Independent candidates are launching U.S. Senate campaigns in four states that President Donald Trump won handily two years ago, drawing support from some Democrats hoping to shift the balance of power in Congress.
In Nebraska, Navy veteran Dan Osborn is running for Senate as an independent. Rancher Dan Morgan, a self-described Democrat who manages a 15,000-acre operation with 1,000 cows, backs Osborn's candidacy. Morgan cited Trump's tariff policies and trade uncertainty as threats to his business—half of which relies on exports.
Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb confirmed the party's strategic interest in these independent campaigns. "I'm a partisan Democrat. I believe in the Democratic Party. I also believe in building coalitions so we can win elections and then do the work of the people," Kleeb said.
Osborn is one of four independent candidates running in Trump-won states. Seth Bodnar, a former Green Beret and ex-president of the University of Montana, is running for Senate in Montana as an independent. "When I go to Washington, D.C. I'm not going to put on a red jersey with an 'R' or a blue jersey with a 'D.' I'm going to have a jersey with an 'M' on it, and I'm going to work for Montana," Bodnar said.
The independent bids reflect voter frustration with traditional politics and legislative gridlock. The strategy capitalizes on Trump's declining approval ratings and public concern over economic affordability—betting that Democratic-leaning voters in red states will support independents in regions where the Democratic Party's brand faces resistance.
