Ex-Federal Workers Forstag and Dembo Flip GOP House Seats

Two Democrats who left federal jobs during the Trump administration’s workforce cuts won Republican-held House seats on Tuesday, and The Washington Post counted three former federal workers among the night’s congressional winners.

Montana’s western district

Sam Forstag, 32, a former Forest Service smokejumper and union leader from Missoula, beat Republican Aaron Flint in Montana’s 1st District. Flint called Forstag to concede around midnight, the Flathead Beacon reported. Montana Public Radio said Forstag had 50% of the vote to Flint’s 47% on Wednesday afternoon, with about 7,000 votes between them, though the Associated Press had not called the race at that point.

Forstag would be the first Democrat to represent Montana in the House in 32 years, according to Montana Public Radio. Government Executive reported that, as a local federal employees’ union officer, he criticized cuts to public land agencies. Bloomberg Law said he quit in protest of the cuts.

Kentucky’s 6th District

In central Kentucky, Zach Dembo, a former Justice Department attorney, defeated Republican Ralph Alvarado, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. Dembo has said he resigned over what he called the politicization of the department. Alvarado conceded Tuesday night after Decision Desk HQ called the race.

The Herald-Leader noted the district backed Trump by 15 points in 2024 and was the state’s only competitive federal race this year.

A wave of federal alumni

Dozens of former federal employees ran for office this cycle after leaving or losing their jobs, many citing the cuts carried out under the Department of Government Efficiency. The Post reported that nearly one in five federal workers has left government since Trump returned to the White House.

Sources: The Washington Post, Montana Public Radio, Flathead Beacon, Lexington Herald-Leader, Government Executive, Bloomberg Law.