Sam Forstag declares victory in Dem primary for US House

Missoula smokejumper Sam Forstag declared victory Wednesday morning in a four-way contested primary among Democrats for Montana’s western U.S. House seat.

“Today, people across Montana made clear that we’re ready to send working class representation to Washington so that we can fight for ourselves,” Forstag said in a statement. “We’re ready to move past the politics of hate and division that national leaders have sold us to distract from their failures.

“We’re not just angry, we’re organized, and we’re ready to rebuild a politics of hope by fighting for the big, bold changes we need to finally fix a system where working people fall further behind while the rich get richer.”

Forstag earlier pulled ahead of former gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse and widened the lead to win with 37% over Busse’s 33%. Russ Cleveland earned 22%. 

Montana hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. House since Rep. Pat Williams retired in 1997, but in a year where political observers are predicting a swing away from President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, the district is on the list of potential pickups for Democrats. 

The four Democratic candidates met multiple times on debate stages and in forums around the district in an attempt to differentiate themselves for voters.

Forstag had the backing of union groups and national progressive officials including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the latter who stumped for Forstag in a last-minute rally last Thursday. 

Busse entered the race as the best-known candidate, having run for governor in 2024 — a race he lost by roughly 20 points — but earned 43% of votes in the state’s western district. 

Cleveland grew up in the Bitterroot, served in the U.S. Navy, has worked in corporate finance and founded a childcare startup in Colorado before his family moved to St. Regis. 

Living just a few miles outside the district in Simms, Matt Rains lives on his family ranch that goes back to the 1860s. He went to West Point, flew Black Hawk helicopters in Iraq, and has worked with the Montana Farmers Union. 

Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the district “Leans Republican,” while the Cook Political Report rates it “Likely Republican.”

 In 2022 and 2024, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke won his seat by 3 and nearly 8 points, respectively, but in 2024, he ran 6 points behind Trump, and then-Democratic Sen. Jon Tester won a slim majority in the district. 

Forstag will face Aaron Flint, a conservative talk radio host, who won the Republican contest earlier Tuesday evening.