Three candidates are asking voters to trust a promise that could reshape power in the Senate.
Their opponents say campaign money and political history tell a different story.
Independent Senate candidates Dan Osborn, Seth Bodnar, and Brian Bengs pledged Monday not to caucus with either party if elected.
They also said they would not vote for either party’s Senate leader.
Osborn is running in Nebraska, Bodnar in Montana, and Bengs in South Dakota. Each is competing in a state where the Republican label usually carries a substantial advantage.
Their joint announcement directly answered a Republican charge: that they are Democrats running under a different label.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee dismissed the event as a “Fake Independent circus.”
Its spokeswoman, Bernadette Breslin, predicted the candidates would caucus with Democrats and support the party’s agenda.
The three candidates reject that claim and say their decisions would answer to voters in their states.
That disagreement goes beyond branding because Senate control could turn on a small number of seats.
Caucus membership helps determine leadership, committee assignments, and which party can advance its priorities.
A senator outside both caucuses could face a harder path to committee seats.
The candidates acknowledge that complication but argue their votes would give them bargaining power.
Committee assignments are negotiated through Senate leaders and approved by Senate resolution.
Their pledge therefore creates a practical test of whether they can secure influence while remaining outside both party organizations.
Bengs said he would not support either Democrat Chuck Schumer or Republican John Thune for Senate leader.
“I’m running to represent South Dakotans, not a political party,” he said.
Bengs is challenging Republican Senator Mike Rounds after running against Thune as a Democrat in 2022. He lost that earlier race and says the experience soured him on running within a party.
The Democratic nominee withdrew from this year’s South Dakota contest, leaving Bengs positioned to challenge Rounds.
In Nebraska, Osborn is challenging Republican Senator Pete Ricketts as a self-described lifelong independent.
He said he would consider proposals from either party based on whether they benefit Nebraskans. Osborn also argues that an independent senator could hold considerable leverage in a closely divided chamber.
The Nebraska Democratic Party has endorsed him, giving Republicans a concrete reason to question his separation from Democrats.
Democratic groups spent heavily to support his previous Senate campaign, according to American Tribune.
Their support does not establish how he would caucus if elected, but voters can weigh it against his pledge.
Bodnar, a military veteran and former University of Montana president, makes a similar case for independence.
He said his military oath was to the Constitution rather than a political party. Bodnar faces Republican Kurt Alme and Democrat Alani Bankhead in Montana’s Senate race.
His endorsements include former Democratic senators alongside former Republican Governor Marc Racicot and other Republicans.
His campaign has also received substantial donations through ActBlue, a fundraising platform widely used by Democrats.
Alme has called Bodnar a Democrat in disguise and challenged him over that fundraising. Bodnar maintains he would work with either party when its proposals serve Montana.
Bankhead’s continued candidacy further complicates the race by leaving a Democrat on the ballot alongside him.
Republicans point to these histories, endorsements, and donations as evidence that the independent pitch deserves scrutiny.
The candidates say financial support does not entitle donors or party leaders to their votes. Both claims can be tested through campaign records and, if any candidate wins, through Senate votes.
The caucus pledge is more specific than a general promise to put constituents first. It would require the winners to navigate Senate leadership negotiations without formally joining either party’s ranks.
Independent Senators Bernie Sanders and Angus King have instead chosen to caucus with Democrats, Breitbart News reported. Osborn, Bodnar, and Bengs say they would take a different route.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
