Good afternoon and happy Wednesday, Beacon readers! Mariah Thomas here, back in the office after a few days of playing tour guide for a friend visiting from out of town. It’s always so fun to see this beautiful place we’re so blessed to live in through fresh eyes. Plus, I was stoked to get out on my first hike since ACL surgery back at the end of February!
That’s enough about me. Let’s get on with today’s roundup.
This week, we’ve been rolling out candidate questionnaires, which our reporters sent out to legislators in competitive primaries across the valley and in its surrounding areas. Hopefully, it helps each of you cast informed votes as some of you start receiving absentee ballots. And remember, you must choose one ballot to vote in the primary — either for Democrats, Libertarians or Republicans.
As those questionnaires have rolled out, I wanted to take a pause and offer some context to something one candidate mentioned in their questionnaire.
Cathy Mitchell, one of two Republicans running for a chance to take on incumbent Democratic Rep. Debo Powers in House District 3 in November, wrote in one of her answers that her Republican opponent, entrepreneur Derek Peachey, had flyers sent out on his behalf by a group called Conservatives4MT and took issue with a recent complaint filed against the group. You can read both of their questionnaires here.
Conservatives4MT, a political action committee which according to its website exists to “back principled, steady leaders,” has run afoul of the state GOP and recently became the subject of a Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) complaint — though House District 3, where Mitchell and Peachey are running, is not listed as one of the districts at-issue in the complaint.
The complaint, filed by Donna Elford of Helena, accuses the group of violating a state law passed in 2025 barring groups from using “deepfake” images on campaign materials without providing disclosures.
The mailers listed in the complaint focus on a competitive primary in Senate District 43 in Ravalli County, on Zack Wirth who is running against Llew Jones in Senate District 9 and on incumbent Sen. Barry Usher.
The law requires a disclosure that the image has been “significantly edited by artificial intelligence and depicts speech or conduct that falsely appears to be authentic or truthful.” A single sufficiency finding by the Commissioner of Political Practices is subject to civil penalties, with penalties getting harsher with more sufficiency findings.
The complaints about deepfake images on campaign materials come during a contentious primary election cycle, and as deepfake images have proliferated — both in politics and outside of it, with lawmakers at the state and national levels just starting to take action on the topic.
Christopher Gallus, the state’s Commissioner of Political Practices, has accepted the complaint and asked Conservatives4MT treasurer Ross Fitzgerald, the chair of the Teton County GOP Central Committee, to respond. Fitzgerald has until May 18 to pen an answer.
But the COPP complaints against Conservatives4MT are only part of the story with the state’s new deepfake law.
Several complaints have also been filed and accepted by Gallus against a Republican-aligned PAC called Accountability in State Government. Those complaints similarly accuse that PAC of creating deepfake images and sending them out to voters without proper disclosures.
One complaint was filed by Fitzgerald, the treasurer of Conservatives4MT. Fitzgerald’s May 4 complaint included images of several mailers sent out about Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, who is in a competitive race for Senate District 9. And two were filed by candidates running for office themselves, in Jennifer Carlson of Bozeman and Eric Albus of Hinsdale. Their complaints each include images of mailers sent out in their districts opposing them by referring to them as “woke” or “DEI.” The mailers include manipulated images of the candidates wearing buttons declaring their pronouns and waving pride flags. COPP has not yet publicly posted responses to the complaints from Accountability in State Government, though they were due May 8 in Carlson’s case, and May 11 for both Albus’s and Fitzgerald’s complaints.
More locally, Rep. Linda Reksten, R-Polson, who is engaged in a competitive primary to retain her seat, told the Beacon in April that a similar mailer had been sent out in her district. She shared an image of the flyer with the Beacon, which referred to her as “woke,” depicted her wearing a button with pronouns on it and waving a pride flag and promoting “woke” policies — claims Reksten has disavowed. She said she viewed the flyers as insulting to her constituents (“They must think they’re really gullible,” Reksten said). Reksten has not filed a complaint with COPP about the mailers, however.
COPP has not completed its investigations on any of the complaints mentioned in this newsletter, however, which means there’s been no definitive determinations as to whether deepfake imagery was, in fact, used. It remains an interesting tidbit to follow (among many this election cycle) as the new law about deepfakes and disclosures is tested.
And … that’s what I’ve got for you this Wednesday, folks! On to the rest of today’s Daily Roundup.
2026 Primary Election: Open Seat in Lincoln County’s Senate District 1 Draws Three-way Republican Contest
Two four-term Republican state reps are squaring off against a Merchant Marine from Libby in a three-way race for a Senate seat left open by termed-out lawmaker Mike Cuffe
2026 Primary Election: Two Democratic Candidates Vie for Nomination in Senate District 8
A two-way primary is taking place in Senate District 8 with both State Rep. Tyson Running Wolf and social worker Jade-Heather Ackerman on the Democratic ticket
In 1969, five climbers set out to accomplish what no one had before: to scale the sheer north face of Mount Cleveland, Glacier National Park's tallest mountain, in winter. Instead, tragedy struck and they were buried in an avalanche so deep that their bodies would not be discovered until the following June, 188 days after their disappearance.
Join the Humane Society of Northwest Montana for a heartwarming day of fun, community, and compassion at the annual Summer Shindig & Fundraiser, “Paws in Paradise,” happening Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 100 Adopt A Pet Way in Kalispell. This free, family friendly event invites the entire Flathead Valley to come together in support of animals in need.
The Shindig is more than just a celebration — it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Guests can enjoy a wide variety of activities, including a silent auction, raffle basket drawings, and the final day to enter the exciting 50/50 raffle. Live music from local favorite Stevendebi will set the tone from noon to 3 p.m., creating a festive atmosphere for all ages.
Families will love the kid-friendly area featuring a bouncy house and games, while pet lovers can participate in fun contests designed for both people and their four-legged companions. Local vendors will be on-site showcasing unique goods, and delicious offerings from food trucks—including BBQ and refreshing treats—will keep everyone energized throughout the day.
Every moment spent at the Summer Shindig helps support the Humane Society’s mission to care for, protect, and find loving homes for shelter animals. Bring your friends, bring your well-behaved dogs, and experience a joyful day dedicated to a great cause. Together, we can give more animals the second chance they deserve.
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