Montana 1st District
Ryan Zinke (R) is not running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussAaron Flint
Republican · conservative radio host, Army veteran
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Flint has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Flint.
Raised $2,856,139 since January 2025: 67% from people, 21% from PACs and other committees, 12% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Sam Forstag
Democrat · former smokejumper and union leader
FLiberty Score F16 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Forstag has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Forstag.
Raised $4,312,110 since January 2025: 81% from people, 10% transfers and other income, 9% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Aaron Flint. Aaron Flint: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Sam Forstag: F, 16 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Montana: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Aaron Flint, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Flint, so the grade above comes from this list: what Flint has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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He says he would not support anything that ties the military's hands or stops the President acting quickly, in an answer about the war in Iran.
“I would not support anything that ties the hands of our military or prevents the President from acting quickly when American lives are at risk.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing a War Powers limit in an answer about the war in Iran is the with side.
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He says he would press the President to bring the Iran war to a speedy and conclusive end.
“First, we need to end the war in Iran. I would press the President to bring the war to a speedy and conclusive end that eliminates the terrorist threat and reopens the global energy trade.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Ending the war with no policy named is unclear for anyone, the site's rule.
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He wants to make the recent working-family tax breaks (no tax on tips, overtime and Social Security) permanent.
“Make permanent the recent working families tax breaks like no tax on tips, overtime, and Social Security.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut made permanent is with.
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Criticised his opponent for lobbying on men in girls' bathrooms and drag queen shows aimed at children.
“Men in girls’ bathrooms, drag queen shows targeting kids.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Naming gender-identity access to girls' spaces as something to hold against a rival follows the against-gender-ideology side.
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He says he would vote to deport every illegal immigrant from Montana.
“Third, I would vote to ensure every illegal alien is deported from Montana.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A pledge to vote for deportation of those here illegally is with.
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He says Border Patrol and ICE should get the people and equipment to secure the border and deport illegal immigrants from Montana.
“That means giving Border Patrol and ICE the personnel and equipment to secure our borders, including our northern border, and deport illegal immigrants from Montana, starting with those convicted of violent crimes and drug trafficking.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Funding and backing ICE and deportation of those here illegally is with.
Sam Forstag, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Forstag, so the grade above comes from this list: what Forstag has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Says he would vote to end the war with the Islamic Republic and put the money into spending at home.
“I would vote to end this war with Iran and instead invest that money here at home.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A stated vote to stop the war against the Islamic Republic is a war powers position aimed at stopping action against the regime.
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Says social media design can be limited without censoring content or restricting free speech.
“We can limit the harmful design of some social media platforms without censoring content or restricting free speech.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
He rules out censoring content, which is the with side of this measure.
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Proposes ending tax breaks for institutional investors and corporations and banning hedge funds and private equity from buying homes.
“End corporate home ownership by banning the purchase of residential property by hedge funds and private equity firms, and eliminating tax breaks for institutional investors and corporations.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Removing tax breaks for corporations is a tax increase, and a purchase ban is a market control, both on the against side.
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Wants Medicare to negotiate prices for all prescription drugs directly.
“Lower prescription costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for all prescription drugs directly.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government negotiated prices for all drugs is a price control, which this measure counts as against.
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Says laws forcing local police to carry out federal immigration enforcement make communities less safe.
“Laws that force local law enforcement to do the federal government’s bidding make our communities less safe and put police in a bad spot”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
He opposes laws that require local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, which is the sanctuary side of this measure.
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Calls for comprehensive immigration reform that gives people an achievable pathway to legal status and citizenship.
“We need sweeping, comprehensive reform that provides an achievable pathway to legal status and citizenship.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people here illegally sits against liberty by this test.
Also on the ballot
Nick Sheedy (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Montana 1st District
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