A slew of indie candidates are running for Senate in deep-red states. Democrats aren't all thrilled.

Deep in Trump country, left-leaning independents are sparring with Democrats over who is more electable in longshot Senate races this fall, setting them up to split votes — and relinquish any hope of victory.

Following the 2024 momentum of Nebraska independent Dan Osborn — who is running again this year — liberal candidates in Montana, Idaho and South Dakota are mounting Senate bids as independents. But they are quickly running into a problem: Unlike in Nebraska, local Democrats aren’t interested in stepping aside.

That puts both the Democratic Party and these independents in a bit of a bind — and could imperil their chances of breaking up GOP control of the Senate. Democrats running candidates in red states see no reason to endorse candidates who have not pledged to support them in Congress, even though the liberal-minded independents may have a stronger path to victory in red areas where the Democratic Party brand is toxic.

Montana is the most likely place where these tensions could boost the GOP. Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar launched his independent bid on Wednesday, the final day candidates could get on the ballot in the state. That was the same day Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced his retirement, in an explicit effort to keep Democrats from fielding a strong candidate of their own.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/slew-indie-candidates-running-senate-140000581.html