Published September 7, 2026 · Updated with each build
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Finding House · Montana Democrat

Samuel Kelley Forstag FINDING

Seat
H-MT-01
Party
DEM
Universe reason
contested_primary+contested_general
FEC receipts
$1,382,873 FEC
Campaign site
https://samformontana.com (verified)
Pages scanned
106 · last 2026-09-03

Posted public messaging guidance consistent with red-boxing

Detected on https://samformontana.com/media  · classifier confidence 0.95

  1. First detectedJuly 16, 2026
  2. Guidance revisedJuly 28, 2026
  3. Guidance revisedAugust 5, 2026
  4. Page updatedAugust 17, 2026

The page's Media section contains a dated, directive paragraph that instructs what specific voter segments should see and read across digital platforms and mailboxes, prescribes ad footage, and sets message contrast. This is guidance for outside spenders or media buyers, not a standard press kit or direct voter persuasion. The rest of the page is a normal campaign site, but the directive content is clearly red-boxing.

Quoted evidence — verbatim spans from the page

  • Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC, and over 30 current and former Montana legislators.
    Directive language specifying audience segments, channels (digital platforms, mailboxes), and message content — classic media-buy guidance.
  • People should see actual footage of firefighting, smokejumpers and working Montanans.
    Prescribes specific b-roll/ad footage for use in paid media.
  • Voters in Western Montana don’t need to hear more about Donald Trump.
    Message contrast/theme instruction aimed at ad content, not direct voter persuasion.
Archived screenshot of https://samformontana.com/media
Archived at detectionFull-page screenshot of https://samformontana.com/media · Raw HTML preserved
Plain text of the archived page
Skip to content
X-twitter
 
Youtube
 
 
Instagram
 
Tiktok
 
Facebook
HOME
POLICIES
ENDORSEMENTS
GET INVOLVED
EVENTS
STORE
DONATE
MEDIA
DOWNLOADABLE PHOTOS
DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO
SPREAD THE WORD
 
 
LET'S WIN THIS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.
Sign up to hear from Sam on upcoming events, campaign updates, and more.
First Name
Last Name
Email
Cell Phone (optional)
Zip Code
LET'S GO!
X-twitter
 
Youtube
 
 
Instagram
 
Tiktok
 
Facebook
Sam is an organizer, a union leader, and a smokejumper – a firefighter who parachutes into remote areas to stop fires before they grow – running for Congress in Montana’s 1st District. Support his people-powered campaign by making a donation today!
DONATE
VOLUNTEER
press@samformontana.com
MEDIA
PRIVACY POLICY
JOBS
Checks can be mailed to:
Sam for Montana
PO Box 7224
Missoula MT 59807
PAID FOR BY SAM FOR MONTANA

[hidden/DOM-only content]
Sam Forstag for Montana
For All Of Us
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Get Involved
Volunteer
Jobs
Events
Store
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Get Involved
Volunteer
Jobs
Events
Store
Menu
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Get Involved
Volunteer
Jobs
Events
Store
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Get Involved
Volunteer
Jobs
Events
Store
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Donate
Media
Downloadable Photos
Downloadable Video
Updated Thursday, May 14, 2026:
Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from
Bernie Sanders, AOC,
and over 30 current and former Montana legislators. These endorsements reinforce that Sam is a working class candidate who will fight for working class values in Washington.
People should see actual footage of firefighting, smokejumpers and working Montanans. Voters in Western Montana don’t need to hear more about Donald Trump. Sam is  the only candidate who can put together a winning coalition of working class voters and Montanans across the political spectrum to flip this seat and fix big problems. Sam’s unique bio shows that he can bring new, next generation leadership to Washington.
Spread The Word
Let's Win This.
It's Going To Take
All
Of Us.
Let's Go!
Donate
Volunteer
Media
Privacy Policy
Jobs
Paid for by Sam for Montana
(not by billionaires and corporate PACs)
For All Of Us
All rights reserved
Earlier versions of this guidance (3) — archived

Each revision below was archived when it was detected; the current version is shown above. Newest earlier version last.

Version 1 · Live from July 16, 2026 – revised July 28, 2026

  • Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC, and over 30 current and former Montana legislators.
  • People should see actual footage of firefighting, smokejumpers and working Montanans.

The next revision added “Democratic primary voters across Montana's First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam's endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC, and over 30 current and former Montana legislators.”; “Voters in Western Montana don't need to hear more about Donald Trump.”; “Updated Thursday, May 14, 2026:”; dropped “Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC, and over 30 current and former Montana legislators.”.

Archived screenshot of version 1 of https://samformontana.com/media
Archived at detectionRaw HTML preserved
Plain text of the archived page
Skip to content
X-twitter
 
Youtube
 
 
Instagram
 
Tiktok
 
Facebook
HOME
POLICIES
ENDORSEMENTS
VOLUNTEER
EVENTS
STORE
DONATE
MEDIA
DOWNLOADABLE PHOTOS
DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO

Updated Thursday, May 14, 2026:

Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC, and over 30 current and former Montana legislators. These endorsements reinforce that Sam is a working class candidate who will fight for working class values in Washington. 

People should see actual footage of firefighting, smokejumpers and working Montanans. Voters in Western Montana don’t need to hear more about Donald Trump. Sam is  the only candidate who can put together a winning coalition of working class voters and Montanans across the political spectrum to flip this seat and fix big problems. Sam’s unique bio shows that he can bring new, next generation leadership to Washington.

SPREAD THE WORD
 
 
LET'S WIN THIS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.
Sign up to hear from Sam on upcoming events, campaign updates, and more.
First Name
Last Name
Email
Cell Phone (optional)
Zip Code
LET'S GO!
X-twitter
 
Youtube
 
 
Instagram
 
Tiktok
 
Facebook
Sam is an organizer, a union leader, and a smokejumper – a firefighter who parachutes into remote areas to stop fires before they grow – running for Congress in Montana’s 1st District. Support his people-powered campaign by making a donation today!
DONATE
VOLUNTEER
press@samformontana.com
MEDIA
Checks can be mailed to:
Sam for Montana
PO Box 7224
Missoula MT 59807
PAID FOR BY SAM FOR MONTANA

[hidden/DOM-only content]
Sam Forstag for Montana
For All Of Us
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Menu
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Donate
Media
Downloadable Photos
Downloadable Video
Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from
Bernie Sanders, AOC,
and over 30 current and former Montana legislators. These endorsements reinforce that Sam is a working class candidate who will fight for working class values in Washington.
Spread The Word
Let's Win This.
It's Going To Take
All
Of Us.
Let's Go!
Donate
Volunteer
Media
Paid for by Sam for Montana
(not by billionaires and corporate PACs)
For All Of Us
All rights reserved

Version 2 · Live from July 28, 2026 – revised August 5, 2026

  • Democratic primary voters across Montana's First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam's endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC, and over 30 current and former Montana legislators.
  • People should see actual footage of firefighting, smokejumpers and working Montanans.
  • Voters in Western Montana don't need to hear more about Donald Trump.
  • Updated Thursday, May 14, 2026:

The next revision added “Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements”; “Voters in Western Montana don’t need to hear more about Donald Trump.”; dropped “Democratic primary voters across Montana's First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam's endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC, and over 30 current and former Montana legislators.”; “Voters in Western Montana don't need to hear more about Donald Trump.”; “Updated Thursday, May 14, 2026:”.

Archived screenshot of version 2 of https://samformontana.com/media
Archived at detectionRaw HTML preserved
Plain text of the archived page
Skip to content
X-twitter
 
Youtube
 
 
Instagram
 
Tiktok
 
Facebook
HOME
POLICIES
ENDORSEMENTS
VOLUNTEER
EVENTS
STORE
DONATE
MEDIA
DOWNLOADABLE PHOTOS
DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO
SPREAD THE WORD
 
 
LET'S WIN THIS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.
Sign up to hear from Sam on upcoming events, campaign updates, and more.
First Name
Last Name
Email
Cell Phone (optional)
Zip Code
LET'S GO!
X-twitter
 
Youtube
 
 
Instagram
 
Tiktok
 
Facebook
Sam is an organizer, a union leader, and a smokejumper – a firefighter who parachutes into remote areas to stop fires before they grow – running for Congress in Montana’s 1st District. Support his people-powered campaign by making a donation today!
DONATE
VOLUNTEER
press@samformontana.com
MEDIA
Checks can be mailed to:
Sam for Montana
PO Box 7224
Missoula MT 59807
PAID FOR BY SAM FOR MONTANA

[hidden/DOM-only content]
Sam Forstag for Montana
For All Of Us
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Menu
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Donate
Media
Downloadable Photos
Downloadable Video
Updated Thursday, May 14, 2026:
Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from
Bernie Sanders, AOC,
and over 30 current and former Montana legislators. These endorsements reinforce that Sam is a working class candidate who will fight for working class values in Washington.
People should see actual footage of firefighting, smokejumpers and working Montanans. Voters in Western Montana don’t need to hear more about Donald Trump. Sam is  the only candidate who can put together a winning coalition of working class voters and Montanans across the political spectrum to flip this seat and fix big problems. Sam’s unique bio shows that he can bring new, next generation leadership to Washington.
Spread The Word
Let's Win This.
It's Going To Take
All
Of Us.
Let's Go!
Donate
Volunteer
Media
Paid for by Sam for Montana
(not by billionaires and corporate PACs)
For All Of Us
All rights reserved

Version 3 · Live from August 5, 2026 – revised August 17, 2026

  • Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements
  • People should see actual footage of firefighting, smokejumpers and working Montanans.
  • Voters in Western Montana don’t need to hear more about Donald Trump.

The next revision added “Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC, and over 30 current and former Montana legislators.”; dropped “Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements”.

Archived screenshot of version 3 of https://samformontana.com/media
Archived at detectionRaw HTML preserved
Plain text of the archived page
Skip to content
X-twitter
 
Youtube
 
 
Instagram
 
Tiktok
 
Facebook
HOME
POLICIES
ENDORSEMENTS
VOLUNTEER
EVENTS
STORE
DONATE
MEDIA
DOWNLOADABLE PHOTOS
DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO
SPREAD THE WORD
 
 
LET'S WIN THIS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.
Sign up to hear from Sam on upcoming events, campaign updates, and more.
First Name
Last Name
Email
Cell Phone (optional)
Zip Code
LET'S GO!
X-twitter
 
Youtube
 
 
Instagram
 
Tiktok
 
Facebook
Sam is an organizer, a union leader, and a smokejumper – a firefighter who parachutes into remote areas to stop fires before they grow – running for Congress in Montana’s 1st District. Support his people-powered campaign by making a donation today!
DONATE
VOLUNTEER
press@samformontana.com
MEDIA
PRIVACY POLICY
Checks can be mailed to:
Sam for Montana
PO Box 7224
Missoula MT 59807
PAID FOR BY SAM FOR MONTANA

[hidden/DOM-only content]
Sam Forstag for Montana
For All Of Us
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Menu
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Home
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Events
Store
Policies
Endorsements
Volunteer
Donate
Media
Downloadable Photos
Downloadable Video
Updated Thursday, May 14, 2026:
Democratic primary voters across Montana’s First Congressional District need to see across all digital platforms and read in their mailboxes about Sam’s endorsements from
Bernie Sanders, AOC,
and over 30 current and former Montana legislators. These endorsements reinforce that Sam is a working class candidate who will fight for working class values in Washington.
People should see actual footage of firefighting, smokejumpers and working Montanans. Voters in Western Montana don’t need to hear more about Donald Trump. Sam is  the only candidate who can put together a winning coalition of working class voters and Montanans across the political spectrum to flip this seat and fix big problems. Sam’s unique bio shows that he can bring new, next generation leadership to Washington.
Spread The Word
Let's Win This.
It's Going To Take
All
Of Us.
Let's Go!
Donate
Volunteer
Media
Privacy Policy
Paid for by Sam for Montana
(not by billionaires and corporate PACs)
For All Of Us
All rights reserved

Independent-expenditure corroboration

FEC Schedule E · 11 filings

Sequence. Messaging guidance was present on the candidate's site when detected on 2026-07-16; $486,485 in supporting independent expenditures is on file for this candidate.

Committee AmountFilingsDate range
S PROGRESSIVE TURNOUT PROJECT $486,485 11 2026-05-16 – 2026-05-31

S Supporting O Opposing

FEC filings can be trailing evidence — smaller expenditures may surface only in periodic reports. Supporting IE dated on or after our detection day: $0. Dates are FEC expenditure dates.

Automated screen revision e1, r2, r3 · what is this?