During its Saturday evening membership meeting, Bozeman Tenants United, which advocates for safe and affordable housing, endorsed Democratic candidate Sam Forstag in the race for Montana’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Former smokejumper and union leader Forstag faces Republican firebrand radio host and Army veteran Aaron Flint.
“When our union endorses a candidate, it’s a big f---ing deal,” said Benjamin Finegan, one of Bozeman Tenants United’s founders. “Our endorsement means something, and it means that we have this person’s back and that there’s mutual accountability.”
Forstag was sick and couldn’t attend the event, which took place at Bozeman’s Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, but his political director Kendal Pittman attended, speaking on his behalf.
“He understands the power of what solidarity means,” Pittman said. “What it means when working class folks like ourselves, when renters like ourselves, stand together and have each other’s backs.”
Pittman referenced Forstag’s prior advocacy for tenant rights at state legislature sessions, positioning him as a grassroots advocate in opposition to an elite legislator class, where la...