Rick, Independents splitting their ticket is not unusual. Look at 2020, Biden won the presidency with independents voting for him by a 54-41 margin. But independents voted for the Democrats in the congressional races 49-48. Lots of split ticketing there. For senators in 2020 it was independents voting Republican 51-47 and for governors 52-47. This is why I said 2020 was no more than an anti-Trump election with no endorsement of either party’s agenda. Independents just wanted Trump gone. So many voted for Biden, against Trump is more the truth than for Biden, then voted Republican down ballot. 2020 was a split decision. Much like 2022.

Georgia may do the same, split ticket. Kemp received 54% of the vote here, Walker 48%. A large portion of Independents vote candidates more than party. Then too, governor races are more local, decided on local issues while senate races are more national, with national issues holding priority.

Keep in mind, independents aren’t loyal to any political party. Most detest both parties. Only 25% of independents view the Democratic favorably, 26% the Republican Party. Why is the house so close this time? It looks like the Democrats winning the gerrymandering wars, a plus of 10 seats saved them from a rout. As of now the total popular vote for congress is Republicans 51.2 to the Democrats 46.9%. Not official yet as they’re still counting, but this is the current numbers.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/2022-generic-congressional-vote-7361.html

I’m a swing voter who has split his ballot or ticket almost every election I can remember. Voting for some Republicans and voting for some democrats. It all depends on the candidates, who I like and or dislike. Many times, I vote third party if I dislike both major party candidates. I’m not a party loyalist either. I don’t march to either party’s drumbeat. But being anti-Trump these last 6 years has moved me closer to the Democrats than the GOP. Although I still voted for some non-Trump Republicans this time. I’m sure other swing voters, I like swing voter better than independent, that they did the same as I. Voted the candidate, not the party.

It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.