“A string of unexpected independent poll results in this year’s midterm elections is bringing national attention to a slate of candidates who otherwise would be considered long shots as campaigns turn to the general election sprint — but some recent major misses are raising questions about whether those findings can be trusted,” Politico reports.“Independent polls — those conducted without coordination with a campaign — this year have put Democratic Senate candidates ahead in deep-red Texas, which hasn’t elected a Democrat to the chamber since 1988, as well as Alaska and Iowa, which haven’t since 2008.”“They have Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown leading GOP Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio, which President Donald Trump won by more than 11 points in 2024. In ruby-red Arkansas, which Trump won by more than 30 points, one independent poll has Democratic Senate nominee Hallie Shoffner in a statistical dead heat against GOP Sen. Tom Cotton.”