据决策台总部（DDHQ）预测，民主党人萨姆·福斯塔格将赢得蒙大拿州第一国会选区的选举，这是其所在政党争取众议院控制权过程中的一个关键翻转。
Democrat Sam Forstag is the projected winner of the election for Montana's 1st District, a key flip in his party's push to take control of the House, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).
福斯塔格曾是空降消防员和工会领袖，他在这一空缺席位的竞选中击败了共和党挑战者、退役陆军中校亚伦·弗林特。该选区包括米苏拉市，覆盖该州西部。这位民主党人将接替退休的共和党众议员瑞安·津克。
Forstag, a former smokejumper and union leader, defeated Republican challenger Aaron Flint, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, in the race for the open seat — a district that the city of Missoula and covers the western portion of the state. The Democrat will replace retiring GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke.
据决策台总部周三早些时候的数据，在仅10%的选票报告完毕后，这位民主党人领先弗林特超过10个百分点——54%对43%。
The Democrat led Flint by over 10 percentage points with just 10 percent of the vote reported — 54 to 43 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ early Wednesday.
这一胜利对共和党人是一个打击，决策台总部在选举日前曾看好共和党保住该席位。
The win is a blow to Republicans, whom DDHQ favored to hold onto the seat ahead of Election Day.
尽管大多数选举预测机构曾预测该席位很可能继续由共和党掌控，但《库克政治报告》在10月中旬将该选区的选情改为“胜负难料”，当时称这位民主党人“有明确机会”夺下该席位——这一预测被证明是正确的。特朗普总统在上次选举中以11个百分点的优势赢得了该选区。
While most election handicappers forecasted the seat would likely remain in GOP hands, Cook Political Report changed the race to a "toss up" in mid-October, saying at the time the Democrat had "a clear shot" at snatching the seat — a forecast which proved correct. President Trump won the district by 11 points in the last election.
这位民主党人在整个竞选过程中强调自己的工人阶级背景和工会领导经历，获得了多个劳工团体的背书。他还得到了前蒙大拿州州长马克·拉西科特（共和党）的支持。
The Democrat emphasized his working-class background and union leadership throughout the campaign trail, racking up endorsements from several labor groups. He also earned the backing of former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot (R).
然而，批评者抨击福斯塔格曾担任说客的背景，保守派团体“行动领导力政治行动委员会”发布了一则攻击广告，将他25.9万美元的说客费用与其在华盛顿的工作联系起来。
Critics, however, slammed Forstag's background as a lobbyist, with the conservative Leadership in Action PAC releasing an attack ad tying $249,000 in lobbying fees to his work in Washington.