Democrats’ Strategy of Backing Independents Faces Reckoning
Summary
Democrats are backing independent candidates in Senate races in Idaho, Nebraska and South Dakota instead of running party nominees, testing a strategy used in conservative states. The article says a less favorable national climate for Republicans could improve the independents’ chances, but Nebraska is the only one of the three races rated competitive by the Cook Political Report; Republicans remain favored in all three.Key Facts
- Democrats have backed independent Senate candidates in Nebraska, Utah, Alaska and Kansas in past election cycles.
- Republicans won each of those earlier races despite the independent candidates performing better than Democrats typically do in those states.
- Democrats are backing Todd Achilles in Idaho, Dan Osborn in Nebraska and Brian Bengs in South Dakota this year.
- The Cook Political Report rates Nebraska’s race Lean Republican and the Idaho and South Dakota races Solid Republican.
- In Montana, Democrat Alani Bankhead stayed in the Senate race after some Democrats urged the party to back independent Seth Bodnar, creating a three-way contest.
- The article reports that Trump’s approval rating and voter concerns about living costs and the economy have contributed to Democratic optimism.
- The independent candidates have described themselves as nonpartisan and have not said they would caucus with Democrats.
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