Colorado's independent voters are returning early ballots at higher rates than Democrats or Republicans, reflecting their majority status in the state and highlighting the limits of traditional partisan turnout models.
With control of the US Senate potentially hanging in the balance, critics are blaming ranked choice voting for Alaska's notoriously slow results. But former state election officials say the real explanation lies in laws and procedures that predate the reform.
FairVote's analysis of 7,500 elections over 25 years found recounts changed the outcome just three times. Experts say recounts rarely help trailing candidates and often widen the margin in favor of the winner.
From California's Central Valley to Alaska, the fight for control of Congress is unfolding in districts where neither major party can afford to ignore voters outside its base.
Early voters in South Dakota show support for independent Senate candidate Brian Bengs, while former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorses an independent over a Democrat in Montana.
With Election Day two weeks away, seven independent campaigns for Senate and House seats are at critical moments. From Nebraska to Alaska to Montana, races are tightening or showing surprises in the final stretch.
In Los Angeles's District 3, business owner Tim Gaspar and labor-backed Barri Worth Girvan compete in a Democrat-versus-Democrat runoff where independent and Republican voters could decide the outcome.
Independent candidate Bill Hill has closed the gap in Alaska's House race, trailing Republican Nick Begich by just 1-2 points in recent polls as independent voters shift their support.
