A Democrat running in a key Montana House race as a “smokejumper” and working-class outsider previously worked as a registered lobbyist opposing state-level bills that would have restricted drag performances in public schools and libraries, banned gender-transition procedures for minors and cracked down on sanctuary policies, records reviewed by Fox News Digital show.
Sam Forstag, the Democratic nominee in Montanas 1st Congressional District, has leaned into a campaign message, saying constituents like him “know how to work” and “know how to swing a tool.”Â
His campaign has focused heavily on affordability, corruption and working-class frustrations, but his lobbying record puts him on the record on several hot-button issues that could undercut his effort to appeal to more centrist voters in an already heavily Republican state.
Between 2021 and 2023, Forstag was listed as a registered lobbyist for groups and entities including the Planned Parenthood, the Montana Library Association and the City of Missoula. During that time, he testified against or was tied through lobbying records to opposition against bills involving drag performances in schools and libraries, transgender-related medical treatments for minors, boys competing in girls sports, voter ID and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“This bill is the latest of a series that I expect youll see that are intended to stir up fear and distrust of our fellow citizens,” Forstag told lawmakers in 2023 as Republicans considered a bill restricting minors from attending drag performances in public schools and libraries. Forstag argued the measure was overly broad and could affect people who are transgender or nonbinary participating in library programming, saying he hoped lawmakers did not intend to “prohibit an entire class of people” from serving in public libraries.
Forstag also opposed SB 99, a bill banning certain procedures and medications for minors. In testimony on the bill, Forstag urged lawmakers to “leave personal and medical decisions to families and their chosen health care providers.”
While representing the ACLU of Montana, Forstag was tied to opposition against HB 112, which required student athletes to and SB 169, a measure to increase scrutiny around voter ID protocols.
Forstag also opposed bills involving sanctuary policies and local law enforcement cooperation with including measures aimed at requiring local officials to comply with immigration detainers.Â
Forstag did not directly dispute the lobbying record when asked by Fox News Digital, instead defending his work in the state capitol as a fight for working people and individual freedom.
“Between fire seasons, I fought for working people in a state capitol that too often ignores us,” Forstag told Fox News Digital. “Instead of accepting a system where the extremes and the rich have the loudest voice, I worked my tail off to defend Montanans and freedoms and fight for policies that actually improve our lives.”
Forstag framed his opposition to bills involving transgender medical procedures as part of a broader belief that government should stay out of personal decisions.
“I believe the governments got no place getting involved in peoples private, personal decisions,” he said. “Politicians have no place coming for and no place inserting themselves into medical decisions that should be up to patients, parents, and doctors.”
On immigration, Forstag, who is backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said local police should not be forced to carry out federal
“Laws that force local law enforcement to do the federal governments bidding make our communities less safe and put police in a bad spot,” he said. “Immigration enforcement should be left to federal officials so our local police can keep Montanans safe.”
Jake Eaton, a longtime Montana Republican strategist who
