22May
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Common Defense, a national grassroots organization of veterans and military families, announced its endorsement of Sam Forstag for Congress in Montana’s First District. Common Defense is proud to support a working-class leader who has spent his life serving others — from fighting wildfires on the front lines as a smokejumper to standing up for public lands workers, unions, and Montana families.
“Sam Forstag has dedicated his life to protecting his community and defending the resources that make Montana special,” said Jose Vasquez, Executive Director of Common Defense. “As a smokejumper and a fierce advocate for working families, Sam knows what it means to put everything on the line for others. We need leaders in Congress who prioritize everyday people over corporate interests, and Common Defense is proud to stand behind his vision for Montana.”
As a smokejumper in Missoula, Forstag notably rented his own home well below market value to help a local veteran get back on his feet. If elected to Congress, he has pledged to stand up for veterans by fighting to protect public services from federal funding cuts and ensuring all Montanans have access to comprehensive, community-based mental health care.
“Sam understands service because he’s lived it, whether parachuting into active wildfires or organizing alongside workers fighting for fair treatment,” added Naveed Shah, U.S. Army veteran and Political Director at Common Defense. “Montanans deserve a representative who knows what it’s like to work hard and support his neighbors. Sam will bring this lifetime of advocacy to Washington, representing a bold new generation of leadership for the working class.”
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Common Defense Civic Engagement (501c4) (CDCE) is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.