Balloon Juice · August 25, 2026
Well, well. I was a little preoccupied this weekend with emergency surgery for Trixie and a marauding raccoon family endangering Nora, so I did not read this when MazeDancer first sent it to me. I was not ready today when reading her blurb on Mr. Montana. Let's just say, smoke jumper, union leader, crisis management, I'm there for it.
And listen up Nebraska, Denise Powell is just what you need. Don't make me drive over there - although I could use some good Nebraska beef. Ain't nothing like it. Trump did you dirty, try and remember that come election day.
From MazeDancer:
Running in the Red - Hope for the House in Montana and Nebraska
While the candidate himself may not be aware that he is, pardon the expression, smokin' hot, someone on his team, possibly someone attracted to men, is not going to let Sam Forstag's good looks go to waste.
Sam Forstag, running for Montana's Western Congressional seat, District 1, has a thirst trap video headlining his website, that might as well have "What a man, what a man, what a mighty fine man" playing underneath it.
I might have watched it more than once.
The tousled hair, the vrooming motorcycle, the unstoppable courage, the slightly unbuttoned shirt, the anti-billionaire anger, the principled stance on issues, Sam Forstag has it all
Smokejumper! The man is not just a firefighter, but he frigging jumps out of moving aircraft into raging danger to stop forest fires.
Sam Forstag is, also, Mr. Power to the People. More schools, more healthcare, more help for Veterans, stronger unions, mightier environmental protections.
Sam is so solid on the most important issues that Ryan Zinke, the current and retiring seat holder, former Trump Secretary of the Interior, and actual enemy of the environment, is making videos labeling Sam a Communist, Socialist, and a bunch of other stuff.
Born in 1994 - yes, take a breath, 1994 - Mr. Forstag is 31. His GOP opponent Aaron Flint is 46. So generational change is guaranteed.
Though using your "AF" initials on your campaign website declaring yourself "Montana AF" might indicate Aaron Flint needs some more time with the cool kids.
Montana ought to be among the last, great, wild places in the nation, working relentlessly in careful stewardship of its remarkable natural riches. Yet, somehow, all these fierce, free-ranging Montanans keep voting for these big bucks, life-ruining GOP.
Take my Freedom, Healthcare, Clean Water, and Veteran's Benefits, please, just give me my Hate! They voted out actual rancher, working farmer, proven moderate and gun owner Jon Tester for Trumper Tim Sheehy.
Maybe the self-started Iranian disaster, the crippling price rises, or the ongoing abuse of the troops will break through, this time.
And if being handsome helps, go for it. (Holding back, we are not including shirtless Sam shot from Twitter.) Because looking good gets you a whole lotta free media.
And free media, Sam will need. Because Aaron Flint is a radio host, who somehow parlayed that into a spot in the Rodeo Hall of Fame, and is campaigning on "Saving Our Western Way of Life".
Which, as cloaked on his website, translates to anti-trans. Because other than the wonderful Zooey Zephyr, who represents District 95, in the Montana Legislature, there are no trans people in Montana.
And, as we well know, despite the prevalence of chaps, there are no Queer Folk in Rodeo. Just like Hockey. Which they also play in Montana. Because it's cold. What's the price of heat, again? More or less than what it costs to fill-up your big truck and drive the long distances required to live in Montana?
Will Montanans, one more time, choose hate and hypocrisy over actual care and support for themselves, their state, and their nation? Maybe, this time, Trump has gone too far and people in Montana are fed up enough to embrace sanity.
Please, Goddess of Justice, Rivers, Lakes, Mountains, and Wildlife may it be so.
Go get 'em Sam!
Sam Forstag's campaign website.
No Surprises from the GOP in Nebraska
Denise Powell says she is "Fighting for Nebraska's Good Life". Because, under Donald Trump, that Good Life has become near impossible.
In Congress, she aims to do all the important things - expand access to affordable healthcare, protect reproductive freedom. prevent Medicaid cuts, invest in public schools, and support strong unions.
She has received the endorsement of the AQFGE, representing the 10,000 federal employees live in Nebraska
Nebraska-2 is an open seat as Republican Rep. Don Bacon announced he wouldn't seek reelection. Powell is running against Brinker Harding, who, surprisingly, did not earn his war chest by renting out his name to bad novelists. The Omaha City Councilman has raised $1.8 million.
Having no primary opponent, Harding has only spent 843K. Powell, in a hotly contested primary, spent $1.6 million. But as the General Election nears, and the chance for a Dem flip increases, all money considerations will change.
There is also a Libertarian, Eric Michael Foreman, on the ballot.
In the last stretch of the primary, Denise had to not just contend with her 5 opponents but a GOP group called "Lead Left". The deliberately confusingly named org exists to interfere with Democratic primaries. They insinuated her prime opponent, State Sen. John Cavanaugh, supported Donald Trump. Which is not true.
Lead Left, evidently, felt Denise Powell would be easier to beat than the long-established scion of a local political dynasty. After all, she is a girl. And misogyny is not dead in Nebraska.
Which Brinker displays in his first TV ad. Brinker introduces his wife, two daughters, and female dog by saying "In the Harding household, I'm outnumbered. So I know how to keep the peace in hostile territory."
Yes it's real.
But, luckily, for Brinker it's hard to link. Alas, there is a newspaper paywall or Twitter. Though, it is so outrageous, maybe the media will have picked it up, which is likely the point.
Denise Powell heavily emphasizes being a mother. She always leads with that descriptor. In 2016, she co-founded Women Who Run, an org that helps train women candidates. Before that, she was a corporate executive.
While Powell runs on economic issues, Brinker Harding, has, and intends to continue, using insults and scare tactics. He has invoked Zohran Mamdani and Gavin Newsom. Two guys who are smarter, more charismatic, and better-looking than Brinker Harding, who do not consider their wives leading enemy combatants from inside their homes.
Brinker, unaware of the name of the world's largest cash transport company, calls her "Dark Money Denise" One assumes that means he will turn down Elon Musk, or any GOP billionaire.
Harding is going to lead with what the GOP always uses to fight back against the impending economic collapse of farms, businesses, and people everywhere - demonizing trans people. Not explaining how genital examination of children to prevent suspected males - or stronger, tougher girls - from competing in women's sports is a fine thing for a party filled with pedophiles to do.
Harding's campaign has said, "He aims to excite the Republican base with red-meat issues". Exactly what people who can't afford groceries want to eat.
Nebraska-2 is a classic race this midterm. A jovial white guy who doesn't mention Trump and rails about bringing down the high cost of living. And then attacks trans people. Versus a Dem who campaigns on serious issues for serious times, and is trying to save Democracy.
The media will shrug off the issues because they're the same everywhere and boring to them. They will focus on sensationalism. So, attack trans people and the women in your household.
At least, Denise Powell has what Democratic voters want to combat all the crazy malarkey - a fighting spirit. Good luck to her.
Denise Powell's campaign website.
We will cover all the Hopium Chronicles/DCCC Red to Blue crossover Congressional candidates in weeks to come. But we still would love to introduce candidates at every level from your RedZone. Send names to TaMara (at) Balloon-Juice.com
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TaMara: I'm up for generational change. And more fierce female leaders. More leaders with science, medical and environmental backgrounds.
What's on your candidate wishlist?