Democratic Candidates Talk Affordability, Healthcare, Childcare At First Congressional District Debate

Bozeman, Mont. — Voters in Bozeman got a closer look at four candidates in Montana’s 1st Congressional District during a debate at the Emerson Center for the Arts, on Thursday, May 7th. 

Candidates Sam Forstag, Ryan Busse, Russell Cleveland, and Matt Rains laid out why they are running and what they plan to focus on in their campaigns. 

Forstag pointed to taxes as one of his priorities. 

“Let’s reform our tax system, let’s make sure that nobody making over a million dollars a year is paying a lower share of their income than somebody making 80 thousand dollars a year and barely getting by in this state,” said Sam Forstag.  

A major theme during the debate was each candidate’s push to move Montana in a more Democratic direction.  

“Better times are coming. I can feel it in the wind; I know all of you can, too. We’re about ready to plant a blue flag here in Western Montana, something that we haven’t done for a little while,” said Ryan Busse.  

The candidates also talked about healthcare and childcare during the event.  

Russell Cleveland tied his campaign to a personal loss and to his concerns about research funding.  

“Passion is a dad sitting inside that hospital room holding my little girls’ hand, as she took her final breaths, losing her fight to one of the nastiest diseases that just last year pediatric cancer research was one of the first things that DOGE cut,” said Cleveland. “That is why I’m in this race. Not to go take a position in Washington D.C, to take a desk. But to fight for real change,” said Russell Cleveland.  

Near the end of the debate, candidates also shared views on the war in Iran and called for the conflict to stop.  

“This is why we have to flip this seat. The urgency has never been greater. We have to put checks and balances so this doesn’t happen, and we can make sure that congress takes back the power to declare war,” said Matt Rains.  

Polls for the primary election are set to open on June 2nd from 7:00am to 8:00pm.  

While the democratic candidates took the stage on Thursday, the next Republican debate is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13 at 5:30 at Superior Elementary School. More on that event can be found here.