"He's running because this year is an opportunity for independent Democrats, Independents, and insurgency candidates to make a mark."

To the extent that the Democrats succeed in this effort, he said, "they'll win back conservative and independent Democrats."

He lost Democratic preselection for the 1944 state election and ran successfully as an independent Democrat.

And what I try to fashion myself as, is as an independent Democrat.

Voting no were 21 Democrats, one Republican and one independent.

"We beat him by running as an independent, center-out Democrat," he says.

"She's a fearless, independent Democrat who has a lot of heart and a set of core values."

Opposing it were 137 Democrats, one Republican and one independent.

These days she pointedly calls herself a "totally independent Democrat."

Voting for the bill were 209 Democrats, 1 Republican and 1 independent.