Sam Forstag
MT-01
Attacked tax breaks and handouts for Big Tech and data centers
we cannot afford to be paying to subsidize their profits. Our power bills have already gone up 30 to 40% just in the last couple years. Um there is no reason that we should be subsidizing an industry that is set to rake in trillions of dollars in profits.Video, October 12, 2026
Supported stronger oversight of data-center development
I'll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they are not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it. That they're going to earn the support of the community where they want to buildVideo, October 14, 2026
there is no reason that we should be subsidizing an industry that is set to rake in trillions of dollars in profits. Um we need public oversight, regulation of this technology and of these developments themselves to make sure that Montanans are benefiting that we're not left holding the bag for Aaron Flint's corporate donors.Video, October 12, 2026
what I would offer is we need to pass a damn law at the federal level saying they can't build these things until unless they show that they're going to provide all their own power. Doesn't have to be on-site, off-site's even better. Put power on the grid. We need it. Ideally, carbon neutral power. Making sure that they're not going to dirty our air and water.Video, August 11, 2026
it should be incumbent on these corporations, these companies, to earn the support of a community if they want to come in and develop. We should frankly treat these things a whole lot like mines, because that’s what a data center is. They’re mining our personal data to power the models that they’re building. So if they’re going to come in, they should have to earn community support and put up a bond just like a mining company would to make sure that working people aren’t left holding the bag when they’re done.News story, October 12, 2026
“I’ll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they’re going to provide all of their own power, that they’re not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, that they’re going to earn the support of the community where they want to build, and that they’re going to use good local union labor while they do that,” Forstag responded.News article, October 14, 2026
We need strict federal requirements on the construction of any new data centers ensuring that they can only be built if they meet 3 strict criteria: - Providing their own power: Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product. - Water Usage: Require that any new installations use the most advanced, water-efficient cooling systems.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
We need strict federal requirements on the construction of any new data centers ensuring that they can only be built if they meet 3 strict criteria:Campaign website (undated)
Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product.Campaign website (undated)
we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our stateForum, October 8, 2026
We need strict federal requirements on the construction of any new data centersNews story, May 28, 2026
No data centers on public lands. Period.Post on X, October 13, 2026
Should the federal government be putting more restrictions on data centers? Should local communities have an absolute right to say no to construction in their area? Sam Forstag: Yes on both counts.News story, October 12, 2026
Require that any new installations use the most advanced, water-efficient cooling systems. These companies can afford it, and we can’t afford to waste our most precious resource to juice their own profits.Campaign website (undated)
So, I'll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power.Debate, October 14, 2026
Um, we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
And I'll tell you Aaron Flint, he talks a big game, but he still refuses to pledge to do what I will do to fight to make sure we do not have data centers on public lands, period.Debate, October 14, 2026
That they're going to earn the support of the community where they want to build and that they're going to use good local union labor while they do that.Debate, October 14, 2026
their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
urgently need to pass to make sure that these data centers are not allowed to be built if they are not providing all their power, water, if they're not using good labor because they only operate off of mining all of our data.Forum, April 27, 2026
We when I get to Congress, we need to fight with urgency to pass legislation that says these companies cannot build here or in this country until and unless we have guarantees that they're not going to use our power, our water, they're not going to useForum, April 29, 2026
We say that they can't build these data centers until and unless they prove that they're going to provide their own power. they're not going to dirty our land and water and that they're damn well not going to put them on our public lands like they're proposing to do right nowInterview, October 10, 2026
We say that they can't build these data centers until and unless they prove that they're going to provide their own power.Interview, October 10, 2026
And that means that if they're going to build a data center that requires 30 kilowatts of power, well, they sure as hell better build 30 kilowatts of power. And they they're sure as hell better be actual teeth to impose strict penalties on those companies if they use any power that they're going to try to suck off of our grid because we shouldn't be paying money to subsidize the profits of some of the biggest corporations in this country.Interview, May 20, 2026
It's going to leave all of us paying to subsidize these corporations profits if we can't get our arms around it and some common sense regulations in place.Interview, September 24, 2026
So let's actually pass regulations.Interview, October 12, 2026
So when it comes to the data centers, we need to pass a federal law that says these companies that are projected to spend $4 trillion on data center construction in the next 6 years cannot build those data centers anywhere in this country until and unless they provide guarantees that they're not going to use any of our power, our water, and that they are going to use good union labor in the course ofInterview, May 20, 2026
So, I what I would offer is we need to pass a damn law at the federal level saying they can't build these things until unless they show that they're going to provide all their own power.Interview, August 11, 2026
in the next 6 years cannot build those data centers anywhere in this country until and unless they provide guarantees that they're not going to use any of our power, our water, and that they are going to use good union labor in the course ofInterview, May 20, 2026
Um we need public oversight, regulation of this technology and of these developments themselves to make sure that Montanans are benefiting that we're not left holding the bag for Aaron Flint's corporate donors.Interview, October 12, 2026
FORSTAG: No data centers on public lands. Period.Post on X, October 13, 2026
Providing their own power: Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
what we're looking at are the proposals for reckless development of data centers in this state just like a lot of the country um with no plan for where that power is going to come from. And uh what is that going to do? It's going to leave all of us paying to subsidize these corporations profits if we can't get our arms around it and some common sense regulations in place.Video, September 24, 2026
Binding conditions on development
I'll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they are not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it. That they're going to earn the support of the community where they want to buildVideo, October 14, 2026
what I would offer is we need to pass a damn law at the federal level saying they can't build these things until unless they show that they're going to provide all their own power. Doesn't have to be on-site, off-site's even better. Put power on the grid. We need it. Ideally, carbon neutral power. Making sure that they're not going to dirty our air and water.Video, August 11, 2026
it should be incumbent on these corporations, these companies, to earn the support of a community if they want to come in and develop. We should frankly treat these things a whole lot like mines, because that’s what a data center is. They’re mining our personal data to power the models that they’re building. So if they’re going to come in, they should have to earn community support and put up a bond just like a mining company would to make sure that working people aren’t left holding the bag when they’re done.News story, October 12, 2026
“I’ll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they’re going to provide all of their own power, that they’re not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, that they’re going to earn the support of the community where they want to build, and that they’re going to use good local union labor while they do that,” Forstag responded.News article, October 14, 2026
We need strict federal requirements on the construction of any new data centers ensuring that they can only be built if they meet 3 strict criteria: - Providing their own power: Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product. - Water Usage: Require that any new installations use the most advanced, water-efficient cooling systems.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
We need strict federal requirements on the construction of any new data centers ensuring that they can only be built if they meet 3 strict criteria:Campaign website (undated)
Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product.Campaign website (undated)
we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our stateForum, October 8, 2026
We need strict federal requirements on the construction of any new data centersNews story, May 28, 2026
Require that any new installations use the most advanced, water-efficient cooling systems. These companies can afford it, and we can’t afford to waste our most precious resource to juice their own profits.Campaign website (undated)
So, I'll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power.Debate, October 14, 2026
Um, we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
That they're going to earn the support of the community where they want to build and that they're going to use good local union labor while they do that.Debate, October 14, 2026
their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
urgently need to pass to make sure that these data centers are not allowed to be built if they are not providing all their power, water, if they're not using good labor because they only operate off of mining all of our data.Forum, April 27, 2026
We when I get to Congress, we need to fight with urgency to pass legislation that says these companies cannot build here or in this country until and unless we have guarantees that they're not going to use our power, our water, they're not going to useForum, April 29, 2026
We say that they can't build these data centers until and unless they prove that they're going to provide their own power. they're not going to dirty our land and water and that they're damn well not going to put them on our public lands like they're proposing to do right nowInterview, October 10, 2026
We say that they can't build these data centers until and unless they prove that they're going to provide their own power.Interview, October 10, 2026
And that means that if they're going to build a data center that requires 30 kilowatts of power, well, they sure as hell better build 30 kilowatts of power. And they they're sure as hell better be actual teeth to impose strict penalties on those companies if they use any power that they're going to try to suck off of our grid because we shouldn't be paying money to subsidize the profits of some of the biggest corporations in this country.Interview, May 20, 2026
So when it comes to the data centers, we need to pass a federal law that says these companies that are projected to spend $4 trillion on data center construction in the next 6 years cannot build those data centers anywhere in this country until and unless they provide guarantees that they're not going to use any of our power, our water, and that they are going to use good union labor in the course ofInterview, May 20, 2026
So, I what I would offer is we need to pass a damn law at the federal level saying they can't build these things until unless they show that they're going to provide all their own power.Interview, August 11, 2026
in the next 6 years cannot build those data centers anywhere in this country until and unless they provide guarantees that they're not going to use any of our power, our water, and that they are going to use good union labor in the course ofInterview, May 20, 2026
Providing their own power: Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Developer responsibility for infrastructure and utility costs
I'll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they are not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it. That they're going to earn the support of the community where they want to buildVideo, October 14, 2026
there is no reason that we should be subsidizing an industry that is set to rake in trillions of dollars in profits. Um we need public oversight, regulation of this technology and of these developments themselves to make sure that Montanans are benefiting that we're not left holding the bag for Aaron Flint's corporate donors.Video, October 12, 2026
what I would offer is we need to pass a damn law at the federal level saying they can't build these things until unless they show that they're going to provide all their own power. Doesn't have to be on-site, off-site's even better. Put power on the grid. We need it. Ideally, carbon neutral power. Making sure that they're not going to dirty our air and water.Video, August 11, 2026
it should be incumbent on these corporations, these companies, to earn the support of a community if they want to come in and develop. We should frankly treat these things a whole lot like mines, because that’s what a data center is. They’re mining our personal data to power the models that they’re building. So if they’re going to come in, they should have to earn community support and put up a bond just like a mining company would to make sure that working people aren’t left holding the bag when they’re done.News story, October 12, 2026
“I’ll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they’re going to provide all of their own power, that they’re not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, that they’re going to earn the support of the community where they want to build, and that they’re going to use good local union labor while they do that,” Forstag responded.News article, October 14, 2026
We need strict federal requirements on the construction of any new data centers ensuring that they can only be built if they meet 3 strict criteria: - Providing their own power: Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product. - Water Usage: Require that any new installations use the most advanced, water-efficient cooling systems.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product.Campaign website (undated)
we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our stateForum, October 8, 2026
So, I'll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power.Debate, October 14, 2026
Um, we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
urgently need to pass to make sure that these data centers are not allowed to be built if they are not providing all their power, water, if they're not using good labor because they only operate off of mining all of our data.Forum, April 27, 2026
We when I get to Congress, we need to fight with urgency to pass legislation that says these companies cannot build here or in this country until and unless we have guarantees that they're not going to use our power, our water, they're not going to useForum, April 29, 2026
We say that they can't build these data centers until and unless they prove that they're going to provide their own power. they're not going to dirty our land and water and that they're damn well not going to put them on our public lands like they're proposing to do right nowInterview, October 10, 2026
We say that they can't build these data centers until and unless they prove that they're going to provide their own power.Interview, October 10, 2026
And that means that if they're going to build a data center that requires 30 kilowatts of power, well, they sure as hell better build 30 kilowatts of power. And they they're sure as hell better be actual teeth to impose strict penalties on those companies if they use any power that they're going to try to suck off of our grid because we shouldn't be paying money to subsidize the profits of some of the biggest corporations in this country.Interview, May 20, 2026
So when it comes to the data centers, we need to pass a federal law that says these companies that are projected to spend $4 trillion on data center construction in the next 6 years cannot build those data centers anywhere in this country until and unless they provide guarantees that they're not going to use any of our power, our water, and that they are going to use good union labor in the course ofInterview, May 20, 2026
So, I what I would offer is we need to pass a damn law at the federal level saying they can't build these things until unless they show that they're going to provide all their own power.Interview, August 11, 2026
in the next 6 years cannot build those data centers anywhere in this country until and unless they provide guarantees that they're not going to use any of our power, our water, and that they are going to use good union labor in the course ofInterview, May 20, 2026
Providing their own power: Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Enforceable water, energy, and community protections
I'll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they are not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it. That they're going to earn the support of the community where they want to buildVideo, October 14, 2026
what I would offer is we need to pass a damn law at the federal level saying they can't build these things until unless they show that they're going to provide all their own power. Doesn't have to be on-site, off-site's even better. Put power on the grid. We need it. Ideally, carbon neutral power. Making sure that they're not going to dirty our air and water.Video, August 11, 2026
“I’ll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they’re going to provide all of their own power, that they’re not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, that they’re going to earn the support of the community where they want to build, and that they’re going to use good local union labor while they do that,” Forstag responded.News article, October 14, 2026
We need strict federal requirements on the construction of any new data centers ensuring that they can only be built if they meet 3 strict criteria: - Providing their own power: Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product. - Water Usage: Require that any new installations use the most advanced, water-efficient cooling systems.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our stateForum, October 8, 2026
Require that any new installations use the most advanced, water-efficient cooling systems. These companies can afford it, and we can’t afford to waste our most precious resource to juice their own profits.Campaign website (undated)
So, I'll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power.Debate, October 14, 2026
Um, we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
That they're going to earn the support of the community where they want to build and that they're going to use good local union labor while they do that.Debate, October 14, 2026
their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
urgently need to pass to make sure that these data centers are not allowed to be built if they are not providing all their power, water, if they're not using good labor because they only operate off of mining all of our data.Forum, April 27, 2026
We when I get to Congress, we need to fight with urgency to pass legislation that says these companies cannot build here or in this country until and unless we have guarantees that they're not going to use our power, our water, they're not going to useForum, April 29, 2026
We say that they can't build these data centers until and unless they prove that they're going to provide their own power. they're not going to dirty our land and water and that they're damn well not going to put them on our public lands like they're proposing to do right nowInterview, October 10, 2026
We say that they can't build these data centers until and unless they prove that they're going to provide their own power.Interview, October 10, 2026
And that means that if they're going to build a data center that requires 30 kilowatts of power, well, they sure as hell better build 30 kilowatts of power. And they they're sure as hell better be actual teeth to impose strict penalties on those companies if they use any power that they're going to try to suck off of our grid because we shouldn't be paying money to subsidize the profits of some of the biggest corporations in this country.Interview, May 20, 2026
So when it comes to the data centers, we need to pass a federal law that says these companies that are projected to spend $4 trillion on data center construction in the next 6 years cannot build those data centers anywhere in this country until and unless they provide guarantees that they're not going to use any of our power, our water, and that they are going to use good union labor in the course ofInterview, May 20, 2026
So, I what I would offer is we need to pass a damn law at the federal level saying they can't build these things until unless they show that they're going to provide all their own power.Interview, August 11, 2026
in the next 6 years cannot build those data centers anywhere in this country until and unless they provide guarantees that they're not going to use any of our power, our water, and that they are going to use good union labor in the course ofInterview, May 20, 2026
Providing their own power: Require any new data centers to construct enough new energy capacity to generate as much as power they’ll use so that all of us aren’t left paying even more for power to subsidize their product.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Supported reining in or regulating Big Tech and AI companies
there is no reason that we should be subsidizing an industry that is set to rake in trillions of dollars in profits. Um we need public oversight, regulation of this technology and of these developments themselves to make sure that Montanans are benefiting that we're not left holding the bag for Aaron Flint's corporate donors.Video, October 12, 2026
I will fight for serious regulation and oversight of that AI tech of those companies, making sure we put a kill switch into the into the models that they're buildingVideo, October 14, 2026
“I’ll fight for federal legislation to make sure that they cannot build these data centers until and unless they can prove that they’re going to provide all of their own power, that they’re not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, that they’re going to earn the support of the community where they want to build, and that they’re going to use good local union labor while they do that,” Forstag responded.News article, October 14, 2026
These technologies have the potential to concentrate an incredible amount of power in the hands of a few unelected executives, and Congress needs to act with urgency to pass commonsense oversight and regulation of AI companies to ensure our privacy, our children, and the future of our economy are protected as the technology develops.Campaign website (undated)
we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our stateForum, October 8, 2026
I think that getting a new generation of leadership into the into the halls of Congress would be a whole big step in the right direction of actually getting strict regulation and oversight and back-end access of AI tech so that we don't keep plummeting towards a future where a few corporate tech executives are more powerful than the whole federal government, potentially.Video, October 26, 2026
one of our senators from Montana has been on TV saying the government's got no role regulating AI tech, um and that we should leave it to private industry. That's absurd, and it's outrageous. And I think that getting a new generation of leadership into the into the halls of Congress would be a whole big step in the right direction of actually getting strict regulation and oversight and back-end access of AI tech so that we don't keep plummeting towards a future where a few corporate tech executives are more powerful than the whole federal governmentVideo, October 26, 2026
- Protect Americans’ privacy by giving every American the option to opt out of having their data used by AI companies and enshrine states’ ability to regulate or restrict invasive technologies like facial recognition software.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Require that AI corporations compensate people for any personal data being used to develop their large language models and other systems.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Um, we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our state.Forum, October 8, 2026
Um we need public oversight, regulation of this technology and of these developments themselves to make sure that Montanans are benefiting that we're not left holding the bag for Aaron Flint's corporate donors.Interview, October 12, 2026
Called for big structural changes that expand public coverage or Medicare benefits: Medicare for All, a public option, a Medicare buy-in, lowering the Medicare age such as Medicare at 55, or dental, vision, and/or hearing in Medicare
We can make sure that everyone has access to medical care - that includes dental, vision, and mental healthcare - and roll back the disastrous tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations so that we can allow everyone to buy into Medicare and expand ACA subsidies to cover it for all working people.Campaign email, April 20, 2026
Sam will fight for free, comprehensive healthcare by expanding Medicare, giving every American the choice to join, and passing expanded subsidies to make it free for most Americans.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
I’ll fight to give every Montanan access to Medicare with expanded subsidies to give working Montanans the choice of free, quality health care.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
so let's give people the choice to leave that corner of the system to join Medicare and let's expand that coverage and uh make sure that those reimbursement rates are high enough that rural hospitals are not in the red when they serve MedicareVideo, September 24, 2026
every person, regardless of age, has the option to buy into the part of our system that actually works, into Medicare, and we plug up the holes like vision, and dental and hearing, because that is real comprehensive health care coverage.News story, April 27, 2026
Lastly, let’s bring real choice to our healthcare system by giving every American the choice to join Medicare, increasing reimbursement rates so our rural hospitals can stay in business, and making that coverage comprehensive. If insurance companies want to compete, let ’em, but their monopoly on coverage clearly isn’t working for most Americans.News story, October 7, 2026
Second, let’s give every American the choice to join Medicare and expand that coverage to make it comprehensive & free for working-class Montanans. Private health insurance corporations’ side of the system is broken, so let’s make them compete.News story, October 5, 2026
Give everyone the choice to join Medicare – and make it free for working people.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
let's give people the choice to leave that corner of the system to join Medicare and let's expand that coverageVideo, September 24, 2026
“Let’s give every American the choice to join Medicare, and let’s expand that coverage so it actually is comprehensive,”.News article, October 14, 2026
Expand Medicare to cover vision, hearing, dental, and long-term care for seniors.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Sam will give every Montanan the choice of free Medicare for working people, expand it to cover dental, vision, and hearing, and let Medicare negotiate all drug prices.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
We fully fund it and expand it and we give everybody in the country access to Medicare, the choice to join it, and make that free for every working class person in this country.Forum, April 29, 2026
And we plug up the gaps in Medicare because vision and dental and hearing are part of real comprehensive health care coverage, and we give everybody in this country, regardless of age, the choice to join Medicare.Debate, May 8, 2026
We should actually be expanding Medicare to give everybody the option to to join that program because that is the only part of our healthare system I see that works and to make sure that it covers vision and dental and hearing because that's what real comprehensive healthcare looks like.Forum, April 27, 2026
We give everybody the option to join Medicare.Debate, April 13, 2026
health insurance corporation's plans and I would love the choice to go join Medicare and make sure that I'm actually getting the health care I'm paying for.Debate, April 13, 2026
Because we should not be cutting Medicaid to pay for a war in Rhonda that nobody wants. We should be expanding those services so that nobody is living with mental illness on the streets like a third of the folks are ending up in homeless shelters in this state as a result of all the cuts that we made toward mental health services in this state. We should actually be expanding Medicare to give everybody the option to to join that program because that is the only part of our healthare system I see that works and to make sure that it covers vision and dental and hearing because that's what real comprehensive healthcare looks like.Forum, April 27, 2026
So let's give everybody the option.Interview, March 25, 2026
Healthcare: Sam will fight for free, comprehensive healthcare by expanding Medicare, giving every American the choice to join, and passing expanded subsidies to make it free for most Americans.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
and big corporations so that we can allow everyone to buy into Medicare and expand ACA subsidies to cover it for all working people.Campaign email, April 20, 2026
Called to reverse the cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, or ACA coverage
So let’s repeal that $ 1 trillion of cuts to Medicaid that were made in the BBB, that Aaron Flint cheered on from his air-conditioned radio studio.News story, October 12, 2026
Protect access to abortion and reproductive health by codifying Roe v. Wade, expanding funding for family planning providers, and reversing Ryan Zinke’s Medicaid cuts that prevent Medicaid from being used with certain reproductive healthcare providers.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
we should be restoring those cuts to Medicaid because those services save us so much money on the back end.Video, September 24, 2026
we should be restoring those cuts to Medicaid because those services save us so much money on the back end. Making sure that we don't have folks grappling with mental mental illness living on the streets that they have access to care on the front end saves all of us money. And it's like it says in scripture, Albert, I promise you will pay every penny before you leave this place. And we're paying it in our premiums and we're paying it in well on the back end when right now in Montana 30% of the people living on the streets are dealing with a mental illness or behavioral health disorder because we have failed or our leaders have failed to invest upfront and make sure that ain't the case. Um so let's let's renew those ACA subsidies. Let's expand them significantly so that we're giving people the choice of free health care uh for every working-class person in this country.Video, September 24, 2026
Second, let’s reverse the $1 trillion in Medicaid & ACA cuts that Aaron cheered on from his recording studio.News story, October 7, 2026
Called for lowering prescription-drug prices
- Lower prescription costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for all prescription drugs directly.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Sam will give every Montanan the choice of free Medicare for working people, expand it to cover dental, vision, and hearing, and let Medicare negotiate all drug prices.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
Called for expanding Medicaid
expand access to things like Medicare to expand what Medicaid actually covers to make sure that everybody has access to housing and health care and child care in this country and that we pay for it by taxing the folks who are getting rich off of all those broken systemsDebate, April 13, 2026
Called for restoring ACA subsidies
we should be restoring those cuts to Medicaid because those services save us so much money on the back end. Making sure that we don't have folks grappling with mental mental illness living on the streets that they have access to care on the front end saves all of us money. And it's like it says in scripture, Albert, I promise you will pay every penny before you leave this place. And we're paying it in our premiums and we're paying it in well on the back end when right now in Montana 30% of the people living on the streets are dealing with a mental illness or behavioral health disorder because we have failed or our leaders have failed to invest upfront and make sure that ain't the case. Um so let's let's renew those ACA subsidies. Let's expand them significantly so that we're giving people the choice of free health care uh for every working-class person in this country.Video, September 24, 2026
Restore and expand the enhanced ACA subsidies to ensure access to free health coverage for anyone making $70,000 or less and affordable healthcare for everyone.Campaign website (undated)
Government price negotiation
- Lower prescription costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for all prescription drugs directly.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Sam will give every Montanan the choice of free Medicare for working people, expand it to cover dental, vision, and hearing, and let Medicare negotiate all drug prices.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
Creating a public option
“Let’s give every American the choice to join Medicare, and let’s expand that coverage so it actually is comprehensive,”.News article, October 14, 2026
Sam will give every Montanan the choice of free Medicare for working people, expand it to cover dental, vision, and hearing, and let Medicare negotiate all drug prices.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
We fully fund it and expand it and we give everybody in the country access to Medicare, the choice to join it, and make that free for every working class person in this country.Forum, April 29, 2026
And we plug up the gaps in Medicare because vision and dental and hearing are part of real comprehensive health care coverage, and we give everybody in this country, regardless of age, the choice to join Medicare.Debate, May 8, 2026
We should actually be expanding Medicare to give everybody the option to to join that program because that is the only part of our healthare system I see that works and to make sure that it covers vision and dental and hearing because that's what real comprehensive healthcare looks like.Forum, April 27, 2026
We give everybody the option to join Medicare.Debate, April 13, 2026
health insurance corporation's plans and I would love the choice to go join Medicare and make sure that I'm actually getting the health care I'm paying for.Debate, April 13, 2026
Because we should not be cutting Medicaid to pay for a war in Rhonda that nobody wants. We should be expanding those services so that nobody is living with mental illness on the streets like a third of the folks are ending up in homeless shelters in this state as a result of all the cuts that we made toward mental health services in this state. We should actually be expanding Medicare to give everybody the option to to join that program because that is the only part of our healthare system I see that works and to make sure that it covers vision and dental and hearing because that's what real comprehensive healthcare looks like.Forum, April 27, 2026
So let's give everybody the option.Interview, March 25, 2026
Healthcare: Sam will fight for free, comprehensive healthcare by expanding Medicare, giving every American the choice to join, and passing expanded subsidies to make it free for most Americans.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
and big corporations so that we can allow everyone to buy into Medicare and expand ACA subsidies to cover it for all working people.Campaign email, April 20, 2026
Letting people buy into Medicare
We can make sure that everyone has access to medical care - that includes dental, vision, and mental healthcare - and roll back the disastrous tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations so that we can allow everyone to buy into Medicare and expand ACA subsidies to cover it for all working people.Campaign email, April 20, 2026
Sam will fight for free, comprehensive healthcare by expanding Medicare, giving every American the choice to join, and passing expanded subsidies to make it free for most Americans.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
I’ll fight to give every Montanan access to Medicare with expanded subsidies to give working Montanans the choice of free, quality health care.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
so let's give people the choice to leave that corner of the system to join Medicare and let's expand that coverage and uh make sure that those reimbursement rates are high enough that rural hospitals are not in the red when they serve MedicareVideo, September 24, 2026
every person, regardless of age, has the option to buy into the part of our system that actually works, into Medicare, and we plug up the holes like vision, and dental and hearing, because that is real comprehensive health care coverage.News story, April 27, 2026
Lastly, let’s bring real choice to our healthcare system by giving every American the choice to join Medicare, increasing reimbursement rates so our rural hospitals can stay in business, and making that coverage comprehensive. If insurance companies want to compete, let ’em, but their monopoly on coverage clearly isn’t working for most Americans.News story, October 7, 2026
Second, let’s give every American the choice to join Medicare and expand that coverage to make it comprehensive & free for working-class Montanans. Private health insurance corporations’ side of the system is broken, so let’s make them compete.News story, October 5, 2026
Give everyone the choice to join Medicare – and make it free for working people.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
let's give people the choice to leave that corner of the system to join Medicare and let's expand that coverageVideo, September 24, 2026
“Let’s give every American the choice to join Medicare, and let’s expand that coverage so it actually is comprehensive,”.News article, October 14, 2026
Sam will give every Montanan the choice of free Medicare for working people, expand it to cover dental, vision, and hearing, and let Medicare negotiate all drug prices.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
We fully fund it and expand it and we give everybody in the country access to Medicare, the choice to join it, and make that free for every working class person in this country.Forum, April 29, 2026
And we plug up the gaps in Medicare because vision and dental and hearing are part of real comprehensive health care coverage, and we give everybody in this country, regardless of age, the choice to join Medicare.Debate, May 8, 2026
We should actually be expanding Medicare to give everybody the option to to join that program because that is the only part of our healthare system I see that works and to make sure that it covers vision and dental and hearing because that's what real comprehensive healthcare looks like.Forum, April 27, 2026
We give everybody the option to join Medicare.Debate, April 13, 2026
So let's give everybody the option.Interview, March 25, 2026
Healthcare: Sam will fight for free, comprehensive healthcare by expanding Medicare, giving every American the choice to join, and passing expanded subsidies to make it free for most Americans.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
and big corporations so that we can allow everyone to buy into Medicare and expand ACA subsidies to cover it for all working people.Campaign email, April 20, 2026
Adding dental, vision, and/or hearing to Medicare
every person, regardless of age, has the option to buy into the part of our system that actually works, into Medicare, and we plug up the holes like vision, and dental and hearing, because that is real comprehensive health care coverage.News story, April 27, 2026
Expand Medicare to cover vision, hearing, dental, and long-term care for seniors.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Sam will give every Montanan the choice of free Medicare for working people, expand it to cover dental, vision, and hearing, and let Medicare negotiate all drug prices.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
And we plug up the gaps in Medicare because vision and dental and hearing are part of real comprehensive health care coverage, and we give everybody in this country, regardless of age, the choice to join Medicare.Debate, May 8, 2026
We should actually be expanding Medicare to give everybody the option to to join that program because that is the only part of our healthare system I see that works and to make sure that it covers vision and dental and hearing because that's what real comprehensive healthcare looks like.Forum, April 27, 2026
Called for higher taxes on billionaires and the wealthy
We need a minimum effective income tax rate of 30% on all kinds of income. And when I say all kinds of income over a million dollars, that means getting rid of the capital gains loophole. That means taxing unrealized gains.Debate, May 8, 2026
We can make sure that everyone has access to medical care - that includes dental, vision, and mental healthcare - and roll back the disastrous tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations so that we can allow everyone to buy into Medicare and expand ACA subsidies to cover it for all working people.Campaign email, April 20, 2026
- Enact a Billionaire Tax of 5% on fortunes over $1 billion. This will help alleviate the unprecedented concentration of wealth that we’re seeing in this country, incentivize reinvestment of capital, and generate the revenue we need to invest in public services without going further into debt.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
We just need the richest people in this country to carry their own weight, just like the rest of us. True prosperity comes when every person pays their fair share. That used to be the case in this country, and it can be again. While most working people in this country pay about a quarter to a third of our income in taxes, the wealthiest often get away with paying almost nothing. That’s a tax system that’s been rigged against working people in favor of the rich, and the fact that we haven’t fixed it is a failure of leadership from both parties. It’s not too late. Here’s how: - Repeal Congressional Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-rich. The vast majority of the benefits in the “Big Beautiful Bill” went to corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Let’s repeal those provisions, keep the parts that help working people, like no taxes on overtime and tips, and use those resources to start fixing housing, healthcare, and childcare. - Make corporations carry their own weight by raising the corporate income tax rate to 35%.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Repeal Congressional Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-rich. The vast majority of the benefits in the “Big Beautiful Bill” went to corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Let’s repeal those provisions, keep the parts that help working people, like no taxes on overtime and tips, and use those resources to start fixing housing, healthcare, and childcare. - Make corporations carry their own weight by raising the corporate income tax rate to 35%.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
expand access to things like Medicare to expand what Medicaid actually covers to make sure that everybody has access to housing and health care and child care in this country and that we pay for it by taxing the folks who are getting rich off of all those broken systemsDebate, April 13, 2026
On taxes, Sam will fight for a 30% minimum income tax on all income over $1 million, eliminate capital gains and other income loopholes, raise the corporate tax rate back to 35%, and eliminate the Social Security payroll tax cap.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
I'm proposing a minimum effective income tax rate on annual incomes over a million dollars a year. That alone, 30% would pay for universal child care and pre-K the country over, twice over.Video, May 20, 2026
I’m in this race to ensure affordable housing, universal childcare, and healthcare are well within reach for everyone . It’s past time to cut costs for working families and make the wealthiest in this nation pay their fair share.Campaign email, April 2, 2026
Let’s pass a minimum effective income tax rate on incomes of more than one million dollars per year. “Whether it’s wages or capital gains through the stock market, that should be assessed the exact same way. Theres no way that someone making more than one million dollars should be paying a lower effective income tax rate than someone making $60,000 or $70,000.News story, October 8, 2026
We can pay for all of this without going deeper into debt by repealing the $3 trillion of BBB tax cuts that only went to corporations and the richest Americans, keeping provisions like no tax on overtime & Social Security that help working class Montanans, and passing laws to make sure nobody making over $1 million/year is paying a lower effective income tax than someone making $70,000.News story, October 7, 2026
We should have a minimum effective income tax rate for every dollar earned over a million dollars to say that if you are making over a million a year, well, you’re not paying any less than 30% no matter how good your accountant is. That’s how we pay for it.News story, March 10, 2026
- Enact a Billionaire Tax of 5% on fortunes over $1 billion.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Eliminate the capital gains loophole. Income from the stock market shouldn’t be taxed at a lower rate than income earned by working for a paycheck.Campaign website (undated)
Repeal Congressional Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-rich. The vast majority of the benefits in the “Big Beautiful Bill” went to corporations and the ultra-wealthy.Campaign website (undated)
Pass a minimum tax rate for millionaires by establishing a minimum marginal tax rate of 30% for income over $1 million per year, also known as the “Buffett Rule.”Campaign website (undated)
So we should have a minimum effective income tax rate for every dollar earned over a million dollars to say that if you are making over a million a year a million a year well you're not paying any less than 30% no matter how good your accountant is.Debate, March 10, 2026
$3 trillion of the cuts in that bill, that is what needs repealed. $3 trillion bucks that only went to cutting the corporate tax rate and to cutting taxes for the richest people in this countryDebate, October 8, 2026
All we got to do is reform our tax code to make sure that corporations and the richest people in this country carry their own damn weight, just like the rest of us,News story, May 29, 2026
The folks at the highest levels of power and wealth in this country are paying a far smaller proportion of their income than all the rest of us. So, we fix this by asking that they carry their own damn weight just like the rest of usForum, April 27, 2026
I am proposing a wealth tax on wealth over a billion dollars because if we want to and need to pay for health care for every working person, we can do that with that sort of wealth and because the public good is not served by that obscene concentration ofForum, April 27, 2026
We can do that by asking billionaires and millionaires to just carry their own damn weight, just like the rest of us.Forum, April 29, 2026
I mean, we could tax we could impose a 5% tax on people with wealth over a billion dollars.Interview, May 20, 2026
And if we don't have working people in Congress in the actual halls of power, well, we're not going to see the kind of urgency that it deserves to actually reform taxation so we're taxing billionaires wealth.Interview, May 20, 2026
Called for corporations to pay more in taxes
- 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.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
We just need the richest people in this country to carry their own weight, just like the rest of us. True prosperity comes when every person pays their fair share. That used to be the case in this country, and it can be again. While most working people in this country pay about a quarter to a third of our income in taxes, the wealthiest often get away with paying almost nothing. That’s a tax system that’s been rigged against working people in favor of the rich, and the fact that we haven’t fixed it is a failure of leadership from both parties. It’s not too late. Here’s how: - Repeal Congressional Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-rich. The vast majority of the benefits in the “Big Beautiful Bill” went to corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Let’s repeal those provisions, keep the parts that help working people, like no taxes on overtime and tips, and use those resources to start fixing housing, healthcare, and childcare. - Make corporations carry their own weight by raising the corporate income tax rate to 35%.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Repeal Congressional Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-rich. The vast majority of the benefits in the “Big Beautiful Bill” went to corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Let’s repeal those provisions, keep the parts that help working people, like no taxes on overtime and tips, and use those resources to start fixing housing, healthcare, and childcare. - Make corporations carry their own weight by raising the corporate income tax rate to 35%.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
On taxes, Sam will fight for a 30% minimum income tax on all income over $1 million, eliminate capital gains and other income loopholes, raise the corporate tax rate back to 35%, and eliminate the Social Security payroll tax cap.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Make corporations carry their own weight by raising the corporate income tax rate to 35%.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
All we got to do is reform our tax code to make sure that corporations and the richest people in this country carry their own damn weight, just like the rest of us,News story, May 29, 2026
Stop incentivizing corporations to offshore. Right now, we let companies calculate tax deductions based on assets held abroad, which lets corporations increase their profits by moving American factories and jobs overseas–to say nothing of the loopholes that make it easy for American-headquartered multinationals to avoid paying their fair share of federal income tax.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Taxing billionaires' wealth
- Enact a Billionaire Tax of 5% on fortunes over $1 billion. This will help alleviate the unprecedented concentration of wealth that we’re seeing in this country, incentivize reinvestment of capital, and generate the revenue we need to invest in public services without going further into debt.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Repeal Congressional Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-rich. The vast majority of the benefits in the “Big Beautiful Bill” went to corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Let’s repeal those provisions, keep the parts that help working people, like no taxes on overtime and tips, and use those resources to start fixing housing, healthcare, and childcare. - Make corporations carry their own weight by raising the corporate income tax rate to 35%.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
- Enact a Billionaire Tax of 5% on fortunes over $1 billion.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
I am proposing a wealth tax on wealth over a billion dollars because if we want to and need to pay for health care for every working person, we can do that with that sort of wealth and because the public good is not served by that obscene concentration ofForum, April 27, 2026
I mean, we could tax we could impose a 5% tax on people with wealth over a billion dollars.Interview, May 20, 2026
And if we don't have working people in Congress in the actual halls of power, well, we're not going to see the kind of urgency that it deserves to actually reform taxation so we're taxing billionaires wealth.Interview, May 20, 2026
Passing a billionaire minimum tax
- Enact a Billionaire Tax of 5% on fortunes over $1 billion.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Called for stronger competition and limits on monopoly power
So instead of union busting like we're seeing from this administration right now, let's actually do some trust busting.Interview, October 12, 2026
In Congress, I'll take on corporate consolidation in agriculture, work to get fair prices for what Montana produces and lower costs for what it takes to produce itPost on X, September 10, 2026
- End market manipulation by the biggest meat and poultry packers by requiring price transparency through a publicly available database.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Pass a federal right to repair so that large corporations can’t squeeze producers for more after they’ve already bought the equipment they rely on.Campaign website (undated)
We have got to get rid of this consolidation of wealth and power at the top of the income ladder and with large corporations.Debate, April 13, 2026
Let's actually make sure that they're not acting like cartels, those four meat packers, to drive prices for our farmers and ranchers to a level that is not sustainable for them.Interview, October 12, 2026
Breaking up monopolies
So instead of union busting like we're seeing from this administration right now, let's actually do some trust busting.Interview, October 12, 2026
Called for campaign-finance reform to reduce big money's influence
We need to overturn Citizens United to stop this flood of dark money that is coming into our elections. We should ban corporate PAC spending. That's why I'm not taking a dollar from corporate PACs, unlike my opponent here. We should ban super PACs altogether and frankly we should revisit the individual contribution limits cuz most of my friends can't afford to pitch in 3,500 bucks a piece.Debate, October 8, 2026
Ban corporate election spending and get rid of Super PACs by passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Ban corporate election spending and get rid of Super PACs by passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. Money is not speech, corporations are not people, and the limitless flow of funding into our elections poses a threat to working people’s ability to make government work for us.Campaign website (undated)
the only way we fix this is we repeal Citizens United.Debate, March 10, 2026
On taxes, Sam will fight for a 30% minimum income tax on all income over $1 million, eliminate capital gains and other income loopholes, raise the corporate tax rate back to 35%, and eliminate the Social Security payroll tax cap.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Congress needs leaders who will fight to ban dark money from our politics, reject corporate PAC money, and end congressional stock trading. My promise to you is that I will be that leader.Campaign email, August 23, 2026
No more stock trading, no more Super PACs, and no more corporations in our elections.Campaign email, April 30, 2026
Sam will overturn Citizens United, lower contribution limits, ban members of Congress from trading stocks, and stop former members from becoming lobbyists.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
Set strict, lower contribution limits to reduce the amount of money an individual can give to a federal campaign.Campaign website (undated)
And the only way we fix this is we repeal Citizens United.Debate, March 10, 2026
We need to overturn Citizens United to stop this flood of dark money that is coming into our elections.Forum, October 8, 2026
We should ban super PACs alto together.Forum, October 8, 2026
So, let's overturn Citizens United.Forum, April 29, 2026
Unfortunately, and the only way we fix this is we repeal Citizens United.Forum, March 10, 2026
We need to repeal Citizens United.Interview, August 20, 2026
But people are pissed and we got over 100 people coming to our town hall right now to talk about ending Citizens United and getting money out of politics.Interview, July 28, 2026
court ruling that letting money flood into our elections. It is banning super PACs. It is banning corporate spending and our electionsInterview, July 28, 2026
It is banning super PACs.Interview, July 28, 2026
Congress needs leaders who will fight to ban dark money from our politics, reject corporate PAC money, and end congressional stock trading.Campaign email, August 23, 2026
On campaign finance, he'll work to repeal Citizens United and ban corporate election spending, ban congressional stock trading, and reduce individual contribution limits for federal elections.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Called to overturn Citizens United
We need to overturn Citizens United to stop this flood of dark money that is coming into our elections. We should ban corporate PAC spending. That's why I'm not taking a dollar from corporate PACs, unlike my opponent here. We should ban super PACs altogether and frankly we should revisit the individual contribution limits cuz most of my friends can't afford to pitch in 3,500 bucks a piece.Debate, October 8, 2026
Ban corporate election spending and get rid of Super PACs by passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Ban corporate election spending and get rid of Super PACs by passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. Money is not speech, corporations are not people, and the limitless flow of funding into our elections poses a threat to working people’s ability to make government work for us.Campaign website (undated)
the only way we fix this is we repeal Citizens United.Debate, March 10, 2026
On taxes, Sam will fight for a 30% minimum income tax on all income over $1 million, eliminate capital gains and other income loopholes, raise the corporate tax rate back to 35%, and eliminate the Social Security payroll tax cap.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Sam will overturn Citizens United, lower contribution limits, ban members of Congress from trading stocks, and stop former members from becoming lobbyists.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
And the only way we fix this is we repeal Citizens United.Debate, March 10, 2026
We need to overturn Citizens United to stop this flood of dark money that is coming into our elections.Forum, October 8, 2026
So, let's overturn Citizens United.Forum, April 29, 2026
Unfortunately, and the only way we fix this is we repeal Citizens United.Forum, March 10, 2026
We need to repeal Citizens United.Interview, August 20, 2026
But people are pissed and we got over 100 people coming to our town hall right now to talk about ending Citizens United and getting money out of politics.Interview, July 28, 2026
On campaign finance, he'll work to repeal Citizens United and ban corporate election spending, ban congressional stock trading, and reduce individual contribution limits for federal elections.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Refused corporate PAC money
We need to overturn Citizens United to stop this flood of dark money that is coming into our elections. We should ban corporate PAC spending. That's why I'm not taking a dollar from corporate PACs, unlike my opponent here. We should ban super PACs altogether and frankly we should revisit the individual contribution limits cuz most of my friends can't afford to pitch in 3,500 bucks a piece.Debate, October 8, 2026
Congress needs leaders who will fight to ban dark money from our politics, reject corporate PAC money, and end congressional stock trading. My promise to you is that I will be that leader.Campaign email, August 23, 2026
That’s why I’m not taking a dime of corporate PAC money, and I’ll never answer to special interests.Campaign email, June 27, 2026
since I don’t take corporate PAC money, I rely on grassroots donations from people like you to fund my campaignCampaign email, April 28, 2026
I don’t take corporate PAC money or special interest dollarsCampaign email, April 16, 2026
Our opponent is backed by Donald Trump, and is taking millions of dollars in dark money. We aren’t taking that route - that’s why I’m taking no corporate PAC money, but that means I’m relying on people like you.Campaign email, April 23, 2026
I’m not accepting a dime of corporate PAC money. I am not accepting a dime of dark money.Published forum transcript, April 12, 2026
Unlike Aaron Flint, Sam doesn’t take donations from corporate PACs.Campaign website (undated)
And so I am not accepting a dime of corporate PAC money.Debate, April 13, 2026
That's why I'm not taking a dollar from corporate packs unlike my opponent here.Forum, October 8, 2026
Well, I don't take a dime from corporate packs.Forum, October 8, 2026
This is our chance to do that and so I am not accepting a dime of corporate PAC money.Debate, May 8, 2026
>> So, I'm not taking a a dime of corporate pack money, dime of Apac money, dime of dark money.Debate, March 10, 2026
>> So, I'm not taking a a dime of corporate PAC money, dime of AIPAC money, dime of dark money.Forum, March 10, 2026
I'm not taking a dime of corporate pack dollar dollars.Interview, October 12, 2026
So, I'm not taking any dime from corporate packs. I'm not taking a dime from Apac.Interview, August 20, 2026
I'm not taking corporate pack money.Interview, March 25, 2026
I rely on working people to fund my campaign and don’t take any corporate PAC money.Campaign email, July 26, 2026
Because I refuse to take a dime of corporate PAC money, I rely on grassroots donations from folks like you.Campaign email, July 20, 2026
We have 5 months left until the voters decide who should represent Montana’s 1st. I’m not taking corporate PAC money – this campaign relies on folks giving what they can, when they can.Campaign email, June 5, 2026
Because when you fight for working people by standing up to attacks on public servants and rejecting money from corporate PACs, people get behind you with enthusiasm.Campaign email, May 2, 2026
I don’t take corporate PAC money.Campaign email, May 15, 2026
I’m not taking corporate PAC money, meaning I depend on small-dollar donations from people like you to power our campaign.Campaign email, June 23, 2026
We don’t take a dime of corporate PAC money.Campaign email, September 16, 2026
I don’t take corporate PAC money — what I do have is grassroots support.Campaign email, June 13, 2026
I don’t take corporate PAC donations because I’m accountable to working people, not corporations.Campaign email, June 2, 2026
Since I’m not taking corporate PAC money, I rely on grassroots support from people like you to run my campaign.Campaign email, April 20, 2026
Congress needs leaders who will fight to ban dark money from our politics, reject corporate PAC money, and end congressional stock trading.Campaign email, August 23, 2026
But since I don’t take corporate PAC money, I rely on grassroots donations from people like you to fund my campaign.Campaign email, April 28, 2026
I’m not taking any corporate PAC money, and no money from special interests groups.Campaign email, April 22, 2026
I don’t take a dime of corporate PAC money.Campaign email, October 9, 2026
This work takes resources — and since I don’t take a dime of corporate PAC money, we’re relying on your grassroots contributions to power our work to bring representation for working people to Congress.Campaign email, June 30, 2026
And since I don’t take any corporate PAC money, I need support from grassroots donors like you to campaign.Campaign email, May 2, 2026
I’m not taking corporate PAC money, so we rely on grassroots donations.Campaign email, May 26, 2026
I don’t take any corporate PAC money or dark money.Campaign email, April 2, 2026
I don’t take a dime of corporate PAC money, and our movement relies on grassroots supporters like you chipping in what you can, when you can.Campaign email, October 26, 2026
That’s why I’m not taking any corporate PAC money.Campaign email, April 30, 2026
But since I don’t take corporate PAC money, our campaign relies on grassroots donors like you to power our work.Campaign email, July 24, 2026
But since we don’t take any corporate PAC money, we rely on grassroots donors like yourself to fund our campaign.Campaign email, August 29, 2026
[link removed] [[link removed]]This campaign isn’t funded by corporate PACs or special interests who are just looking to line their pockets.Campaign email, May 7, 2026
Since I’m not taking corporate PAC money, I have to ask: will you chip in to our campaign and of our end-of-month fundraising deadline?Campaign email, May 28, 2026
I don't take a dime from corporate PACs.Debate, October 8, 2026
I’m not taking a dime of corporate PAC money, and I’ll never answer to special interests.Campaign email, June 27, 2026
Banning super PACs
We need to overturn Citizens United to stop this flood of dark money that is coming into our elections. We should ban corporate PAC spending. That's why I'm not taking a dollar from corporate PACs, unlike my opponent here. We should ban super PACs altogether and frankly we should revisit the individual contribution limits cuz most of my friends can't afford to pitch in 3,500 bucks a piece.Debate, October 8, 2026
Ban corporate election spending and get rid of Super PACs by passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Ban corporate election spending and get rid of Super PACs by passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. Money is not speech, corporations are not people, and the limitless flow of funding into our elections poses a threat to working people’s ability to make government work for us.Campaign website (undated)
No more stock trading, no more Super PACs, and no more corporations in our elections.Campaign email, April 30, 2026
We should ban super PACs alto together.Forum, October 8, 2026
court ruling that letting money flood into our elections. It is banning super PACs. It is banning corporate spending and our electionsInterview, July 28, 2026
It is banning super PACs.Interview, July 28, 2026
Called for banning stock trading by members of Congress
On taxes, Sam will fight for a 30% minimum income tax on all income over $1 million, eliminate capital gains and other income loopholes, raise the corporate tax rate back to 35%, and eliminate the Social Security payroll tax cap.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Congress needs leaders who will fight to ban dark money from our politics, reject corporate PAC money, and end congressional stock trading. My promise to you is that I will be that leader.Campaign email, August 23, 2026
No more stock trading, no more Super PACs, and no more corporations in our elections.Campaign email, April 30, 2026
Sam will overturn Citizens United, lower contribution limits, ban members of Congress from trading stocks, and stop former members from becoming lobbyists.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
- Ban congressional stock trading by members and their spouses.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
I approve this message because my line is simple: no corporate money, no stock trading, no corruption.Post on X, October 16, 2026
Congress needs leaders who will fight to ban dark money from our politics, reject corporate PAC money, and end congressional stock trading.Campaign email, August 23, 2026
On campaign finance, he'll work to repeal Citizens United and ban corporate election spending, ban congressional stock trading, and reduce individual contribution limits for federal elections.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Supported stronger conflict-of-interest and ethics rules
Sam will overturn Citizens United, lower contribution limits, ban members of Congress from trading stocks, and stop former members from becoming lobbyists.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
Ban former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists after they have left office.Campaign website (undated)
Reforming the Supreme Court
I'd offer an 18-year term limit on the Supreme Court is something we could do statutoily without a constitutional amendment.Interview, August 20, 2026
I'll tell you, the solution I see is term limits.Interview, May 20, 2026
Signed the October 26, 2026 joint letter calling for a Supreme Court ethics code.
Require an ethical code of conduct for the US Supreme Court.Joint candidate letter (Defend the Vote), October 26, 2026
Setting Supreme Court term limits
I'd offer an 18-year term limit on the Supreme Court is something we could do statutoily without a constitutional amendment.Interview, August 20, 2026
I'll tell you, the solution I see is term limits.Interview, May 20, 2026
Called for a Supreme Court ethics code or enforceable ethics rules
Signed the October 26, 2026 joint letter calling for a Supreme Court ethics code.
Require an ethical code of conduct for the US Supreme Court.Joint candidate letter (Defend the Vote), October 26, 2026
Called for reversing tariffs that raise household costs
We also need to get these tariffs out of here that are driving up the cost of lumber costs that are largely imported from places like Canada.Debate, May 8, 2026
Called for stopping price gouging
let's actually do some trust busting. Let's actually make sure that they're not acting like cartels, those four meat packers, to drive prices for our farmers and ranchers to a level that is not sustainable for them.Video, October 12, 2026
Called for making child care more affordable
we can swing for big bold progressive policy changes like free healthare for every working person in this country like universal childare and prek like the kind of federal investments in affordable housing that we used to have when it wasn't considered radicalTown hall, May 25, 2026
Achieve universal free childcare by expanding investments in quality childcare to make sure that every Montanan who wants to start and raise a family can find free, quality childcare, regardless of where they live or how much they make.Campaign website (undated)
We need to make sure everyone has the healthcare they need, ensure all Montanans can afford a place to live, and invest in universal childcare and pre-K.Campaign email, May 11, 2026
Working people should be able to afford housing, healthcare, and childcare.Campaign email, May 20, 2026
if we want to build the sort of power we need to get things like, you know, legislation to tackle the housing crisis, to get every working person in this country access to free or affordable health care, uh universal child care and pre-KVideo, October 22, 2026
it is not too late to build a country, to build a future where every person can work one good job and afford a roof over their head. Health coverage that actually gets you health care when you need it. And child careRally speech, May 29, 2026
So, a populist candidate, a populist government would step in to make sure that our populace, that normal working people can afford child care just like they can in New Mexico.Interview, March 20, 2026
I don't think there's anybody I've met in Western Montana that would rather be choosing to go to war in Iran and blowing that place up and then spending $300 to clean up our own mess instead of making sure they have somewhere safe to send their kids so they can afford to go to work.Interview, July 22, 2026
And the notion that if we cannot afford to make sure that people can afford basic health care and that people can actually have a safe place to send their kid, that we cannot afford to shower wealth on our governments everywhere.Interview, June 4, 2026
Our work isn’t finished until every American has access to healthcare, childcare, and a livable wage.Campaign email, July 4, 2026
We need real, working-class voices in Washington who will fight for healthcare and childcare for every working family, affordable housing, and the protection of our public lands.Campaign email, June 30, 2026
Called for lowering household utility bills
In its October 14, 2026 story, Montana Free Press introduces Forstag's transmission and renewable-energy proposal as public investment aimed at lowering consumer energy bills.
Step one: invest in transmission. Step two: we should be investing in [research and development] and helping make sure that those, you know, the next-generation energy projects, wind and solar, have the actual resources that they need to get off the groundNews story, October 14, 2026
Pushing universal child care
we can swing for big bold progressive policy changes like free healthare for every working person in this country like universal childare and prek like the kind of federal investments in affordable housing that we used to have when it wasn't considered radicalTown hall, May 25, 2026
I’m in this race to ensure affordable housing, universal childcare, and healthcare are well within reach for everyone . It’s past time to cut costs for working families and make the wealthiest in this nation pay their fair share.Campaign email, April 2, 2026
Achieve universal free childcare by expanding investments in quality childcare to make sure that every Montanan who wants to start and raise a family can find free, quality childcare, regardless of where they live or how much they make.Campaign website (undated)
Absolutely, we should have universal child care and pre-K in this country.Debate, April 13, 2026
We invest resources in universal child care and pre-K for every single American because that is going to drive down costs across our economy.Debate, May 8, 2026
Childcare: Sam will fight to pass universal free childcare and pre-K.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
We need to make sure everyone has the healthcare they need, ensure all Montanans can afford a place to live, and invest in universal childcare and pre-K.Campaign email, May 11, 2026
Absolutely we should have universal child care and pre-K in this country. We can afford to do all of that.Published forum transcript, April 12, 2026
if we want to build the sort of power we need to get things like, you know, legislation to tackle the housing crisis, to get every working person in this country access to free or affordable health care, uh universal child care and pre-KVideo, October 22, 2026
Blamed high gas and fuel prices on the Iran war, tariffs, or oil companies
This war has already cost American consumers $100 billion in higher energy prices–and the amount increases by a million bucks every 2 minutes.Post on X, September 11, 2026
Named policies to lower child-care costs: universal child care, public funding or subsidies, or caps on family costs
we can swing for big bold progressive policy changes like free healthare for every working person in this country like universal childare and prek like the kind of federal investments in affordable housing that we used to have when it wasn't considered radicalTown hall, May 25, 2026
I’m in this race to ensure affordable housing, universal childcare, and healthcare are well within reach for everyone . It’s past time to cut costs for working families and make the wealthiest in this nation pay their fair share.Campaign email, April 2, 2026
Achieve universal free childcare by expanding investments in quality childcare to make sure that every Montanan who wants to start and raise a family can find free, quality childcare, regardless of where they live or how much they make.Campaign website (undated)
Absolutely, we should have universal child care and pre-K in this country.Debate, April 13, 2026
We invest resources in universal child care and pre-K for every single American because that is going to drive down costs across our economy.Debate, May 8, 2026
Childcare: Sam will fight to pass universal free childcare and pre-K.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
We need to make sure everyone has the healthcare they need, ensure all Montanans can afford a place to live, and invest in universal childcare and pre-K.Campaign email, May 11, 2026
Absolutely we should have universal child care and pre-K in this country. We can afford to do all of that.Published forum transcript, April 12, 2026
if we want to build the sort of power we need to get things like, you know, legislation to tackle the housing crisis, to get every working person in this country access to free or affordable health care, uh universal child care and pre-KVideo, October 22, 2026
Public funding, subsidies, or child-care tax credits
Achieve universal free childcare by expanding investments in quality childcare to make sure that every Montanan who wants to start and raise a family can find free, quality childcare, regardless of where they live or how much they make.Campaign website (undated)
Named policies to lower household utility bills: utility-rate rules, bill assistance, or lower-cost energy and grid policies
In its October 14, 2026 story, Montana Free Press introduces Forstag's transmission and renewable-energy proposal as public investment aimed at lowering consumer energy bills.
Step one: invest in transmission. Step two: we should be investing in [research and development] and helping make sure that those, you know, the next-generation energy projects, wind and solar, have the actual resources that they need to get off the groundNews story, October 14, 2026
Lower-cost energy, grid, or efficiency policies
In its October 14, 2026 story, Montana Free Press introduces Forstag's transmission and renewable-energy proposal as public investment aimed at lowering consumer energy bills.
Step one: invest in transmission. Step two: we should be investing in [research and development] and helping make sure that those, you know, the next-generation energy projects, wind and solar, have the actual resources that they need to get off the groundNews story, October 14, 2026
Criticized Democratic leaders for failing to stand with working people
And I disagree with the national leadership in the Democratic Party that has held the doors of change closed to people who actually reflect working people and Montana values and the next generation.Debate, March 10, 2026
NEW AD: All across western Montana, we're breaking our backs just to keep a roof over our head, while politicians from both parties bend the knee to their corporate donors.Post on X, September 21, 2026
When most people making under $100,000 a year, people like me did not vote for Democrats that we are falling into this trap again of trying to turn working people in labor against working people who care about conservation, working people on one side against working people against the other because that is exactly what the big companies who are trying to buy our elections want to happen here.Debate, May 8, 2026
We got folks on this stage, someone who is worth $25 million uh a year coming after the only working class candidate in this race for support from labor unionsDebate, May 8, 2026
And I think it is a damn shame that we have Democrats on this stage trying to villainize labor and the AFL-CIO because I am proud to have the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, SEIU home care workers across this state, firefighters unions, my own union of federal employees.Debate, April 13, 2026
I am not accepting a dime of dark money and I think it is a damn shame that we have Democrats on this stage trying to villainize labor and theDebate, April 13, 2026
Um people are living through rising costs at a rate that exceeds almost anywhere else in the country and you know, I would offer what has happened to Democrats is we have been subject to a national party that has gotten out of touch with voters.Interview, April 23, 2026
solutions like that, but the Democratic Party hasn't offered solutions because you got people in power who, you know, want to move incrementally and they want to be process orientedInterview, May 20, 2026
Um I mean we had leadership nationally not so long ago telling us the economy is better than you think it is.Interview, August 11, 2026
“It felt like the moment had a level of urgency and it felt like there was nobody running in a way that was speaking to the sort of working people that Democrats lost last year, or to speak to union members like mine who were feeling left behind by the Democratic Party and leaving the Democratic Party behind,”.News article, May 4, 2026
Criticized Democratic leaders' ties to wealthy donors or corporations
NEW AD: All across western Montana, we're breaking our backs just to keep a roof over our head, while politicians from both parties bend the knee to their corporate donors.Post on X, September 21, 2026
Far too often, this question falls by the wayside, as representatives from across the political spectrum instead prioritize corporate and donor interests.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Supported stronger union organizing and collective-bargaining rights
We need reforms to the National Labor Relations Act to make sure that we don't have a lot of working people who are falling within the cracks of our labor laws. Um, we need to pass the PRO Act.Video, August 21, 2026
- Pass the PRO Act to guarantee workers everywhere have the freedom to organize and join a union if they want, and fight back against corporations that engage in union-busting.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Everyone working a full-time job deserves a living wage, basic protections, and the right to organize.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights to over 1 million public servants in the VA, the Bureau of Land Management, and about 30 other federal agencies where that basic right was stripped away.Campaign website (undated)
And that is also what a lot of this campaign is about is unions and our basic rights to organize are actively under attack as well.Interview, March 25, 2026
Fighting the oligarchy starts at the local level, and I will fight tirelessly to protect union workers and their right to organize in Congress.Campaign email, September 13, 2026
I’m dedicated to passing the PRO Act, ensuring that employers can’t take advantage of workers trying to unionize their workplace.Campaign email, September 7, 2026
Supported raising the minimum wage
Raise the federal minimum wage to at least $15 per hour and fix it permanently by tying it to the rate of inflation.Campaign website (undated)
Called for making housing more affordable
I will make sure that we have a housing bill that bans corporate home ownership, that protects people in mobile home parks because that is one of the last affordable housing options that they gotVideo, October 12, 2026
- 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.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
we can swing for big bold progressive policy changes like free healthare for every working person in this country like universal childare and prek like the kind of federal investments in affordable housing that we used to have when it wasn't considered radicalTown hall, May 25, 2026
There’s no way in hell that we should be allowing these private equity firms to buy mobile home lots in any numberPolitico, October 30, 2026
I’m in this race to ensure affordable housing, universal childcare, and healthcare are well within reach for everyone . It’s past time to cut costs for working families and make the wealthiest in this nation pay their fair share.Campaign email, April 2, 2026
Sam will fight for large-scale federal investment in affordable housing, a ban on corporate homeownership, and to bring back the first-time homebuyer tax credit.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
We do that by expanding investments in programs like CDBG and models like community land trusts to build housing working people can afford, incentivizing reforms to make that housing easier and cheaper to build, and banning out-of-state corporations from buying up homes and mobile home lots and jacking up rents.News story, October 5, 2026
I will make sure that we have a housing bill that bans corporate home ownership, that protects people in mobile home parksVideo, October 12, 2026
We need to make sure everyone has the healthcare they need, ensure all Montanans can afford a place to live, and invest in universal childcare and pre-K.Campaign email, May 11, 2026
Working people should be able to afford housing, healthcare, and childcare.Campaign email, May 20, 2026
Sam will make federal housing investments that match the crisis, reform outdated zoning, ban hedge funds from buying up our homes, and restore the first-time homebuyer credit.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
Deliver significant federal investment in affordable housing that’s equal in scale to the housing crisis we’re facing.Campaign website (undated)
Well, let's pass a real ban on corporate home ownership.Debate, October 14, 2026
it is not too late to build a country, to build a future where every person can work one good job and afford a roof over their head. Health coverage that actually gets you health care when you need it. And child careRally speech, May 29, 2026
private equity firms and Congress has not done a damn thing to actually make sure that, well, corporations can't buy up people's homes from underneath them and it's harder to afford all of the basics.Interview, July 22, 2026
we have policy changes we can and should make that we should have made years ago to make sure that we don't have homelessness doubling or tripling in every city in this state over the past 10 years to make sure that we don't have kids going without health insurance because they decided to cut a trillion dollars from our Medicaid um just so they could fund more tax cuts for corporations and the richInterview, September 24, 2026
And it's our job to show people that we can still elect folks like that, that we're going to prioritize working-class voices, and that we can still reimagine and expand those programs to make sure we don't have elderly folks being forced out onto the streets or kids going out going without healthcare.Interview, October 10, 2026
Um so, I'm running a campaign here on a the big progressive policy changes that we need to actually fix people's lives, big investments in housing and free child free health care for every working classInterview, May 20, 2026
I mean, like, [ __ ] why do we allow corporations to own homes whatsoever?Interview, January 27, 2026
If I’m elected to Congress, I will work to ban corporate home ownership by banning the consolidation of residential property by hedge funds and private equity firms.Campaign email, May 28, 2026
Affordable housing shouldn’t be a cash grab for private equity – it should be a right afforded to those who need it most.Campaign email, May 28, 2026
We need real, working-class voices in Washington who will fight for healthcare and childcare for every working family, affordable housing, and the protection of our public lands.Campaign email, June 30, 2026
Housing: Sam will fight for large-scale federal investment in affordable housing, a ban on corporate homeownership, and to bring back the first-time homebuyer tax credit.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
“By investing to build housing that the people who build it can actually afford, and by making sure that we are not stuck on the health insurance corporations’ part of our health care system – that people can actually get care that gets them the care when they need it,” he said.News article, October 8, 2026
People can't afford housing? We need to build houses.Video, May 26, 2026
I’ll do the same thing in Congress to build affordable housing, provide healthcare for everyone, and protect our Montana lands.Campaign email, July 20, 2026
We spent billions of dollars in 1950s under Harry Truman with a bipartisan consensus to build hundreds of thousands of units of homes. That's what it takes. And to create the low-inccome housing voucher. And there were flaws in the ways they did it, but man, we sure as hell seem to have a housing crisis right now. And we sure as hell are not investing to fix it in the way we did or in a way that might do it a little bit better.Video, January 27, 2026
I’m fighting for every Montanan to have access to healthcare, affordable housing, and childcare.Campaign email, August 11, 2026
Called for restricting corporate, private equity, and hedge fund purchases of homes
I will make sure that we have a housing bill that bans corporate home ownership, that protects people in mobile home parks because that is one of the last affordable housing options that they gotVideo, October 12, 2026
- 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.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
There’s no way in hell that we should be allowing these private equity firms to buy mobile home lots in any numberPolitico, October 30, 2026
Sam will fight for large-scale federal investment in affordable housing, a ban on corporate homeownership, and to bring back the first-time homebuyer tax credit.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
We do that by expanding investments in programs like CDBG and models like community land trusts to build housing working people can afford, incentivizing reforms to make that housing easier and cheaper to build, and banning out-of-state corporations from buying up homes and mobile home lots and jacking up rents.News story, October 5, 2026
I will make sure that we have a housing bill that bans corporate home ownership, that protects people in mobile home parksVideo, October 12, 2026
Sam will make federal housing investments that match the crisis, reform outdated zoning, ban hedge funds from buying up our homes, and restore the first-time homebuyer credit.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
Well, let's pass a real ban on corporate home ownership.Debate, October 14, 2026
private equity firms and Congress has not done a damn thing to actually make sure that, well, corporations can't buy up people's homes from underneath them and it's harder to afford all of the basics.Interview, July 22, 2026
I mean, like, [ __ ] why do we allow corporations to own homes whatsoever?Interview, January 27, 2026
If I’m elected to Congress, I will work to ban corporate home ownership by banning the consolidation of residential property by hedge funds and private equity firms.Campaign email, May 28, 2026
Housing: Sam will fight for large-scale federal investment in affordable housing, a ban on corporate homeownership, and to bring back the first-time homebuyer tax credit.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Homeownership assistance
Sam will fight for large-scale federal investment in affordable housing, a ban on corporate homeownership, and to bring back the first-time homebuyer tax credit.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Sam will make federal housing investments that match the crisis, reform outdated zoning, ban hedge funds from buying up our homes, and restore the first-time homebuyer credit.Campaign website, September 22, 2026
Housing: Sam will fight for large-scale federal investment in affordable housing, a ban on corporate homeownership, and to bring back the first-time homebuyer tax credit.Ballotpedia candidate survey, April 22, 2026
Called out Wall Street, big banks, or private equity
- 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.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Supported protecting or expanding abortion access
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans’ right to their own bodily autonomy.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
Protect access to abortion and reproductive health by codifying Roe v. Wade, expanding funding for family planning providers, and reversing Ryan Zinke’s Medicaid cuts that prevent Medicaid from being used with certain reproductive healthcare providers.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans' right to their own bodily autonomy. I'll be proud to cast that vote in Congress.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans’ right to their own bodily autonomy. I’ll be proud to cast that vote in Congress.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
Removing barriers to abortion care
Protect access to abortion and reproductive health by codifying Roe v. Wade, expanding funding for family planning providers, and reversing Ryan Zinke’s Medicaid cuts that prevent Medicaid from being used with certain reproductive healthcare providers.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Restoring nationwide abortion rights
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans’ right to their own bodily autonomy.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
Protect access to abortion and reproductive health by codifying Roe v. Wade, expanding funding for family planning providers, and reversing Ryan Zinke’s Medicaid cuts that prevent Medicaid from being used with certain reproductive healthcare providers.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans’ right to their own bodily autonomy. I’ll be proud to cast that vote in Congress.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
Putting abortion rights into federal law
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans’ right to their own bodily autonomy.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
Protect access to abortion and reproductive health by codifying Roe v. Wade, expanding funding for family planning providers, and reversing Ryan Zinke’s Medicaid cuts that prevent Medicaid from being used with certain reproductive healthcare providers.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans’ right to their own bodily autonomy. I’ll be proud to cast that vote in Congress.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
Restoring Roe's protections
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans’ right to their own bodily autonomy.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
Protect access to abortion and reproductive health by codifying Roe v. Wade, expanding funding for family planning providers, and reversing Ryan Zinke’s Medicaid cuts that prevent Medicaid from being used with certain reproductive healthcare providers.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and ensure that the government can never again interfere with Montanans’ right to their own bodily autonomy. I’ll be proud to cast that vote in Congress.Campaign email, June 24, 2026
Expanding clean energy
In its October 14, 2026 story, Montana Free Press introduces Forstag's transmission and renewable-energy proposal as public investment aimed at lowering consumer energy bills.
Step one: invest in transmission. Step two: we should be investing in [research and development] and helping make sure that those, you know, the next-generation energy projects, wind and solar, have the actual resources that they need to get off the groundNews story, October 14, 2026
Strengthening pollution protections
we need to pass federal regulations saying that these AI companies cannot build their data centers until and unless they can prove that they're going to provide all of their own power, that they're not going to leave our land, air, and water dirtier than they found it, and that they're going to use good local union labor if they want the privilege to build in our stateForum, October 8, 2026
Supported stronger rights and safeguards in immigration enforcement
pass laws that say that no federal agent, no nobody who's supposedly taking part in law enforcement is allowed to wear masks, that they have to wear their badges so that they can be identified identified as law enforcement, and that they have to get actual judicial warrants if they want to enter somebody's property regardless of what they think your immigration status might be.Forum, April 29, 2026
Demand accountability for federal immigration agents. The problems that led to scenes of terror in American streets are bigger than ICE. It’s a fundamental failure of leadership at DHS. Anyone in the chain of command that violated the law and peoples’ basic rights during enforcement or detention should be held to account with criminal prosecution and congressional investigations.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Enforcing the law cannot come at the expense of our constitutional rights or the safety of our neighbors and communities. Here are some basic requirements that ought to serve as baselines: - Ban face masks and require that immigration agents wear body cameras and badges. - Require judicial warrants for search, seizure and arrests.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Anyone in the chain of command that violated the law and peoples’ basic rights during enforcement or detention should be held to account with criminal prosecution and congressional investigations.Campaign website (undated)
That has to include common sense reforms like banning face masks for immigration agents, requiring body cameras and badges, requiring judicial warrants for searches, and ending illegal surveillance that uses our cell phone data without a warrant.News story, October 14, 2026
That should include expanding pathways to legal status so that people who want to come to this country in pursuit of the American Dream have a realistic and legal path to doing so and expanding immigration courts and making them independent so claims can be processed in months instead of years.News story, October 14, 2026
- Demand accountability for federal immigration agents.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Ban face masks and require that immigration agents wear body cameras and badges.Campaign website (undated)
And if we have people who are anywhere in that chain of command who have authorized the murdering of of an American citizen, who have authorized violating people's rights, they need to be held accountable. And they need to be held criminally accountable.Forum, April 29, 2026
that they can be identified identified as law enforcement, and that they have to get actual judicial warrants if they want to enter somebody's property regardless of what they think your immigration status might be.Forum, April 29, 2026
We need oversight because I don't care if they're housed in DHS or the Department of Justice, the scary thing is that we have a paramilitary force on our streets that's turning into a weapon that can be used by one executive or another.Forum, April 29, 2026
Enforcing the law cannot come at the expense of our constitutional rights or the safety of our neighbors and communities.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Due-process protections
pass laws that say that no federal agent, no nobody who's supposedly taking part in law enforcement is allowed to wear masks, that they have to wear their badges so that they can be identified identified as law enforcement, and that they have to get actual judicial warrants if they want to enter somebody's property regardless of what they think your immigration status might be.Forum, April 29, 2026
That should include expanding pathways to legal status so that people who want to come to this country in pursuit of the American Dream have a realistic and legal path to doing so and expanding immigration courts and making them independent so claims can be processed in months instead of years.News story, October 14, 2026
that they can be identified identified as law enforcement, and that they have to get actual judicial warrants if they want to enter somebody's property regardless of what they think your immigration status might be.Forum, April 29, 2026
Stronger enforcement accountability
pass laws that say that no federal agent, no nobody who's supposedly taking part in law enforcement is allowed to wear masks, that they have to wear their badges so that they can be identified identified as law enforcement, and that they have to get actual judicial warrants if they want to enter somebody's property regardless of what they think your immigration status might be.Forum, April 29, 2026
Demand accountability for federal immigration agents. The problems that led to scenes of terror in American streets are bigger than ICE. It’s a fundamental failure of leadership at DHS. Anyone in the chain of command that violated the law and peoples’ basic rights during enforcement or detention should be held to account with criminal prosecution and congressional investigations.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Anyone in the chain of command that violated the law and peoples’ basic rights during enforcement or detention should be held to account with criminal prosecution and congressional investigations.Campaign website (undated)
- Demand accountability for federal immigration agents.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
And if we have people who are anywhere in that chain of command who have authorized the murdering of of an American citizen, who have authorized violating people's rights, they need to be held accountable. And they need to be held criminally accountable.Forum, April 29, 2026
that they can be identified identified as law enforcement, and that they have to get actual judicial warrants if they want to enter somebody's property regardless of what they think your immigration status might be.Forum, April 29, 2026
We need oversight because I don't care if they're housed in DHS or the Department of Justice, the scary thing is that we have a paramilitary force on our streets that's turning into a weapon that can be used by one executive or another.Forum, April 29, 2026
Supporting a path to citizenship
We should increase legal pathways to citizenship and make sure that we're actually enforcing the laws that we have without violating and trampling over peoples' basic civil liberties in this countyNews story, October 11, 2026
That should include expanding pathways to legal status so that people who want to come to this country in pursuit of the American Dream have a realistic and legal path to doing so and expanding immigration courts and making them independent so claims can be processed in months instead of years.News story, October 14, 2026
We need sweeping, comprehensive reform that provides an achievable pathway to legal status and citizenship.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Abolishing or replacing ICE
So, this agency that has existed for less than 3 decades needs to be dismantled in the entirety of its power structure.Forum, April 29, 2026
Supported stronger checks on executive power
We should, again, restore constitutional order when it comes to war powers as well because the power to declare war sits with Congress, and we deserve a congressperson who’s got the courage to actually stand up and say, if we are going to go to war, we should have to vote on it.News story, October 12, 2026
That is all of us as working people paying for a war that somebody else started and that our members of Congress did not have the courage to stand up and exercise their constitutional duty of war powers and oversight to prevent.Interview, October 12, 2026
I will sign on to legislation day one to say that Congress has the power to impose tariffs, not the executive branch.Interview, October 14, 2026
And we should be so mad that we are spending1 to3 billion dollars a day in a war with Iran that none of us want and that our Congress people don't have the courage to take a vote on while we can't even solve a housing crisis or a healthcare crisis.Debate, March 10, 2026
seats far too much power to the executive branch to drag us in to foreign wars and on faraway continents that none of usDebate, May 8, 2026
is again passing a war powers resolution, saying that Congress should step up and put their names on the line if it is in fact worthwhile for us to engage in another war.Debate, October 14, 2026
We need oversight because I don't care if they're housed in DHS or the Department of Justice, the scary thing is that we have a paramilitary force on our streets that's turning into a weapon that can be used by one executive or another.Forum, April 29, 2026
And war in this country, whether it is the war with Iran that our Congress was too cowardly to even take a damn vote on, much less stop, or warDebate, April 13, 2026
Uh because that is not a duty that should be ab advocated to the executive branch.Debate, October 14, 2026
Banning partisan gerrymandering
Ending partisan gerrymanderingJoint candidate letter (Defend the Vote), October 26, 2026
Supported strengthening voting rights
Protect Voter Access by fighting for full funding of Election Assistance Commission grants to elections offices in Indian Country, and making sure that Montanans living on a reservation have access to satellite offices that make it easy to exercise their right to vote.Campaign website, October 9, 2026
Opposed war with Iran or called for ending it
Lastly, we can lower fuel costs by returning to constitutional order and passing a war powers resolution to wind down this foolish war with Iran that’s jacking up our fuel costs.News story, October 5, 2026
So what I would do is I would refuse to vote for any appropriations package that continues to fund this needless war in Iran.Debate, May 8, 2026
Let's actually end these wars. Um let's end this war with Iran.Video, September 24, 2026
And it’s the same story that it is right now, when we’re looking at a war with Iran that we do not need. When the mill closes up in Seeley, or when the wood products plant closes in Missoula, it’s poor and working people getting screwed, while somebody is getting incredibly rich off of all of these broken systems.News story, March 10, 2026
So, as I said at the beginning, I would refuse to vote for any appropriations package that continues to to fund this needless war in Iran.Debate, May 8, 2026
And when it comes to something like the war in Iran, well that is the same damn story that we have all had to live through, even somebody as young as me too many times already. We are on another foreign continent and a far away country spending a whole lot of treasure and spilling a whole lot of blood. Not just American soldiers, but a whole lot of civilians being caught up in this utter lack of humanity.Debate, March 10, 2026
And we should be so mad that we are spending1 to3 billion dollars a day in a war with Iran that none of us want and that our Congress people don't have the courage to take a vote on while we can't even solve a housing crisis or a healthcare crisis.Debate, March 10, 2026
We need people in Congress who actually know friends and family, I mean, folks who have served, folks who are in the economic class that is overwhelmingly serving in our military right now, and who care that much more about whether we are going to go waste billions of dollars a day in a war with Iran while people I go talk to outside of Bozeman are facing their rent being doubled and being priced out of house and home in their last affordable housing option.Debate, April 13, 2026
military right now, and who care that much more about whether we are going to go waste billions of dollars a day in a war with Iran while people I go talk to outside of Bozeman are facing their rent being doubled and being priced out of house and home in their last affordable housing option. That is something that we should all be so damn angry about.Debate, April 13, 2026
And war in this country, whether it is the war with Iran that our Congress was too cowardly to even take a damn vote on, much less stop, or warDebate, April 13, 2026
Um let's end this war with Iran.Interview, September 24, 2026
I don't think there's anybody I've met in Western Montana that would rather be choosing to go to war in Iran and blowing that place up and then spending $300 to clean up our own mess instead of making sure they have somewhere safe to send their kids so they can afford to go to work.Interview, July 22, 2026
Let's end the endless wars.Interview, October 12, 2026
And now we are raining chaos and cruelty overseas in Iran at immense cost in blood and treasure to us as Americans, the service members. And that doesn't benefit any of us.Interview, June 16, 2026
We are being told out in the open, well, he says we can't afford child care or health care because we got to pay a billion plus a day for this war that nobody asked for and nobody needs, while we all pay more at the pump, too.Interview, May 20, 2026
Again, which a lot of people were experiencing before this, and now it is just all the worse because we're we're driving up costs in this war that we don't need.Interview, July 22, 2026
"We're spending a billion dollars a day in a war with Iran that none of us wanted none of us asked for," said Forstag.News article, October 11, 2026
we should be so mad that we are spending 1 to 3 billion dollars a day in a war with Iran that none of us want and that our congresspeople don't have the courage to take a vote onDebate, March 10, 2026
Called for conditions on or limits to military aid or arms transfers to Israel
Forstag opposes providing offensive or defensive armaments to a government that is failing humanitarian requirements.
we should not send any of that money or any of those armaments to a government that is not complying with basic humanitarian requirements. And when it comes to Israel, no, we should not be spending billions of dollars providing armaments whether whether they are offensive or defensive to a country that is commu- committing human rights abuses in occupied territories.Video, May 20, 2026
We have big problems at home we should not be fueling with our money chaos and cruelty overseas we should make sure that our values are actually conveyed with our foreign aid and I won't vote for any foreign aid bill that does not do that.Debate, October 14, 2026
And I won't vote for any foreign aid bill that does not do that.Debate, October 14, 2026
Called for a specific diplomatic step or civilian protections
"Let's engage in real diplomacy, let's make sure that Iran does not get that nuclear weapon and let's make sure that we are not left spending hundreds of billions of dollars to do so," said Forstag.News article, October 11, 2026
Specified legal, humanitarian, or government conditions on military aid or arms transfers to Israel
Forstag opposes providing offensive or defensive armaments to a government that is failing humanitarian requirements.
we should not send any of that money or any of those armaments to a government that is not complying with basic humanitarian requirements. And when it comes to Israel, no, we should not be spending billions of dollars providing armaments whether whether they are offensive or defensive to a country that is commu- committing human rights abuses in occupied territories.Video, May 20, 2026
Called for broad military-aid or arms-transfer stops, extending beyond offensive weapons
Forstag opposes providing offensive or defensive armaments to a government that is failing humanitarian requirements.
we should not send any of that money or any of those armaments to a government that is not complying with basic humanitarian requirements. And when it comes to Israel, no, we should not be spending billions of dollars providing armaments whether whether they are offensive or defensive to a country that is commu- committing human rights abuses in occupied territories.Video, May 20, 2026