“If I’m the problem, you might be the reason.” — Morgan Wallen
If you’ve been paying attention to Montana Republican Party press releases, according to State GOP Chair Art Wittich, I’m a “Fireweed Fraud” — part of a vast left-wing conspiracy of out-of-state dark money quietly funding responsible Republicans across Montana.
Let me pull back the curtain on this “vast conspiracy”.
Mr. Wittich and Cynthia Marble say I conspired with “leftists” by voting to:
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Cut property taxes for more than 80% with a lower effective rate for over 97% of Montana residents – the average reduction for a Carbon County resident homeowner was 7.5% in Tax Year (TY) 25, with another 17% reduction in TY 26
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Lower income taxes for working Montanans
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Raise the business equipment tax exemption from $300,000 to $1 million to make our small businesses and ag production more competitive
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Protect rural hospitals and clinics so families don’t have to drive hours for care
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Protect women’s sports
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Stop gender transition procedures for kids
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Streamline approval for energy projects to bring utility costs down
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Pay down state debt and tackle deferred maintenance on bridges and water infrastructure instead of handing the bill to our kids
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Defend the independence of the judiciary instead of turning courtrooms into campaign events
These are common-sense, good-governance votes that I don’t find particularly partisan one way or the other. Most of you that I have spoken with at the scheduled debates, your homes and businesses are fed up with the hyper-partisanship that is focused on party power instead of working for constituents.
Why the smears?
Because I work for Carbon County. Not Americans for Prosperity (AFP) or their out-of-state corporate donors who want to repeal homestead tax exemptions. Not the Montana Freedom Caucus. Not Art Wittich’s State GOP.
I voted with the Republican Party 88% of the time (the Republican average was 90%) and worked with Governor Gianforte, who, last I checked, is the actual leader of the Montana Republican Party. Anyone confused about who speaks for the State GOP can compare the Governor’s record with Mr. Wittich’s, who holds the dubious distinction of receiving the largest campaign finance violation fine in Montana history.
Voting in lockstep with any group 100% isn’t possible if legislators are working for their constituents and the unique needs of their districts. If that’s the standard, why have elections at all? Just give the party chairs all the votes and call it a day.
I campaigned on putting constituents first and standing up to party bosses and out-of-state special interests pushing their own agendas at Montana’s expense. That’s exactly what I’ve done, and that’s exactly why these attacks are coming.
Expect more, not less, before June 2nd
The primary election is Tuesday, June 2nd. Absentee ballots start arriving in mailboxes on May 9th. Between now and then, expect the smears to escalate. The further we get from substance, the louder the noise gets.
So, I’ll ask one thing of you: please do your homework.
If you’ve heard something about me that concerns you — a rumor at the coffee shop, a mailer in your box, a Facebook post from someone — pick up the phone or send me an email before you pass it along. My number is 406-426-1034. My email is brad@bradbarker.com.
If you haven’t given me the chance to answer for myself, you haven’t done your homework.
Come ask me in person
Better yet, look me in the eye. I’ll be at the candidate debate tonight, April 30th, at the Beartooth Elks Lodge in Red Lodge. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the event starts at 7 pm.
Bring your toughest questions.
It is an honor to serve you.
Brad Barker
Representative
House District 55 (Carbon County)
brad@bradbarker.com
bradbarker.com
406-426-1034
facebook.com/Representative.Barker
CORRECTION: In an article from the Mary Horman Campaign published in the April 30th, 2026 edition of the Carbon County News (CCN), Mary's Campaign claims "Horman also answered questions set to her by the Montana GOP questionnaire to give the party her perspective on how she views the issues affecting Montana. The questionnaire was sent to all candidates for the Montana Legislature. While her opposing candidate, Brad Barker, choose not to return the survey, Horman felt it valuable to the Carbon County voters to be able to review her political ideals for themselves."
That is not correct. Not only did I return the survey last fall, but I also sent it to every newspaper in Montana for which I have contact information. That includes sending it to the CCN.
Because of the length of my response, the CCN news published
Part 1 on August 28th, 2025 and
Part 2 on September 4th, 2025.
I have also shown up to answer questions from actual constituents instead of just party bosses by attending the first two Carbon County Republican Central Committee debates that Mary skipped.
Please consider donating to my campaign to help push back on the dishonest information being spread by Art Wittich's MT GOP, Americans for Prosperity, the Freedom Caucus, Accountability in State Government, School Freedom Fund, and the Horman Campaign.
