The Democrats' Secret Weapon In Red States? Not Running At All.

By Paul Blumenthal, Senior Reporter, published August 8, 2026

Democrats are pursuing an unconventional approach in Republican-leaning states by withdrawing their own nominees to clear the path for independent candidates. This strategy has already succeeded in Nebraska, Idaho, and South Dakota, where Democratic Senate candidates have exited races to support independent challengers.

The most contentious battle is unfolding in Montana. Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead has refused to abandon her campaign despite intense pressure from party leaders, including former Senator Jon Tester, who backs independent Seth Bodnar, the former University of Montana president running as an independent.

"It's kind of a shit show right now," said former Sen. Jon Tester, who lost reelection in 2024 and is the last Democrat to hold statewide office in Montana. Tester is backing Bodnar and has called on Bankhead, an Air Force veteran with little political experience, to withdraw from the race, although he said that he isn't doing anything behind the scenes to pressure her ahead of the Aug. 10 filing deadline.

"Alani Bankhead has lived in the state a quick minute. She has no shot," Tester said.

Bankhead remains defiant, stating she will "never drop out" and insisting unity means supporting the Democratic nominee voters selected in the primary. An outside group called Montana Freedom PAC has spent over $1 million on advertising attacking Bankhead while promoting Bodnar.

But in Nebraska, Osborn came within 6 percentage points of the incumbent, Fischer, in 2024. That margin outpaced Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris by 15 points in the state — the highest differential by any candidate challenging a Republican.