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.
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.
In Montana's Senate race, independent Seth Bodnar faces criticism from both parties while Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead stays in the race despite calls to drop out. The contest will test whether an independent can win without party consolidation.
Polls are important tools to understand where a race stands, and where the electorate is moving. As with all tools, though, it’s important to understand how to use them.
Independent voters, locked out of primaries in most states, are now the most sought-after voting bloc as candidates distance themselves from party leaders to appeal to the general election electorate.
Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are suing New York over its closed primary system, arguing that independent voters are being denied equal voting rights in publicly funded elections.
Republicans charge the Independents with being secret Democrats. The Democrats' lead on the generic ballot has swung six points in four months. Do the polls show people are buying that argument?
The Voter Protection Project, which has backed only Democrats since 2019, joins a coalition of democracy groups supporting independent congressional candidate Bill Hill. This year, Alaska’s top-four election system is also on the ballot, as it faces another attempt to repeal it.
