana's Corrupt Practices Act[5], a law that limited corporate spending in Montana in response to state corruption from the 19th century Copper Kings, was deemed in conflict with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling and stricken down in American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock. Out of state spending and dark money in Montana elections increased significantly, prompting renewed calls for campaign finance reform in the state.[6]

Proposal

Initiative I‑194, backed by TEI, would amend Montana law to prohibit corporations and other artificial persons—such as nonprofits, trusts, partnerships, and trade associations—from spending money or anything of value to influence state or local elections. The measure relies on the state’s authority to define and limit corporate powers under its corporate code.[4]

The initiative faced legal scrutiny from Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who initially deemed an earlier version of the proposal legally insufficient. This challenge was sustained by the Montana Supreme Court in Transparent Election Initiative (TEI) v. Knudsen[7]. A redrafting of the proposed ballot initiative was done, which was challenged by both Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Montana Secretary of state Christi Jacobson in TRANSPARENT ELECTION INITIATIVE and JEFF MANGAN, Petitioners, v. AUSTIN KNUDSEN, in his official capacity as MONTANA ATTORNEY GENERAL; and CHRISTI JACOBSEN, in her official capacity as MONTANA SECRETARY OF STATE, Respondents[8]. The Montana Supreme Court again ruled in favor of the state, citing the proposed ballot initiatives scope as being too broad. The scope of the proposal was rewritten by the Transparent Election Initiative, producing ballot initiative I-194, and no further challenges were issued by the state[9].

In April 2026, a joint lawsuit was filed against the Transparent Election Initiative by the Montana Mining Association, the Montana Chamber of Commerce, Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Petroleum Association, Montana Trucking Association, Montana Contractors Association, Treasure State Resource Association and Billings and Kalispell’s respective chambers of commerce, arguing that I-194, if passed, would limit their free speech. The Montana Supreme Court unanimously voted to dismiss the lawsuit[10].

Campaign and endorsement

TEI has organized a statewide signature‑gathering campaign to qualify I‑194 for the 2026 ballot. The group reports that it is seeking approximately 30,000 signatures from registered Montana voters by June 19, 2026.[11]

The Montana Plan and Initiative I-194 has been endorsed by former Republican National Committee Chairman and Montana Governor Marc Racicot, former Montana Governor Steve Bullock, former Montana Senator Jon Tester, and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.[12][13]

National Impact

The Transparent Election Initiative's Montana Plan has received academic attention from law school's across the United States from universities such as Harvard Law School with speculation about the spread of their legal bypass to Citizen United's ruling to other state's.[14]

National watchdog and advocacy non-profit's such as OpenSecrets and Center For American Progress have expressed support for The Montana Plan, and speculated about it spreading to other states.[15][16]

Goals and strategy

TEI describes its mission as increasing transparency and accountability in elections by eliminating corporate and dark money from Montana politics. The organization promotes the Montana Plan as a model that could be replicated in other states by using state corporate law to limit corporate powers rather than directly regulating political speech.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Transparent Election Initiative – About". Transparent Election Initiative. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  2. ^ Hansen, Jordan (April 30, 2026). "Buttigieg endorses Montana Plan, announces Butte town hall". Daily Montanan.
  3. ^ "Transparent Election Initiative – The Montana Plan". Transparent Election Initiative. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "The Montana Plan". Transparent Election Initiative. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  5. ^ The Montana State Legislature (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://archive.legmt.gov/content/Committees/Interim/2013-2014/State-Administration-and-Veterans-Affairs/Meetings/August-2013/Corrupt%20Practices%20Act%20Passed%20by%20Initiative%201912.pdf). [chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://archive.legmt.gov/content/Committees/Interim/2013-2014/State-Administration-and-Veterans-Affairs/Meetings/August-2013/Corrupt%20Practices%20Act%20Passed%20by%20Initiative%201912.pdf "The Corrupt Practices Act of 1912"] (PDF) (PDF). {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to speak against corporate campaign spending in Butte". Flathead Beacon. April 30, 2026.
  7. ^ "MT Supreme Court Docket Search". supremecourtdocket.mt.gov. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  8. ^ "TRANSPARENT ELECTION INITIATIVE JEFF MANGAN v. AUSTIN KNUDSEN MONTANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CHRISTI JACOBSEN MONTANA SECRETARY OF STATE (2026)". FindLaw. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  9. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (March 13, 2026). "One version of proposed political spending initiative set for signature gathering, second headed to court". KTVH. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  10. ^ Drew, Micah (April 1, 2026). "Montana Supreme Court dismisses constitutionality challenge to 'The Montana Plan' initiative • Daily Montanan". Daily Montanan. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  11. ^ "Former Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorses Montana ballot measure on corporate spending, set for Butte town hall". KXLF. April 30, 2026.
  12. ^ Lutey, Tom (April 29, 2026). "Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to speak against corporate campaign spending in Butte". Montana Free Press. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  13. ^ Lloyd, Zeke (June 19, 2025). "Former public officeholders propose constitutional initiative to take corporate money out of politics". Montana Free Press. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  14. ^ Moore, Tom (August 7, 2025). "Transparent Election Initiative". The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  15. ^ "The Corporate Power Reset That Makes Citizens United Irrelevant". Center for American Progress. September 15, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
  16. ^ Jonas, Natalie (August 13, 2025). "Fifteen years after Citizens United, the Montana Plan poses the latest challenge to dark money". OpenSecrets News. Retrieved May 1, 2026.




References

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