Two candidates describe the grind of running against strong party odds

Lisa Kinney has campaigned in Casper, Wyoming, where the diner is full and the politics are stark. She is running as a Democrat for the single House seat in a state that has elected only Republicans to Congress since the late 1970s.

Kinney, a former state senator, says she does not have a campaign office. She travels the state with a small group of helpers to meet voters face to face. Her message focuses on preserving public lands and lowering health care costs.

"It's really tiring, but we have to see as many people as we can," Kinney said. "If they can meet me, they feel more comfortable voting for me."

At Johnny J's, a local breakfast spot, Kinney talked with several patrons. Some declined to speak about politics while others expressed doubts about her party. Joe Beck, a voter who does not identify with either major party, said he had already voted for Kinney but doubted she could change the state's trajectory.

"You have an uphill battle. This is the reddest state in the nation," Beck said. "I applaud you, but there's a tsunami coming at you on the first Tuesday in November."

Kinney's husband, Rodney Lang, said the campaign aims to strengthen the local party even if they do not win the seat. Kinney describes herself as a realist who knows many voters will choose the Republican candidate, but she maintains she can win.

Two thousand miles away in Connecticut, George Austin faces a similar challenge from the other side of the aisle. The home builder and former football coach is running as a Republican for the state's second congressional district, a seat held by the same Democratic party for decades.

Austin has put $250,000 of his own money into the campaign. He serves as the scheduler and volunteer coordinator for his own race. He says he wants to show other regular people that running for office is possible, even in a safe seat.

"I want to be a catalyst to show other working men and women, other regular Joes out there, that this is worthwhile," Austin said.

Austin noted that voters often disengage when they learn he is a Republican, sometimes before he can explain his positions. He tries to steer conversations toward issues like congressional gridlock and term limits. He said he voted for President Trump and acknowledges disagreements with the administration, but he wants to restore balance in representation.

Eric Ostermeier, founder of the nonpartisan site Smart Politics, said there are currently 19 state delegations in Congress where all representatives and senators belong to the same party. He noted this is the highest number seen in nearly 75 years. Ostermeier said gerrymandering and geographic sorting of voters contribute to these solid districts.

"It's harder for a state office candidate to say, 'I'm a Wyoming Democrat, I'm not a Washington Democrat,' you get tainted by the national party," Ostermeier said.