Democrats Back Independents in Red States vs GOP

In several strongly Republican states, Democratic officials are supporting independent candidates for Congress and state offices this midterm season, sidelining their own party's nominees in hopes of improving chances against GOP incumbents.

The strategy emerged prominently in Nebraska, where Democrats recently nominated Cindy Burbank for the U.S. Senate primary but expect her to withdraw soon after to avoid splitting votes with independent Dan Osborn. According to state Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb, Burbank confirmed her plans in a private conversation with a party official following the polls' closure. Osborn, who fell 7 points short in a 2024 Senate contest, is seen by party leaders as the strongest contender against Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. Kleeb, a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, described the approach as a long-term effort in states where Democrats represent only about 32 percent of voters. Her party is also backing independents in at least four state legislative races. "We have to build a coalition with independents in order to win elections so we can do good work for the people. Period," Kleeb said.

Similar dynamics appear in other races. In...