WASHINGTON — Weeks before the midterms, President Donald Trump is swinging through ruby-red Montana in an effort to boost a conservative radio host running there in a tighter-than-expected congressional race.
He is set to give an Oct. 14 stump speech in the town of Kalispell, where he'll be joined by Aaron Flint, who's running to replace retiring Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke. Zinke served as Interior secretary during Trump's first term and now represents one of just two Treasure State seats in the House of Representatives.
Flint's race against Democrat Sam Forstag, a union leader and former smokejumper, was initially thought to be a given for the GOP. But in recent weeks, it's become closer. On Sept. 25, the independent Cook Political Report shifted
the contest from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican." Some local polls have characterized the contest as a statistical tie.
The closing gap in Montana may be indicative of a broader political shift that has put Republicans on defense before November in atypical places. Americans' dissatisfaction with the Iran war, high prices and tariffs have appeared to play to Democrats' advantage. In states like Montana, farmers and ranchers in particular have struggled with diesel and fertilizer costs that some trace back to Trump administration policies.
In their second debate earlier this week, Flint and Forstag both called for an end to the war in Iran and agreed that affordability is a big concern for Montanans.
Flint, a veteran, highlighted Forstag's political connections — he was a registered state lobbyist for Montana cities, the Montana Library Association and the state's Planned Parenthood group — to characterize him as out of touch. Forstag is also related to a Democratic congresswoman, Nevada Rep. Susie Lee, who is his aunt. And Flint underscored Forstag's ties to progressives currently in Congress.
"He had Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez here in May, and now he will act like he never even met her," the Republican said.
Forstag has pointed instead to his years as a wildland firefighter as evidence of blue-collar roots. He painted Flint as in the pocket of data-center companies and warned his opponent wouldn't protect public lands. He also accused Flint of being a seasoned politician with empty rhetoric.
"It is amazing how many words a politician can say without saying a single thing at all," the Democrat said of Flint.
Republicans on defense in some red states
Montana is not the only traditionally red state where Democrats have gone on offense, or that Trump is visiting as part of his midterm blitz.
The president will get there fresh off a swing to Alaska, where the open Senate race there is about as much of a nail-biter as it could be. Sabato's Crystal Ball, a nonpartisan election forecast from the University of Virginia, last week shifted that contest from "Toss-up" to "Leans Democratic."
Trump is also visiting Arizona, where there are two competitive House races. And he'll be headed next week to the typically reliably red Kansas, where the outcome of incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall's reelection bid has recently become less certain.
Zachary Schermele is the congressional correspondent for USA TODAY. Reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com and on Signal @zachschermele.02. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump lends a hand in tighter-than-expected Montana House race
