Retiring Guy's Digest: Flipping the House and flipping off Trump: Democrat Sam Forstag defeats Republican Aaron Flint in Montana 1st congressional district (open seat)

Montana was apportioned a second seat in the House of Representatives after the 2020 census. Republican Ryan Zinke served two terms and chose not to run for re-election.

Election results: Ballotpedia, New York Times

Headline: Daily Inter Lake, 11/5/2026

Hailey Smalley reports:

The blue wave left its mark on Montana Tuesday, as Democratic candidate Sam Forstag clinched victory in the western congressional district and his party made gains in the statehouse.

Forstag declared victory in Montana's western congressional district just before midnight, with his Republican opponent Aaron Flint conceding the race within the next half hour. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Associated Press had yet to call the race, but Forstag held a 2-point margin over Flint with more than 90% of votes counted.