By Anietie anii-bassey
Democratic leaders across several deeply conservative states are embracing an increasingly unconventional political strategy ahead of the midterm elections: quietly stepping aside in favor of independent candidates they believe stand a better chance of defeating Republicans than anyone carrying the Democratic label.
From Nebraska to Alaska, and from Idaho to South Dakota, party officials and strategists are reassessing how to compete in regions where Democratic candidates have struggled for years under the weight of a deeply unpopular party brand. In some races, Democratic organizations are openly encouraging independents.
In others, support is being offered more discreetly through fundraising infrastructure, campaign assistance and behind-the-scenes coordination.
The emerging strategy reflects growing anxiety inside the Democratic Party as it seeks ways to regain influence in conservative states where voters have increasingly rejected Democratic candidates at nearly every level of government.
Party leaders argue the shift is less about abandoning Democratic principles and more about building broader coalitions capable of competing in places where partisan labels alone can determine electoral outcomes.
The clearest example emerged this week in Nebraska, where Democrats selected Cindy Burbank as their nominee for the U.S. Senate race. Burbank signaled almost immediately that a major priority of her campaign would be ensuring that a Democrat does not remain on the ballot long enough to divide anti-Republican voters and weaken independent candidate Dan Osborn.
According to Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb, Burbank privately reiterated after polls closed that she intends to withdraw from the race in the coming weeks.
Democratic leaders in Nebraska believe Osborn, who narrowly lost a Senate race in 2024 by seven percentage points, represents the strongest opportunity to unseat Republican Senator Pete Ricketts this fall.
Kleeb, who also serves as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, said the strategy reflects a broader political reality confronting Democrats in heavily Republican states.
“For some states, and Nebraska is one of them, where Democrats are 32% of the electorate, this is a long-term strategy for us,” she said.
Kleeb added that the Nebraska Democratic Party is backing independent candidates in multiple state legislative races in addition to the Senate contest.
“We have to build a coalition with independents in order to win elections so we can do good work for the people,” she said. “Period.”
The approach marks a significant departure from traditional party politics, where major political organizations almost always rally behind their own nominees regardless of electoral odds.
Now, however, some Democrats argue the political landscape has shifted so dramatically that survival in red states requires flexibility and pragmatism rather than strict party loyalty.
Behind the scenes, parts of the Democratic Party’s national apparatus appear increasingly supportive of the strategy.
The Democratic-aligned fundraising platform ActBlue is working with some independent candidates, while Democratic-affiliated digital consulting firms and campaign infrastructure providers have also quietly assisted certain campaigns.
Some Democratic campaign committees in Washington have reportedly offered logistical support in select races while deliberately avoiding public criticism of independent candidates, even in contests where official Democratic nominees remain on the ballot.
Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin said the party’s image problem has become impossible to ignore in many conservative states.
“The Democratic Party’s brand is awful right now,” Schwerin said. “The combination of the brand problem and the existential nature of the threat that our country is facing requires us to have a big tent and look for candidates who can win.”
Still, the strategy has exposed growing tensions inside Democratic circles.
Some donors, strategists and longtime party activists argue that abandoning Democratic nominees risks weakening the party even further over the long term. Critics worry that Democrats are effectively disguising their politics behind independent labels rather than confronting the deeper challenges facing the party in rural America and conservative regions.
Democratic strategist Mike Ceraso questioned whether independent candidates would reliably support Democratic priorities if elected.
“What’s the independent going to do for the Democratic Party if they win?” Ceraso asked. “We’re the party of truth and honesty and integrity, but we’re playing these stupid political games?”
The uncertainty surrounding how these independents would govern has become one of the strategy’s central risks.
Several candidates have already signaled they would not formally align themselves with either major party if elected to Congress.
In Idaho, independent Senate candidate Todd Achilles, an Army veteran and former Democratic state legislator, said he would refuse to caucus with either Democrats or Republicans in Washington.
Achilles described himself as politically moderate and said he believes many voters are exhausted by hyper-partisan politics.
“The priority is to get Congress functioning again,” Achilles said. “We gotta break the grip of the two-party system.”
He added that he and several other military veterans running as independents in Senate races across the country frequently communicate in a shared group text where they discuss campaign strategies and reform ideas, including term limits, age restrictions for elected officials and campaign finance reform.
Achilles also criticized Democrats for previously supporting former President Joe Biden as their 2024 nominee, arguing the decision damaged the party politically.
At the same time, he suggested some conservative voters may also be losing enthusiasm for Donald Trump.
In South Dakota, independent Senate candidate Brian Bengs is attempting to defeat Republican Senator Mike Rounds after previously losing a Senate race as a Democrat by more than 40 percentage points.
Bengs, a Navy and Air Force veteran, said his earlier campaign convinced him that the Democratic label itself had become a major obstacle in conservative states.
“When you say, ‘I’m a lifelong independent running as a Democrat,’ the response was quick: ‘I’ll never vote for a Democrat,’” Bengs recalled.
“That takeaway soured me on running again in any party system, because it was just a soul-sucking experience.”
In Alaska, independent congressional candidate Bill Hill is attracting growing support from labor unions and moderate voters as he attempts to unseat Republican Representative Nick Begich.
Hill, a commercial fisherman and retired school superintendent, significantly outraised Democratic candidate Matt Schultz during the early months of the campaign.
The Alaska Democratic Party notably declined to endorse Schultz at its state convention, fueling speculation that many Democrats privately see Hill as the stronger challenger.
Hill has emphasized pragmatism over ideology in his campaign message, urging voters across the political spectrum to focus less on party affiliation and more on electability.
“You need to be pragmatic about who you choose to support in this election cycle,” Hill said, “because at the end of the day, we need a change in the House seat in Alaska.”
Like several other independent candidates, Hill stopped short of committing to caucusing with Democrats if elected, though he suggested aligning with Republicans would be unlikely.
Currently, the Senate includes two high-profile independents — Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine — both of whom caucus with Democrats.
Republicans, meanwhile, have sharply criticized the growing trend of Democratic-aligned independents.
A spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee accused candidates such as Osborn, Bengs, Achilles and Montana independent candidate Seth Bodnar of being “fake independents” who would ultimately support liberal Democratic policies if elected.
For many voters in conservative states, however, the rise of independent candidates reflects broader frustration with America’s increasingly polarized political system.
Hill said one advantage of running outside the two-party structure is the freedom it provides candidates to appeal directly to voters without being constrained by national party agendas.
“There’s freedom,” Hill said. “I can truly represent the working people of Alaska.”
Original article
Comments