Montana’s likely Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte wants to have his cake and eat it too on campaign finance – but it won’t be that easy for the Koch crony. Gianforte has pledged not to accept campaign donations from special interests, but as the AP noted this week, he’s “sidestepped questions about whether he would call on outside groups to refrain from spending funds on his behalf.”
It’s no wonder Gianforte wants to keep quiet on shady,outside groups spending on his behalf: he’s a handpicked candidate of the Kochs’ Aegis PAC. Aegis, shady political consulting firm that had a “blessing” from the Kochs at their inception, created a new, secretive nonprofit in 2014 that spent hundreds of thousands in dark money on strategically timed attack ads in a GOP primary and helped raise money for the Kochs’ chosen candidates, just like they’re doing for Gianforte. Gianforte may think he can pull the wool over the eyes of Montanans with his empty campaign finance pledge, but his mealy-mouthed answers and refusal to denounce outside spending in the race speak volumes.
Former Montana State Legislator Nancy Keenan: Possible GOP Candidate For Montana Governor Greg Gianforte “Has A History Of Giving Thousands Of Dollars To Dark Money Groups, Including Americans For Prosperity.” According to an op-ed by Nancy Keenan, a former Montana state legislator, for the Missoulian, “Being upfront and honest is a Montana value. That’s why it’s so hard to understand why Greg Gianforte, who has all but filed papers to be the Republican candidate for governor of Montana, won’t be honest about his intentions. […] After all, Gianforte has a history of giving thousands of dollars to dark money groups, including Americans for Prosperity that was criticized this past state legislative session for its egregious tactics.” [Nancy Keenan – Missoulian, 6/17/15]
Americans For Prosperity Foundation Announced That Greg Gianforte Would Keynote Its ‘Passion To Profit” Workshop At Montana State University On September 17, 2015. According the Americans for Prosperity website, “Americans for Prosperity Foundation announced today that Greg Gianforte — the engineer, businessman, philanthropist and activist responsible for founding both RightNow Technologies and Better Montana Jobs — will keynote its September 17th ‘Passion to Profit’ workshop, which has been in planning for weeks, at Montana State University from 7PM to 9PM.” [Americans for Prosperity, 9/2/15]
As Of February 2016, Montana Gubernatorial Candidate Greg Gianforte Was Listed As An Aegis PAC Candidate. According to Aegis PAC, “Typically considered a red state, Montana has elected left-of-center governors since the year 2000, driving the state’s politics left. Businessman Greg Gianforte aims to change that and usher in conservative governance in 2017. The state’s current Governor, Steve Bullock, is a national Democrat, chairing the Democratic Governors Association. Gianforte, a technology entrepreneur and philanthropist, stands out from some of the Republican predecessors in Montana for his ability to fundraise in a with the state extremely low contribution limits and for his well-articulated, fiscally and economically conservative views on issues facing Montana.” [Aegis PAC, accessed 2/3/16]
- Politico: The Koch Network’s Efforts Are “Spearheaded Partly By A For-Profit Consulting Firm Called Aegis Strategic That’s Backed By The Koch Network.” According to Politico, “The ambitious effort, spearheaded partly by a for-profit consulting firm called Aegis Strategic that’s backed by the Koch network, is one of several ways in which the brothers and their allies are seeking to influence the types of candidates who carry the GOP banner.” [Politico, 11/12/15]