Steve Daines Montana

Four “Independents” Running For US Senate In Western States In Lieu Of Democrats!

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It has become clear to the Democratic Party in a number of Western states, that are primarily rural in nature, that their party has little to no chance to gain Senate seats.

So instead, Democrats are working with “Independents” in four states in an attempt to take away Republican Senate seats, and the hope is that it might succeed in some cases.

Such situations include:

Nebraska–Dan Osborn running against Republican Senator Pete Ricketts, who was Governor of Nebraska before replacing Senator Ben Sasse, when he resigned in 2023. He ran a close race against Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer in 2024, coming within seven points of Fischer, an astounding result for an Independent.

Montana–Seth Bodnar running against Republican Senate nominee Kurt Alme, formerly US Attorney for the District of Montana, running for the Senate after the sudden decision of Republican Senator Steve Daines to retire, rather than run for reelection after two Senate terms.

Idaho–Todd Achilles running against Republican Senator Jim Risch, who was briefly Governor of Idaho, has been in the Senate for three terms, and is 83 years old, but is also Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman.

South Dakota–Brian Bengs running against Republican Senator Mike Rounds, who has been in the Senate for two terms, and was formerly Governor of South Dakota.

Only in Montana has the Democratic nominee refused to back out—Alani Bankhead–even though former Democratic Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus promoted her withdrawing.

Major US Senate Turnover Coming In 120th Congress (2027-2029)

Ronald Leave a comment

The nation will witness a major US Senate turnover in the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029).

This would be due to retirements, primary defeats, potential election defeats, and 4 Senators running for Governor.

For now, the following is certain:

The following 11 US Senators are retiring:

Republican Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, running for Governor
Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois
Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa
Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
Democrat Gary Peters of Michigan
Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota
Republican Steve Daines of Montana
Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina
Republican Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, appointed temprarily to replace Markwayne Mullin
Republican Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming

The following two US Senators were defeated in primaries:

Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
Republican John Cornyn of Texas

The following seven US Senators are endangered for reelection:

Republican Dan Sullivan of Alaska, challenged by Mary Peltola
Republican Ashley Moody of Florida, challenged by Alex Vindman
Democrat Jon Ossoff of Georgia, challenged by Republican nominee
Republican Susan Collins of Maine, challenged by Graham Platner
Democrat Ed Markey of Massachusetts, challenged by Seth Moulton in primary
Republican Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, challenged by Independent Dan Osborn
Republican Jon Husted of Ohio, challenged by former Senator Sherrod Brown

Likely gains for Democrats seem possible or likely in

Alaska, North Carolina (open seat), Maine, Ohio, and with outside chances in Texas (open seat), Iowa (open seat), Montana (open seat), and Florida.

But Republicans have possibilities in Georgia, Michigan (open seat), and New Hampshire (open seat).

Also, the following US Senators are running for Governors of their states, and if elected, would resign from the Senate, and a replacement would be appointed or elected:

Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado
Democrat Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Republican Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee

IF all of the above were to occur, the maximum number of new US Senators, either by election or appointment for replacements, could reach the mid 20s in number.

Imagining about 20 new Senators as a minimum, is very likely to occur!

Two “Independent” Senate Candidates In Nebraska And Montana Give Hope To Democrats!

Ronald 3 Comments

Presently, there are two Independents in the US Senate–Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Angus King of Maine, who both join the Democratic caucus.

In the upcoming Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, two strongly Republican states have Independents running who give hope to Democrats that if they were able to be elected, they would clearly join the Democratic caucus, while reserving their independence as Sanders and King have done for many years.

These are Dan Osborn, age 51, in Nebraska, and Seth Bodnar, age 47, in Montana, and if either were to win the Senate seats in their states, it would insure that Democrats would control the Senate majority with their help and support on most issues.

This, along with the many potential Democratic Senate candidates who are in their 30s, 40s, and early 50s, would make the US Senate vastly younger in membership for the near future.

Osborn is a US Navy veteran, industrial mechanic, former labor union leader, who challenged incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer in 2024, losing by only 7 points, in a race no one thought would be anywhere near that close.

Osborn is now challenging Senator Pete Ricketts, former Governor, who is finishing out the term of former Senator Ben Sasse, who resigned in 2023. Osborn is running as a “rugged guy”, portrayed in similar terms as Graham Platner, who is running for the Maine Senate seat race as a Democrat against Maine Governor Janet Mills, for the opportunity to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Osborn is running on a populist platform, promoting small businesses, family farmers, and workers, and the Democrats, who have not run candidates in recent times in Nebraska, decided they would support him informally, and not have a Democrat in the race. Early indications show a nip and tuck race in polls, so Osborn just might win as an Independent, and bring relative youth to the Senate.

In Montana, Seth Bodnar, age 47, former President of the University of Montana, is running as an Independent, with no strong Democratic opponent for what will be an open seat, as Republican Senator Steve Daines decided not to run for reelection, and endorsed former US Attorney Kurt Alme minutes before the primary deadline.

Bodnar is a US Military Academy graduate who served in Iraq, and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. He was encouraged to run as an Independent by former Democratic Senator Jon Tester.
So there is a reasonable chance that Bodner could win the Senate race as an Independent, but with leanings toward the Democratic Party agenda, and would likely join the Democratic caucus in the Senate as an Independent.