Sam
Forstag
Missoula smokejumper and union leader running as 2026 Democratic nominee for Montana's open 1st Congressional District seat
- sources
- 20
- positions
- 12
- endorsements
- 56
Background
Sam Forstag is the 2026 Democratic nominee for Montana's 1st Congressional District, running for the open seat vacated by Republican Ryan Zinke. Based in Missoula, Montana, he is a U.S. Forest Service smokejumper and union leader who served as vice president of his union's local chapter. 21217
Before his candidacy, Forstag worked his way through the University of Montana, where he was elected president of the student government. He went on to work as a lobbyist for the Montana ACLU and Montana Associated Students, helped build and manage the Montana Coalition to Solve Homelessness, and worked between fire seasons as an organizer and advocate at the Montana Legislature. 412
Forstag entered the Democratic primary in January 2026 and won the nomination on June 2, 2026. He faces a competitive general election in a district targeted by both the DCCC and NRCC. His campaign emphasizes his background as a union leader and public lands worker. 2116
His lobbying record drew scrutiny during the campaign, and his candidacy has attracted national attention including a September 2026 interview on the Politics War Room podcast. 1418
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 1, Montana
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Democratic nominee for Montana's 1st Congressional District
- Website
- samformontana.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 13debateForstag and Flint scheduled to debate in Missoula (upcoming as of Oct. 12)
A debate between Forstag and Flint in Missoula was reported as scheduled for October 13, still upcoming as of October 12.
Trump on the stump for Flint · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 12newsForstag interviewed on KPAX after transitioning from wildfire work to campaign trail
Forstag spoke with KPAX about jumping from wildfire duties to campaigning, called Roadless Rule repeal 'absurd,' argued local communities should be able to reject data center projects, and claimed an AI Super PAC had put $590,000 into his opponent's campaign.
Sam Forstag jumps from wildfires to the campaign trail · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 11newsForstag opposes tariff-free foreign beef imports, calls for protecting smaller producers
Forstag said tariff-free beef imports undercut Montana farmers and ranchers, and called for protecting smaller producers from meatpacker consolidation and for more local meat-processing capacity.
Forstag, Flint lay out policy positions ahead of election · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 11newsForstag calls housing a crisis, proposes federal role in supply and banning corporate home ownership
Forstag outlined housing policy proposals including Community Development Block Grants, community land trusts, incentives for new housing, a ban on corporate home ownership, and limits on out-of-state private-equity purchases of mobile-home parks.
Forstag, Flint lay out policy positions ahead of election · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 11newsForstag calls for federal requirements that AI companies pay for power their data centers use
Forstag proposed federal requirements that AI companies demonstrate they can provide and pay for the power their data centers need while avoiding environmental harm.
Forstag, Flint lay out policy positions ahead of election · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8debateFlint and Forstag face off in Montana Television Network debate in Bozeman
In a 30-minute forum in Bozeman, both candidates said data-center development should protect Montana's electricity supply and water, and each accused the other of being compromised by PAC spending on the issue.
Western House Debate 2026: Flint and Forstag face off in Bozeman · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8endorsementNFFE-IAM union touts Forstag campaign, highlights endorsements and no corporate PAC pledge
The IAM Union reported that Forstag had backing from the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAM Union, and AFL-CIO, and was campaigning without corporate PAC money.
NFFE-IAM's Sam Forstag Campaigns for Montana's 1st ... · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7newsForstag and Flint lay out healthcare policy positions
Montana Free Press reported on how Forstag and other Montana federal candidates plan to tackle healthcare policy ahead of the November election.
How Montana's candidates for federal office plan to tackle healthcare · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2pollMontana Public Radio describes MT-1 race as a 'virtual tie' amid new polling and ads
MTPR's Campaign Beat described the district race as a virtual tie, noting recent polls varied but consistently showed a close contest between Forstag and Flint.
Campaign Beat: New polling, new ads, new challenges · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsBroad donor coalition behind smokejumper Forstag highlighted
Reporting highlighted the wide donor coalition supporting Forstag, who was described as a smokejumper-turned-candidate running without corporate PAC money.
The Broad Donor Coalition Behind the Smokejumper Running ... · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 19pollPoll shows Forstag and Flint in virtual tie at roughly 45% each
A survey by American Pulse Research & Polling of 314 likely voters (Sept. 19–24) found Flint at 45.9%, Forstag at 45.4%, and Libertarian Sheedy at 5.4%, effectively a tie.
2026 Montana District 1 U.S. House Election: Polls, Candidates, Money & Dates | Election.org · Sep 19, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 7newsForstag fundraising email still cites Sanders and AOC endorsements
A September 7 fundraising email from Forstag's campaign continued to cite Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as endorsers, even as their names had disappeared from the campaign website's endorsement page.
MT Dem Sam Forstag Removes Sanders, AOC from Endorsement Page · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 2filingForstag wins Democratic primary for Montana's 1st Congressional District
Sam Forstag won the Democratic nomination in the June 2 primary, advancing to the general election against Republican Aaron Flint and Libertarian Nick Sheedy.
MT Dem Sam Forstag Removes Sanders, AOC from Endorsement Page · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Derek Harvey officialMontana State Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Boilermakers Local Lodge 11 unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Common Defense organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Steve Bullock officialFormer Montana Governor; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Zooey Zephyr officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Joey Morrison officialBozeman Mayor; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- National Federation of Federal Employees unionListed on campaign endorsement page; also mentioned in IAM Union report published October 8. Specific endorsement date not given. samformontana.com
- Jon Tester officialFormer U.S. Senator from Montana; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Jennifer Lynch officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Willis Curdy officialMontana State Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Missoula Firefighters—IAFF Local 271 unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund organizationListed among endorsed 2026 U.S. House candidates; no individual endorsement date given. plannedparenthoodaction.org
- Pramila Jayapal officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Tyson Running Wolf officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- National Organization for Women organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Marc Racicot officialFormer Montana Governor; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Bob Carter officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Kyle Waterman officialKalispell City Council Member; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Montana State Conference of Electrical Workers unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Bernie Sanders officialU.S. Senator; endorsed Forstag during the primary. The campaign's 'National Leaders' section was reportedly removed from the public-facing page between June 9 and August 28 but endorsement continued to be cited by the campaign in September. breitbart.com
- Brian Schweitzer officialFormer Montana Governor; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- SJ Howell officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Emma Bode officialBozeman City Council Member; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Montana State Building & Construction Trades Council unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez officialU.S. Representative; endorsed Forstag during the primary and campaigned with him at a May 28 rally. Endorsement section reportedly removed from public-facing page after the primary but continued to be cited by the campaign in September. breitbart.com
- Scott Demarois officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Susan Webber officialMontana State Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Butte Firefighters—IAFF Local 96 unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Montana Conservation Voters organizationListed on MCV endorsements page; no specific endorsement date given. mtvoters.org
- Chris Deluzio officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Thedis Crowe officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Emma Kerr-Carpenter officialMontana State Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Montana Federation of Public Employees unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- League of Conservation Voters organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Lateefah Simon officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Eric Matthews officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Ellie Boldman officialMontana State Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- League of Labor Voters organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Robert Garcia officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Kelly Kortum officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Andrea Olsen officialMontana State Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- National Flight Attendants Union—AFA-CWA unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Congressional Progressive Caucus organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Jamie Raskin officialU.S. Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Peter Strand officialMontana State Representative; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- Mary Ann Dunwell officialMontana State Senator; listed on campaign endorsement page. No specific date given. samformontana.com
- AFSCME unionListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- Social Security Works organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; no specific endorsement date given. samformontana.com
- MoveOn organizationEndorsement page published September 21, updated October 2, 2026. front.moveon.org · Sep 21, 2026
- Blue Dog PAC organizationAnnounced endorsement on September 16, 2026. bluedogdems.com · Sep 16, 2026
- Forward Montana organizationAnnounced endorsement on July 30, 2026. forwardmontana.org · Jul 30, 2026
- American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) unionLargest federal employee union announced endorsement on May 12, 2026. afge.org · May 12, 2026
- Montana Alliance for Retired Americans unionAnnounced endorsement jointly with Montana AFL-CIO and SEIU 775 on April 2, 2026. retiredamericans.org · Apr 2, 2026
- SEIU 775 unionAnnounced endorsement jointly with Montana AFL-CIO and Montana Alliance for Retired Americans on April 2, 2026. retiredamericans.org · Apr 2, 2026
- Montana AFL-CIO unionAnnounced endorsement jointly with SEIU 775 and Montana Alliance for Retired Americans on April 2, 2026. retiredamericans.org · Apr 2, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $1.38M
- Spent
- $833K
- Cash on hand
- $550K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6MT01137(opens in a new tab)
Sources 20
- [1] Sam Forstag jumps from wildfires to the campaign trail(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [2] Forstag, Flint lay out policy positions ahead of election(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [3] 2026 Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorsed Candidates(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [4] NFFE-IAM's Sam Forstag Campaigns for Montana's 1st ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [5] Trump on the stump for Flint(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [6] Western House Debate 2026: Flint and Forstag face off in Bozeman(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [7] How Montana's candidates for federal office plan to tackle healthcare(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [8] MCV's Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [9] Campaign Beat: New polling, new ads, new challenges(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [10] MT Dem Sam Forstag Removes Sanders, AOC from Endorsement Page(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [11] The Broad Donor Coalition Behind the Smokejumper Running ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [12] Sam Forstag : MoveOn: People-Powered Progress(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [13] 2026 Montana District 1 U.S. House Election: Polls, Candidates, Money & Dates | Election.org(opens in a new tab) Sep 19, 2026
- [14] News - Blue Dog PAC(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [15] Policies(opens in a new tab) Aug 14, 2026
- [16] Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Aug 5, 2026
- [17] Forward Montana Endorsement Announcement(opens in a new tab) Jul 30, 2026
- [18] Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Smokejumper and ...(opens in a new tab) May 12, 2026
- [19] Three Montana Labor Organizations Endorse Union ...(opens in a new tab) Apr 2, 2026
- [20] Q&A: Sam Forstag, Democratic western district U.S. House ...(opens in a new tab) Mar 31, 2026