Running As An Independent: Liberating But Tough : NPR
David Johnson
But  David Johnson  also represents part of northwest Iowa. And while King might look to the White House and see a kindred spirit   Johnson  calls Donald Trump's rhetoric "misogynistic " "race-baiting " and "bigoted."
 David Johnson  is a former dairy farmer who's been a senator in the state legislature since 2003.  He  was a prominent local leader for both George W. Bush and Mitt Romney during their presidential campaigns but left  his  party after Donald Trump became its presidential nominee in 2016.
Now  he 's running as an independent  and  he 's not alone. Bob Krist  a Nebraska state legislator and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel  is running as an independent in that state's gubernatorial election. Kansas City attorney Craig O'Dear also left the Republican Party and is campaigning for the U.S. Senate in Missouri.
In Iowa   Sen. Johnson  is facing Republican Zach Whiting  an aide to Rep. King  in November. No Democrat has announced yet.
 Johnson  knows running without the backing of one of the two major political parties could spell trouble but  he  sees opportunity.
"There's no regrets here "  he  says. "I'm getting quite a bit of support from people that I never got before."
And  he 's also feeling more liberated as a lawmaker.
"I've even been told that my job was only to represent Republicans "  he  says  "the Democrats be damned."
Erica Schultes lives in  Sen. Johnson 's district and says she supports him more now than she did when he was a Republican.
Schultes  a realtor who also raises chickens and hogs  is concerned about the environment. In this part of the country  many environmental issues center around hog confinements.  Johnson  has sponsored a bill  opposed by Iowa Republicans  that would increase regulation on hog confinements.
The two hope behind those doors there's enough support for an independent  Johnson  to keep his seat.
Evan McMullin made his name as an independent presidential candidate in 2016. He thinks that even in rock-ribbed Republican districts like  Johnson 's  there are many voters in the middle.
Sen. David Johnson is facing just a sliver of that electorate in November but the challenge may be just as great.
But   [TGT] also represents part of northwest Iowa. And while King might look to the White House and see a kindred spirit    [TGT] calls Donald Trump's rhetoric "misogynistic " "race-baiting " and "bigoted."
 David Johnson  is a former dairy farmer who's been a senator in the state legislature since 2003.  He  was a prominent local leader for both George W. Bush and Mitt Romney during their presidential campaigns but left  his  party after Donald Trump became its presidential nominee in 2016.
Now  he 's running as an independent  and  he 's not alone. Bob Krist  a Nebraska state legislator and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel  is running as an independent in that state's gubernatorial election. Kansas City attorney Craig O'Dear also left the Republican Party and is campaigning for the U.S. Senate in Missouri.
In Iowa    [TGT] is facing Republican Zach Whiting  an aide to Rep. King  in November. No Democrat has announced yet.
  [TGT] knows running without the backing of one of the two major political parties could spell trouble but   [TGT]   sees opportunity.
"There's no regrets here "   [TGT]   says. "I'm getting quite a bit of support from people that I never got before."
And   [TGT]  's also feeling more liberated as a lawmaker.
"I've even been told that my job was only to represent Republicans "   [TGT]   says  "the Democrats be damned."
Erica Schultes lives in  Sen. Johnson 's district and says she supports him more now than she did when he was a Republican.
Schultes  a realtor who also raises chickens and hogs  is concerned about the environment. In this part of the country  many environmental issues center around hog confinements.   [TGT] has sponsored a bill  opposed by Iowa Republicans  that would increase regulation on hog confinements.
The two hope behind those doors there's enough support for an independent   [TGT] to keep  [TGT]  seat.
Evan McMullin made his name as an independent presidential candidate in 2016. He thinks that even in rock-ribbed Republican districts like   [TGT]  's  there are many voters in the middle.
 [TGT]  is facing just a sliver of that electorate in November but the challenge may be just as great.