Between the coasts, populist Democrats see room to reclaim lost ground in red states

Sam Forstag poses for a portrait on a ranch outside of Drummond, Montana on October 7, 2026. A former U.S. Forest Service smokejumper, Forstag is trying to flip a House seat in the state

In parts of the Great Plains and Midwest, Democrats are betting that harnessing anger at corporate power and both parties might succeed when voters believe the economy and government are not working.

(Image credit: Tailyr Irvine for NPR)