Nebraska independent candidate tours 10 towns with his dog

Mark Cohen visited ten towns in Nebraska’s Third District in one day on October 8, ending with a fundraiser debate against a cardboard cutout of incumbent Rep. Adrian Smith. The swing through the Sandhills highlighted Cohen’s pitch as the district’s only independent and his effort to reach voters in remote communities.

Why it matters: - Cohen is trying to show up in parts of Nebraska’s Third District that rarely get attention from congressional campaigns. - The district spans 80 counties and borders six states, making retail politics harder and turnout outreach more important. - Cohen is pitching himself as an independent option in a district where the Democratic candidate typically gets less than 20% of the vote.

What happened: - Mark Cohen visited ten towns in one day on October 8. - Cohen and his Irish Wolfhound, Solomon, stopped at businesses in Arthur, Hyannis, Whitman, Mullen, Seneca, Thedford, Stapleton, Arnold, and Callaway. - Cohen ended the day at a fundraiser in Johnson Lake. - The fundraiser concluded with a debate against a cardboard cutout of incumbent Rep. Adrian Smith, a Republican.

The details: - Cohen said the day was “fantastic” and that many people were surprised a congressional candidate would visit their small towns. - Cohen said Solomon received a lot of treats. - Cohen said he wanted residents in the Nebraska Sandhills to know he appreciates them and that voters do not have to choose between the two major-party candidates this year. - Smith has previously declined invitations to debate Cohen or any other candidate. - The campaign plans to post video of the debate on its YouTube channel. - Cohen often brings Solomon on campaign trips when the weather is favorable. - Cohen joked that “Solomon's name recognition is much better than mine.” - Cohen is a former Air Force judge advocate who first came to Nebraska more than 40 years ago. - Cohen served as a special assistant U.S. attorney for Nebraska. - Cohen earned an advanced degree in agricultural law. - Cohen lives in Lemoyne, Nebraska, and teaches karate in Ogallala. - More information is available at Mark for Nebraska.

Between the lines: - Cohen’s campaign is leaning into a low-cost, personal style of retail politics that can stand out in rural territory. - The cardboard-cutout debate is a visual contrast with Smith’s refusal to appear and a way to keep attention on Cohen’s challenge. - Bringing Solomon along helps Cohen turn a campaign stop into a memorable local event.

What's next: - The campaign plans to share video of the cardboard-cutout debate online. - Cohen will likely continue using small-town visits and Solomon as part of his campaign routine when weather allows. - The race will keep testing whether an independent candidate can break through in a deeply conservative district.