Forstag claims win in Western Montana U.S. House district

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

In a statement, Busse thanked his supporters, volunteers and voters, and congratulated Forstag on the victory, saying he’s excited to support Forstag.

“Now is the time to come together and fight for the Montana we want to see,” Busse said. “That means helping Forstag defeat radio shock jock Aaron Flint.”

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

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. 

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.