The National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) has taken a humorous jab at a group chat formed by self-identified “independent” candidates with left-leaning ties by producing a parody video that features Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
A report on Monday from Notus revealed that four former Democrats are now running as independents against Republican incumbents in conservative states and have formed a group chat.
In a post on X, NRSC shared a preview of the parody video titled “I’m not a totally Democrat,” which cleverly links the independent candidates to Schumer. The video includes a comment stating that it features a chat with a liberal independent purportedly trying to mislead voters in states like Nebraska, Idaho, and South Dakota. It pointed out that these were Democrats in disguise, suggesting that the candidates—Dan Osborne, Todd Achilles, and Brian Benz—didn’t contribute anything worthwhile to the discussion.
One of the candidates, Dan Osborne, a former registered Democrat, previously ran against incumbent Sen. Deb Fisher (R-NE) in 2024 but lost. Currently, he is challenging Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), while Benz is taking on Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Achilles ran against Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID). Another independent candidate, Pinkins, is pursuing a challenging race against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS).
Interestingly, the only independents in the Senate—socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and caucusing Sen. Angus King (I-ME)—generally vote with Democrats.
Notus downplayed Osborne’s Democratic past, labeling him as a “union worker” turned independent, rather than emphasizing his previous party affiliation. The report raised doubts about the viability of the four candidates, but Schumer likely anticipates limited success for them in their respective states. However, he might welcome the diversion of Republican resources to support these independent challengers.
Osborne’s candidacy in Nebraska appears to have drawn some Democratic support from other states, indicating that even narrow victories in Senate races can shift outcomes, particularly in regions where Trump had significant backing.
Fisher’s surprising win over Osborne—despite a late campaign attempt—frustrated Republicans who expected a comparatively easy victory in what was considered a secure seat.
The Notus report did not credit Schumer for enlisting four independent candidates and instead portrayed the emergence of these races as a response to widespread voter dissatisfaction with both major parties.
Recent analyses suggest that the narrative surrounding support for independent candidates may not be accurate. According to figures highlighted by the New York Times and examined by Breitbart News, Republicans currently hold a significant advantage, with a swing of 4.5 million voters in party registrations across 30 states.
Early engagement from the NRSC indicates that GOP candidates may struggle to navigate the political landscape with self-styled independent Democrats. If the NRSC’s recent posts are any indication, Republicans may find some enjoyment in highlighting perceived connections between Democrats and these independent candidates.
