U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez traveled to Missoula on May 28 to rally support for Democrat Sam Forstag, who is running in Tuesday's primary. The appearance marks the second consecutive year the New York congresswoman has made the trip to Montana to boost progressive candidates, following last year's "Fighting Oligarchy" tour stop with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont that drew a large crowd in Missoula.

Forstag is competing in the Democratic primary ahead of what is expected to be a competitive general election race. The Missoula rally was designed to drive Democratic turnout ahead of Tuesday's vote — a perennial challenge for Montana Democrats, who have struggled with primary participation in recent cycles even as general election margins have tightened in some districts.

The Ocasio-Cortez appearance drew attention partly because of the contrast with Montana's political geography. While Missoula trends Democratic, much of the state — including Lewis and Clark County outside of Helena proper — leans Republican. Whether a high-profile endorsement from one of the country's most prominent progressive voices helps or complicates Forstag's path in a general election is a question Montana Democratic strategists have wrestled with in past cycles.

Tuesday's primary will determine whether Forstag advances. Results will be available through the Montana Secretary of State's office on election night.