Who's running in Montana's 1st congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Keeping public lands in public hands and accessible.
Reviving the timber industry by cutting red tape and increasing responsible harvests.
Stopping Wall Street firms from buying family homes and cutting permitting costs on new housing.
Apprenticeships and trade training.
Targeting federal rural health funding, such as the 2025 law's rural health fund, to rural providers.
Not tying the president's hands on military action; he says Trump is ending the Iran war rather than starting it.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has not held elected office.
Statewide radio talk show host since 2009; former state director for Rep. Ryan Zinke and communications director for Greg Gianforte's 2016 campaign.
US Army National Guard and Reserves, 2002–2024.
Won the June 2, 2026 Republican primary with 50.1%.
Endorsed by President Trump, Sen. Tim Sheehy, Rep. Troy Downing, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Speaker Mike Johnson, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
'Aaron Flint is a strong conservative voice who understands Montana's values of freedom, hard work, and self-reliance. He's ready to help House Republicans defend the American way of life, lower costs, and keep Montana red.'
— NRCC spokesman Christian Martinez (Daily Montanan)
Flint has spent nearly two decades on statewide radio hearing Montanans' frustrations: 'I am not guessing what people want; I have been listening to them for nearly two decades.'
'Flint would be just another rubberstamp for an extreme agenda that's gutting health care to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, instituting reckless tariffs that are jacking up costs on families and businesses.'
Letting everyone buy into Medicare and expanding ACA subsidies so coverage is free for working people.
Higher reimbursement rates for rural hospitals and Medicare negotiation of all drug prices.
Large federal housing investment, a ban on hedge funds and private equity buying homes, and a first-time homebuyer tax credit.
Enforcing the War Powers Resolution and ending the war with Iran.
Free child care and pre-K.
Sustainable timber harvest and honoring treaty obligations to tribal nations.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has not held elected office.
Smokejumper; vice president of NFFE Local 60; former lobbyist and legislative strategist.
Won the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary with 37.3%.
Endorsed by former Sen. Jon Tester, former Govs. Steve Bullock, Brian Schweitzer and Marc Racicot (a Republican), Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Montana AFL-CIO, the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the Blue Dog PAC and the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
'Sam Forstag is a smokejumper and union leader who puts his life on the line to protect his neighbors and community from wildfires. ... Sam is the kind of authentic, dynamic leader that working people want fighting for them in Washington.'
— DCCC, Red to Blue announcement (NBC Montana)
Former Sen. Jon Tester, former Govs. Steve Bullock and Marc Racicot, and the Montana AFL-CIO have endorsed Forstag.
— Listed endorsements, Wikipedia's race page
Arguments against
'National Democrats are propping up lobbyist Sam Forstag because he's the perfect socialist stooge: obedient, shameless, and desperate to do whatever the radical left demands.'
— NRCC spokesman Christian Martinez
Forstag 'is out of touch with Montana values and would bring the failed policies that drove up costs, opened the border, and hurt working families straight to Washington.'
— NRCC spokesman Christian Martinez, statement on primary results
What we couldn’t verify
Debate plans for the general election had not been reported in a loaded source.
His campaign website address could not be confirmed from a loaded page.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
November 3, 2026 is Montana's general election, decided by plurality; there is no runoff. The map did not change for 2026: the districts adopted by the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission in November 2021 remain in use, and no mid-decade redraw or pending congressional map case was found. This is an open seat: Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke announced his retirement on March 2, 2026 and endorsed Aaron Flint. Primaries were held June 2, 2026. Republican Aaron Flint won with 50.1% over Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Al Olszewski; Democrat Sam Forstag won with 37.3% over 2024 governor nominee Ryan Busse and two others; Nick Sheedy was unopposed for the Libertarian nomination. Independent Kimberly Persico, still listed by Ballotpedia, did not submit enough petition signatures (562 accepted of 6,742 needed), and the Secretary of State's July certification of independent candidates did not include anyone in this district. Write-in candidates are not listed. The district covers western Montana, including Missoula, Bozeman, Butte and Kalispell. Zinke won 52.3% in 2024, while Trump carried the district 54% to 43%. The DCCC has named Forstag to Red to Blue and the NRCC has named Flint to MAGA Majority. Candidates are listed Republican, Democratic, Libertarian as in published listings; that is not verified ballot order and implies no ranking.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Montana ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.