Updated election results show slimmer margin in MT house race
Nov 04, 2026 | 12:18 pm ET
Description
Scenes from the a watch party for Sam Forstag, Democratic candidate for Montana’s western congressional district, for the 2026 midterm election at the Florence Building in Missoula on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Ben Allen Smith/Lee Enterprises)
On Wednesday morning, the margins in Montana’s race for its western U.S. House seat tightened, but Democrat Sam Forstag retains a lead of around 2% — 5,000 votes.
Forstag declared victory around midnight from his election night party in Missoula when the first returns from liberal Missoula and Gallatin counties game him a nearly 10-point boost.
Republican Aaron Flint called and conceded the race late last night.
The race remains uncalled by the Associated Press.
The Montana Secretary of State reports around 234,651 votes tabulated in the race. Forstag has 116,450, Flint 111,525, and Libertarian Nick Sheedy 6,676.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene released a congratulatory statement on Forstag’s victory this morning.
“Sam’s top priority is getting to work for working people – a refreshing change for Western Montana,” DelBene said. “Sam’s historic campaign inspired voters from across the political spectrum who are fed up with political corruption and a broken system that leaves them behind.”
Helena, MT
