Flint and Forstag clash in heated Missoula debate ahead of Montana House race
Republican Aaron Flint and Democrat Sam Forstag sparred in a one-hour debate in Missoula three weeks before the November 3 election, while Libertarian Nick Sheedy skipped the event.
In Missoula, Republican Aaron Flint and Democrat Sam Forstag faced off in a televised debate produced by one outlet and NonStop Local, with host Ben Wineman and reporters Tom Lutey and Bradley Warren moderating. Flint presented himself as a veteran radio host and fifth-generation Montanan, advocating broad tax relief, suspension of the federal gas tax, deregulation and expanded trade education. Forstag highlighted his experience as a wildland firefighter, union leader and son of a long-working mother, focusing on government oversight of data-center and AI companies and federal health spending.
The candidates repeatedly attacked each other's authenticity, with Flint labeling Forstag a “paid lobbyist” and Forstag accusing Flint of empty rhetoric and ties to data-center interests. Despite occasional agreement on protecting public lands, boosting timber harvests, ending the war in Iran, and banning congressional stock trading, the debate remained sharply divided. Libertarian Nick Sheedy was on the ballot but did not participate.
