AP: Democrats test a new red state strategy: Back independents over their own nominees

[Omaha Steve]

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By STEVE PEOPLES and MIKE CATALINI
Updated 1:28 PM CDT, May 15, 2026
Comments 15

NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic leaders, desperate to compete in red states where their party brand is toxic, are embracing something new this midterm season: not backing Democrats.

In states like Nebraska and Alaska, Democratic officials are, in some cases, looking past their own party’s candidates while subtly encouraging — or even openly promoting — independent candidates they hope can outperform the Democratic label. The Democratic National Committee and some of its allies in Washington are quietly supporting the new strategy.

Meanwhile, some of the independent candidates are chatting in a group text about their approach as they plot a path that could shake up Congress, which is consumed by partisan gridlock.

Nebraska Democrats this week chose a nominee for U.S. Senate, Cindy Burbank, who said a major campaign priority was to ensure a Democrat wouldn’t be on the fall ballot to pull support from independent Dan Osborn. Shortly after polls closed, Burbank reiterated her plan to drop out in the coming weeks during a private conversation with a party official, according to state Democratic chair Jane Kleeb.

FULL story: https://apnews.com/article/independents-democrats-election-strategy-senate-nebraska-osborn-307c163f3ee4a3cb295ee4b592901dc2

[kentuck]

1. It makes sense at this time in our history...

For whatever reason, Democrats do not poll well with the American people as a whole. In my opinion, the Democratic Party should adopt the "Independents" as their own, as part of the Democratic Party.. Because we need all the votes we can gather.

[awesomerwb1]

2. They don't poll well within their own party to begin with

[Omaha Steve]

4. I agree

[EdmondDantes_]

3. Maybe short term, but we really need to build the party in more states

I get that's slow work, but we should do it for the long term health of the party. Yes it would mean we can't have people who all resemble the most left tomorrow, but given our popularity on things like increasing minimum wage, health care, etc, I don't think it would take that long to change our party perception.

[Wounded Bear]

5. It boils down to "all politics is local" We need to do what works...

to get the repubs out. Finding Independents we can work with is better than repubs that refuse to work with us.