Meet the Montana U.S. House Candidates

The MSU Exponent made every effort to contact candidates running for the U.S. House seat and the Montana House and Senate seats representing Bozeman and Belgrade. All candidates were provided with the same questions, the same instructions and the same word limit for their responses. The Exponent did not edit any of the responses for grammar or clarity. The Exponent does not endorse or oppose any candidate through the publication of these questionnaires. The questionnaires are intended to inform voters and help them make informed decisions.

Sam Forstag

Would you be able to provide a brief biography of yourself?

I was raised by an ICU nurse and a public school teacher. While attending the University of Montana (sorry!), I often worked 3 jobs at a time and still graduated with debt. After school, I became a smokejumper and a union leader with the US Forest Service.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

I’ll be fighting in Congress to make sure every Montanan can work one full-time job and afford housing, healthcare, and childcare.

That means significant, targeted federal investments in building housing that Montanans can afford in the places we need it. We have an array of tools at our disposal, from community land trusts to deed-restricted housing to partnerships with the private sector, that could help solve our housing crisis.

When it comes to healthcare, we should allow everyone–regardless of age–to buy into Medicare. We should expand it to cover vision and dental, and enhance the ACA tax credits to make Medicare low- or no-cost for working people.

The scarcity and unaffordability of childcare is one of the biggest barriers for working Montanans looking to raise a family. We can fix this by investing federal resources to make more spots available for more kids, and ensure that childcare providers earn a living wage.

None of this is too difficult for us to accomplish: we just need everyone in this country to carry their own weight. That means passing a minimum effective income tax rate for income above $1 million/year, eliminating the capital gains loophole so that income from stocks is taxed at the same rate as income from labor, and returning the corporate income tax rate to 35%, where it was 10 years ago. Working people in this country are carrying our weight, and we ought to make sure that the highest earners are doing the same.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

My first job after college was with Montana Associated Students, where I helped secure a $24 million statewide tuition freeze to keep higher education accessible for all Montanans, and helped pass Montana's first state-sponsored financial aid program in decades. Since then, I’ve worked as an organizer and advocate, a smokejumper, and a union leader here in Montana. 

More important than any professional experience, however, is my experience trying to survive as a working person in this state. I’ve had years when I clocked 1,000 hours of overtime but could still barely afford rent. I know exactly how hard it’s been to make ends meet, which is why I’ll fight harder than anyone to deliver real, positive change for all Montanans, not just the ultra-rich. If we want our government to work for working people, then we need to send working people to Congress so we can fight for ourselves!

Finally, if you feel comfortable sharing, what is your political affiliation?

I am running as a Democrat in this race — but in all honesty, I am extremely disappointed with both national parties. For far too long, it’s felt like regardless of the party that holds power, working people keep getting left behind while the ultra-rich get even richer. It’s in our power to change that–we just have to elect people who will represent us, not their corporate donors. 

Aaron Flint

Would you be able to provide a brief biography of yourself?

I’m a fifth-generation Montanan, retired Army lieutenant colonel, and local radio host. I served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earned two Bronze Stars, and graduated from the University of Montana. My wife Jessica and I are raising our three children in the Flathead.

What are your top three priorities if elected, and how do you plan to address them?

My top priority is making Montana affordable again. That starts with ending the war in Iran in a speedy and conclusive way, that eliminates the terrorist threat and reopens the global energy trade. We also need to address housing prices by modernizing federal permitting, expanding the local supply of lumber through responsible timber harvests, and supporting apprenticeships and skilled trade training so Montana has the skilled workforce to build more homes. I also support banning large Wall Street firms from buying single-family homes and we need to cut red tape by removing the egregious permitting burden that increases home prices and delays new projects.

Second, I will keep public lands in public hands. Montana’s public lands support our way of life and are a critical part of our economy. I support traditional multiple use, including outdoor recreation, responsible timber harvests, grazing, and carefully sited mineral development, while protecting places that are too valuable to risk. Hand in hand with protecting our public lands is managing them better, especially fixing our forests. Better forest management reduces wildfire risk and improves forest health, all while supporting the timber jobs that built many Montana communities. 

Third, I will work to hold Washington accountable. I support banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks, passing a Balanced Budget Amendment, and enacting a No Budget, No Pay law. If Congress cannot do its job and pass a budget, they should not get paid. Montanans deserve representatives who work for them and spend taxpayer dollars responsibly.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

I’m a fifth-generation Montanan who grew up in Glasgow and the Flathead. For nearly 15 years, I’ve listened to Montanans talk about the challenges facing their families and communities. Those conversations have shaped my priorities, including those who disagree with me.

I will bring that same approach to Congress. I’m willing to work with Republicans and Democrats to get things done for Montana. Things like trades and trades education, forest management, and permitting reform are issues that both sides are looking to address and if elected, getting them over the finish line will be my top priority.

At the end of the day, no one agrees on everything. But even if you don’t agree with me on everything, voting for me means sending someone to Washington who is from this state, knows its people and the problems they are facing, and will always put Montana first.

Finally, if you feel comfortable sharing, what is your political affiliation?

Republican.

Nick Sheedy

Libertarian candidate Nick Sheedy did not respond to the Exponent’s questionnaire.