Sam Forstag, the Democratic nominee in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, is campaigning on a blue-collar, working-class image, but his past work as a registered lobbyist includes opposition to state-level bills on several contentious cultural issues. Records show Forstag, between 2021 and 2023, advocated against legislation that would have restricted drag performances in public schools and libraries, banned gender-transition procedures for minors, and limited sanctuary policies.
Forstag has emphasized themes of affordability, corruption, and working-class frustrations in his campaign. His lobbying record, however, places him on opposing sides of issues that could alienate centrist voters in the heavily Republican state.
During his tenure as a lobbyist for organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the Montana Library Association, and the City of Missoula, Forstag testified against or was otherwise tied to opposition to bills concerning drag performances, transgender medical treatments for minors, student athletes' biological sex in sports, voter ID requirements, and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
In 2023, Forstag told Montana lawmakers that a bill restricting minors from attending drag performances was an attempt to "stir up fear and distrust of our fellow citizens." He argued that such measures were overly broad and could impact transgender or nonbinary individuals participating in library programming.
Forstag also opposed Senate Bill 99, which banned certain gender-transition procedures and medications for minors. In testimony on the bill, he urged lawmakers to "leave personal and medical decisions to families and their chosen health care providers."
While representing the ACLU of Montana, Forstag was associated with opposition to House Bill 112, which mandated student athletes compete based on biological sex, and Senate Bill 169, which sought to increase scrutiny of voter ID protocols.
He also opposed bills related to sanctuary policies and local officials’ cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including measures requiring compliance with immigration detainers.
When questioned about his lobbying record, Forstag defended his work in the state capitol as a defense of "working people and individual freedom." He stated, "Between fire seasons, I fought for working people in a state capitol that too often ignores us." Forstag characterized his opposition to bills on transgender medical procedures as a stance against government overreach in personal decisions, asserting, "I believe the government’s got no place getting involved in peoples’ private, personal decisions."
Regarding immigration, Forstag, who has received endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, argued that local police should not be compelled to enforce federal immigration laws, stating that such actions "make our communities less safe and put police in a bad spot."
A Montana Republican strategist, Jake Eaton, suggested that Forstag's lobbying history could undermine his appeal to blue-collar and swing voters, noting that issues surrounding transgender policies, schools, and immigration have broad demographic reach. Eaton also described Forstag as representative of the Democratic Party's leftward shift in Montana.
However, Democratic consultant Eric Koch countered that Forstag's record aligns with his core message of limiting government intervention in personal matters. Koch suggested that Republicans prefer to focus on cultural issues rather than the economic contrast Forstag presents with his opponent.
Forstag won the Democratic primary against Ryan Busse, Russell Cleveland, and Matt Rains. He will face Republican nominee Aaron Flint, an Army veteran and radio host, in the general election for the open western Montana seat currently held by GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke, who is not seeking re-election.