In an apparently historic win, Democrat Sam Forstag claimed victory over Republican challenger Aaron Flint in the highly competitive Western U.S. House District race late Tuesday evening. It’s the first time in more than 30 years that Montanans have sent a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The last time Montanans elected a Democrat to the U.S. House was in 1994 when Pat Williams won his reelection — the same year Forstag was born.
The Associated Press had not yet called the race as of 5:30 Wednesday morning. With 78% of the vote counted, Forstag led Flint 51.5% to 45.7%, a gap of roughly 12,000 votes. Libertarian Nick Sheedy had claimed 2.8% of the vote.
Wearing jeans, a belt buckle and a blue button-up shirt, Forstag took the stage inside the Florence Building in downtown Missoula at around 11:30 p.m.
“After tonight, when we’re done celebrating, remember that this is not the end,” he told the crowd of hundreds of people. “This is just the beginning. We’re going to make sure everybody in this country can work one job and afford housing and healthcare and childcare to get retired. So, tomorrow, we start that work.”
More than a dozen of Forstag’s campaign staffers, most of whom are in their 20s and 30s, joined him on stage, hugging and crying.
“Sam! Sam! Sam! Sam!” the crowd cheered.
Months before the election, several polls showed Flint and Forstag in a statistical tie, but as Election Day neared, the highly competitive Western U.S. House race was trending in favor of Democrat Forstag over Republican Flint. This is the third time the 16-county Western District has been on the ballot. Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, first elected to the seat in 2022, chose not to run and threw his support behind Flint in March. The Flint-Forstag matchup is Montana’s first U.S. House race not to include a baby boomer candidate in 30 years.
It’s been eight years since a Democrat won a statewide race in Montana, when Jon Tester last won reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2018.
“We never imagined all those years ago that it would take this long to elect a Democrat to this House seat,” Erin Williams, Pat Williams’ daughter, told the crowd at the Florence Building Tuesday night just after polls closed.
Forstag, a 32-year-old seasonal smokejumper and wildland firefighter from Missoula, has emphasized his background and the need for working-class representation in Washington. His platform includes expanding access to healthcare, increasing taxes on the wealthy, reforming the immigration system, protecting public lands and expanding energy infrastructure to lower costs.
Both candidates argued the other will not do enough to rein in data center development. Forstag said he will fight for federal legislation to regulate data center development. Flint told Montana Free Press that the state should welcome data centers if they don’t lead to increased electricity rates or water shortages.
Flint, a 46-year-old Iraq War veteran and former conservative talk radio host, has argued that federal overreach and regulation threaten Montana’s interests. The Flathead County resident supports broader trades education, and his positions align with national conservative priorities on healthcare and abortion.
President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson all visited Montana in October to stump for Flint.
Speaking to media outlets Tuesday evening, Flint said he hoped his message and long history in Montana resonated with voters, even if they didn’t agree with him on everything.
Just after midnight on Wednesday morning, his campaign said Flint had called Forstag to concede.
Tom Lutey and Katie Fairbanks contributed to reporting.
