Sam Forstag, a former smokejumper, has officially launched a campaign for Congress, framing his candidacy around the decline of empathy in American society. Forstag’s political identity is rooted in his background as a wildland firefighter and his experiences navigating working-class life, such as balancing multiple jobs as a student.

Central to his campaign narrative is a 2013 incident in which he stopped to help a driver whose car had slid into a ditch during a snowstorm. Forstag uses this anecdote to illustrate a broader philosophy: that community support and individual responsibility are essential components of a healthy society. He argues that the current political climate has lost sight of these values, and he intends to bring a perspective shaped by his time in the field to the legislative process.

While the announcement highlights his personal history and his motivation for entering politics, the campaign has yet to release a detailed policy platform. Forstag’s entry into the race is being positioned as a response to what he perceives as a growing national divide, emphasizing a return to the community-oriented values he learned while growing up in Oregon and Montana. As he begins his run, Forstag aims to contrast his background in high-stakes, collaborative environments like smokejumping with the perceived stagnation of current congressional politics.