Lion Leadership Fund Announces 2026 Slate Endorsements

National Leadership Organization Backs Proven Leaders in Utah, Montana, and Pennsylvania

Today Lion Leadership Fund (LLF), a national 527 political organization dedicated to electing principled and pragmatic public leaders at the state and local levels, announced its newest endorsement of a slate of candidates in key 2026 legislative races across Utah, Montana, and Pennsylvania.

The endorsed candidates represent a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise – from military veterans to educators to business leaders – united by their commitment to effective governance and putting constituents first. LLF expects to announce additional endorsements throughout 2026.

"This slate represents exactly the kind of leadership our country needs: experienced, principled, and focused on solving problems rather than playing politics," said Amanda Iovino, Senior Advisor to Lion Leadership Fund. "Each of these candidates has demonstrated the ability to deliver results for their communities while maintaining the courage to make tough decisions."

The 2026 LLF Endorsed Slate includes:

MONTANA

Representative Courtenay Sprunger (State House District 7) – A fifth-generation Montanan and small business owner, Sprunger has built her career on bringing people together to solve tough challenges—from securing tax relief and improving infrastructure to expanding education and housing opportunities. She has championed landmark investments in roads, workforce development, and public safety, and is passionate about using her voice to promote the common good for all Montanans.

Representative Kerri Seekins-Crowe (State House District 39) – A strong voice for protecting the most vulnerable, Seekins-Crowe champions policies that defend life, strengthen families, and uphold community values. She serves as Vice Chair of the Business and Labor Committee and chairs both the Republican Energy Caucus and Gun/Archery Range Commission. Running for her fourth term, she continues to fight for those without a voice.

Representative Brad Barker (State House District 55) – A West Point graduate and 20-year Army combat veteran, Barker has delivered results for Montana families: simplified income taxes, spending growth held to less than half a percent per year, and transparency laws requiring government bodies to publish agendas and post public meetings. He answers to his constituents, and his record proves it.

Representative Michele Binkley (State House District 85) – A former state representative and the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and mother of two Marines, Binkley returned to Montana over 20 years ago to raise her family in the Bitterroot Valley. With a career in banking and entrepreneurship, she brings business experience and a commitment to supporting the veteran community.

Representative David Bedey (State Senate District 43) – A retired Army colonel who served 30 years including deployment during the Persian Gulf War and as a professor at West Point, Bedey returned home to Hamilton where he served as CFO of an engineering firm and nine years on the local school board. Now completing his fourth term in the Montana House, he has sponsored bills on education funding, public health policy, and election security.

PENNSYLVANIA

Senator Tracy Pennycuick (State Senate District 24) – A 26-year U.S. Army veteran who retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after three combat tours, Pennycuick serves as Chair of the Senate Communications & Technology Committee. She has led bipartisan efforts to combat AI-generated exploitation of children and authored legislation protecting families and veterans. After military service, she started a small business and served as Director of Veterans Affairs for Montgomery County.

Representative Kristin Marcell (State House District 178) – A Bucks County mom and former school board member who got her start fighting to save her local elementary school, Marcell is focused on delivering for local families, supporting strong schools, promoting economic growth, ensuring fiscal accountability, and keeping communities safe. Kristin knows firsthand that personal attacks and vitriol don’t solve our problems and that politics as usual doesn’t bring people together. Instead, she believes in working together and taking action to get results.

Representative Martina White (State House District 170) – The first new Republican elected in Philadelphia in 25 years, White has worked hard to make life more affordable for working families. She has increased school funding to record levels while also fighting for school choice initiatives that help children and families trapped in consistently failing schools.

UTAH

Representative Jill Koford (State Senate District 5) – A lifelong Weber County resident and current House member who flipped the only Democrat seat held outside Salt Lake County in 2024. With a Master of Teaching from USC and service on Natural Resources, Revenue and Taxation, and as Vice Chair of Higher Ed Appropriations, Koford has passed important water legislation and property tax transparency measures. She believes in small government, limited taxes, and individual liberty.

Representative Tiara Auxier (State House District 4) – Appointed in January 2025 and seeking her first election, Auxier brings fresh energy and perspective to representing her community in the Utah Legislature.

"These candidates understand that public service is about more than talking points – it's about showing up, doing the hard work, and delivering for the people who elected you," Iovino added. "We're proud to support leaders who embody those values."

About Lion Leadership Fund 

The Lion Leadership Fund supports conservative candidates who demonstrate principled leadership, and who believe in the sanctity of public service – the responsibility inherent in the position to act in the best interest of their communities without shying away from tough issues or decisions and working across the aisle to find the best solutions when needed.

Media Contact: 

Amanda Iovino

516-459-5931

amanda@pantheoninsight.com