Bernie Sanders is defnitely a Socialist. He spent many years in the House. This year he ran for the Senate as an 'independent", not as a Democrat. He won.

Yes, many of the House candidates positioned themselves to the right of their Republican opponents. Many won, some did not. The northern Nevada House candidate ran ads with phrases like "conservative values right off the farm". I still have no idea what she stands for but she is a regent of the Unuversity of Nevada.