Sam Forstag (D), Aaron Flint (R), Nick Sheedy (L), and Kimberly Persico (I) are running in the general election for Montana's 1st Congressional District on Nov. 3, 2026. Incumbent Rep. Ryan Zinke (R) did not run for re-election. Forstag and Flint lead in polls, noteworthy endorsements, fundraising, and media attention.

Subsidiaries of the Democratic and Republican Parties identified this as a competitive election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) identified it as a target district and named Forstag to its Red to Blue program, which provides support to canddiates in Republican-held or open districts. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) named Flint to its MAGA Majority program, which provides support to candidates in Democratic-held or open districts.

One reason this district gained the attention of the DCCC and NRCC is ticket-splitting in the 2024 general elections for federal offices. In the presidential election, Donald Trump (R) defeated Kamala Harris (D) in the district, 54% to 43%. In the U.S. House election, Zinke defeated Monica Tranel (D) 52% to 45%. In the U.S. Senate election, then-incumbent Sen. Jon Tester (D) defeated Tim Sheehy (R) in the district 50% to 49%.

Both candidates have spoken about how their careers and personal experiences have prepared them for office.

Forstag's professional experience includes working as a smokejumper, a type of wildland firefighter who parachutes into remote areas to stop wildfires. He also worked as a lobbyist and legislative strategist and served as the vice president of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 60.

According to Forstag's Candidate Connection survey response, "He knows what it's like to be a kid who's worried that his mom's working too much, or to have a full fridge thanks to the food stamps that helped his dad get through. He knows what it's like to work three jobs while going to school and still come up short on rent."

Flint's professional experience includes working as a radio talk show host, state director for Zinke, and communications director for Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte's (R) 2016 gubernatorial campaign. From 2002 to 2024, Flint served in the U.S. Army National Guard and Reserves.

Flint said, "I have heard firsthand their frustrations with government and what they believe needs to change. That has given me a different perspective than most candidates. I am not guessing what people want; I have been listening to them for nearly two decades."

According to the Montana Free Press' Tom Lutey, this race is the state's first U.S. House election in 30 years not to include a baby boomer, defined as an individual born between 1946 and 1964. Forstag is 31 years old, and Flint is 46 years old. At the start of the 119th Congress, baby boomers made up 38.9% of the U.S. House.

As of July 21, 2026, The Cook Political Report, DDHQ/The Hill, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated the general election Likely Republican.