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Democrats Withdraw Senate Nominees, Clearing Ballot for Independents

8/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Democratic Party leaders in the United States withdrew their Senate nominees in Nebraska, Idaho and South Dakota after the primaries.
The withdrawals cleared the ballot for independent candidates in each deep-red state.
Democrats say the moderate independents are intended to draw Republican and centrist voters to make the Senate races competitive and to unseat Republican incumbents.

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Story summary

Democratic Party leaders in the United States withdrew their Senate nominees in Nebraska, Idaho and South Dakota after the primaries.
The withdrawals cleared the ballot for independent candidates in each deep-red state.
Democrats say the moderate independents are intended to draw Republican and centrist voters to make the Senate races competitive and to unseat Republican incumbents.