Bodnar has committed to not joining the Senate Democratic Caucus if elected. And that likely limited their ability to appeal to stalwart Republican voters, the majority of the electorate in red states. Bodnar, who is backed by Tester and other prominent Democrats in Montana, will also likely be seen as essentially a Democratic candidate by many Montana voters, complicating his path to victory. Second, if Osborn and/or Bodnar make it to Washington, they won’t be full-fledged Democrats. And Osborn and Bodnar would probably try to cast high-profile votes with Republicans and against Democrats to solidify their independent bona fides.