Democrats Quit 3 Red-State Senate Races to Clear Way for Independents
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 15
Democrats Quit 3 Red-State Senate Races to Clear Way for Independents
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 15
Summary
Three Democratic Senate nominees in Nebraska, Idaho and South Dakota withdrew after their primaries, leaving independents as the main challengers to Republican incumbents.
Democrats backing the move say moderate independents can win crossover votes that party nominees no longer can in deep-red states, where ticket-splitting has faded and the Democratic label has grown toxic.
Montana exposed the strategy’s limits: Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead refused to quit for independent Seth Bodnar, arguing withdrawals damage the party more than they help in the long run.
Dan Osborn’s 2024 Nebraska run underpins the approach—he lost by 7 points without a Democrat on the ballot—and he is seen as the strongest of this year’s independents, though Cook still rates Nebraska Likely Republican.
The candidates say they would not caucus with either party if elected, an unusual stance that would test Senate norms while underscoring Democrats’ broader struggle to compete in solidly Republican states.