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Between the coasts, populist Democrats see an opening to reclaim red states

NPR | By Sam Gringlas

Published October 19, 2026 at 4:14 PM CDT

Voters are mad and some Democrats see an opening to win back territory. In Montana, a former smokejumper is trying to flip a House seat by harnessing anger at corporate power and both parties.

Sam Gringlas

Sam Gringlas is an NPR Congressional Reporter.

See stories by Sam Gringlas

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