// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Sam Forstag? Fore-stag, get it?
Sam Forstag | |
|---|---|
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| Personal details | |
| Born | May 23, 1994 Ohio, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Susie Lee (aunt) |
| Education | University of Montana (BA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Sam Forstag (born May 23, 1994) is an American labor union leader and former smokejumper who is the Democratic Party's nominee in the 2026 election for Montana's 1st Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.[1][2][3][4] He will face Republican Party nominee Aaron Flint and Libertarian Party nominee Nick Sheedy.[5] The winner will replace incumbent Republican Ryan Zinke.[6][7]
Forstag was born in Ohio,[8] and raised mostly by a single mother who worked as an ICU nurse in Portland, Oregon.[9] He moved to Montana in 2012,[8] and worked multiple jobs to pay for his undergraduate education at the University of Montana, where he studied philosophy and political science, and was elected student body president.[9][10] After graduating in 2017, he took a job as a wildland firefighter in order to pay off student loan debt, intending to apply to law school.[9] Instead he served as a wildland firefighter for eight years, including four years as a smokejumper.[5][11] During the off seasons, he worked as an organizer and lobbyist for the Montana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and for Central House Strategies where he represented the city of Missoula.[11] In 2025, he became Vice President of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 60, where he represents around 800 U.S. Forest Service workers.[9][12]
Forstag's Congressional campaign has focused on protecting public land, alongside economic issues such as housing and health care affordability.[1][13][14] He has been endorsed by union groups and national progressive leaders, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[15][16][17] Forstag has also been endorsed by Representative Susie Lee, who is his aunt.[12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Mazzei, Patricia (3 June 2026). "Former Smoke Jumper Wins Democratic House Primary in Montana". The New York Times.
- ↑ Woodall, Hunter (5 January 2026). "Democrats are talking about a midterm blue wave. A Montana smokejumper could help make it a reality". CBS News.
- ↑ Sainato, Michael (20 February 2026). "Smokejumper and union leader aims to win in Montana by focusing on workers". The Guardian.
- ↑ "samforstag". Instagram. 23 May 2026.
It's my birthday today. . . .
- 1 2 Brown, Emily (3 June 2026). "Forstag secures democratic nomination for Western Montana Congressional District". KPAX.
- ↑ Yilek, Caitlin (3 June 2026). "Sam Forstag wins Democratic primary in Montana's 1st Congressional District, CBS News projects". CBS News.
- ↑ "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Campaigns for Montana House Candidate Sam Forstag". C-SPAN. 28 May 2026.
- 1 2 Kimbel-Sannit, Arren (April 27, 2026). "Four brands of Democrat make their case in Montana's western congressional primary". Montana Free Press. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Randall, Cassidy (12 May 2026). "The Wildfire-Fighting Union Leader Who Could Change Montana Politics". Esquire.
- ↑ Amestoy, Austin (31 March 2026). "Q&A: Sam Forstag, Democratic western district U.S. House candidate". Montana Public Radio.
- 1 2 Kimbel-Sannit, Arren (2 February 2026). "Schvitzing with Sam Forstag". Pulp.
- 1 2 "Sam Forstag Launches Congressional Bid". National Smokejumper Association. 10 January 2026.
- ↑ Dapcevich, Madison (3 June 2026). "Sam Forstag Jumps out of Planes Fighting Wildfires. He Just Won Montana's Democratic Primary". Outside.
- ↑ Juhlin, Ellis (29 May 2026). "In Missoula, Forstag and Ocasio-Cortez campaign for working class votes". Montana Public Radio.
- ↑ Drew, Micah (2 June 2026). "Forstag declares victory in U.S. House district in western Montana". Daily Montanan.
- ↑ Fairbanks, Katie (28 May 2026). "Will Ocasio-Cortez's rally for Forstag matter?". Montana Free Press.
- ↑ Mabie, Nora; Lloyd, Zeke; Lutey, Tom; Olness, Jacob (5 June 2026). "What the June 2 primary results tell us about politics in Montana". Montana Free Press.