A Democrat running in a key Montana House race as a "smokejumper" and working-class outsider previously worked as a registered lobbyist opposing state-level bills that would have restricted drag performances in public schools and libraries, banned gender-transition procedures for minors and cracked down on sanctuary policies, records reviewed by Fox News Digital show.Sam Forstag, the Democratic nominee in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, has leaned into a blue-collar campaign message, saying constituents like him "know how to work" and "know how to swing a tool." His campaign has focused heavily on affordability, corruption and working-class frustrations, but his lobbying record puts him on the record on several hot-button issues that could undercut his effort to appeal to more centrist voters in an already heavily Republican state.Between 2021 and 2023, Forstag was listed as a registered lobbyist for groups and entities including the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the Montana Library Association and the City of Missoula.During that time, he testified against or was tied through lobbying records to opposition against bills involving drag performances in schools and libraries, transgender-related medical treatments for minors, boys competing in girls’ sports, voter ID and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.FOUR MONTHS TO MIDTERMS: 12 RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE MAJORITYSam Forstag, who is running for Congress on a working class image in one of Montana's two House districts, has a lobbying career steeped in left-wing culture war issues.
(Sam for Montana)"This bill is the latest of a series that I expect you’ll see that are intended to stir up fear and distrust of our fellow citizens," Forstag told Montana lawmakers in 2023 as Republicans considered a bill restricting minors from attending drag performances in public schools and libraries.Forstag argued the measure was overly broad and could affect people ...