A new wave of Democratic candidates across rural America is attempting to recapture ground lost in recent election cycles by adopting populist economic messaging focused on working-class concerns. From the Great Plains to the Upper Midwest and Deep South, these candidates argue that frustration with both major political parties and economic hardship present an opportunity to rebuild support in regions where Democrats previously performed well.
In Montana, former U.S. Forest Service smokejumper Sam Forstag is running for a House seat in the state’s 1st congressional district, which Trump won by double digits in 2024 but now appears competitive. Forstag built his candidacy around firsthand experience with economic stress, noting the contradiction of federal employees struggling with rising housing costs and living expenses. He began his campaign after attempting to contact his Republican congressman about job cuts imposed by the Trump administration. The district has faced dramatic demographic and economic shifts, including an influx of wealthy newcomers since the pandemic that has made housing among the nation’s least affordable, while costs for groceries, gas, and healthcare have also increased significantly.
Former Montana Senator Jon Tester, who lost his reelection bid in 2024, believes emerging economic pressures offer Democrats a potential opening. He contends that rising tariffs on fertilizer and fuel, combined with international tensions, may prompt some voters to reconsider their political alignment. Tester acknowledges that the Democratic brand has weakened considerably in rural Montana, where the party once enjoyed substantial support. He attributes some of this decline to national Democrats largely abandoning regions between the Appalachians and Rocky Mountains.
Local party organizers and candidates emphasize the importance of authentic connection to rural communities. They argue that voters accustomed to managing life-and-death decisions with livestock find it difficult to relate to distant politicians or see themselves reflected in party messaging. For candidates like Forstag, the strategy centers on positioning themselves as accountable to constituents they have worked alongside, rather than promoting policies as abstract concepts or marketing strategies.
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