A full 45% of American adults identify as political independents. That’s far higher than the share – 27% each – who say they are either Democrats or Republicans, according to a 2026 report by Gallup. Nationally, according to another source, one-fifth of voters “are so independent that they do not vote consistently for one party or the other.”
Yet only three out of 535 members of Congress are independents – two senators (one each from Maine and Vermont) and one representative (from California).
This growing gap between public preference and the composition of Congress has prompted a retired senator, Joe Manchin, and his daughter Heather to launch an initiative to spur more election bids by candidates not tied to a party. The aim of their Independent Leadership Council is to mentor, fund, and otherwise support independent candidates for Congress. During his nearly 15 years representing West Virginia as a Democrat, Mr. Manchin often bucked the party line – and believes that doing so can help a lawmaker lessen partisan gridlock. (He became an independent in 2024, a year before retiring from the Senate.)
“We’re not trying to start another party,” Mr. Manchin told CNN in July, but to mentor and fund individuals “totally committed” to being “independent with an independent voice.
“They can vote with Democrats and Republicans when they’re right,” he said, “and speak out against them when they’re wrong.”
Given the nation’s founding principles, what could be more American than exercising independent judgment?
Communities across the United States are seeking common ground and compromise in civic life – and are trying to uncover new perspectives and ideas to address political and social challenges.
Researchers have identified key differences in how unaligned voters and those registered as Democrats or Republicans frame key issues. Those with declared party affiliations “simply mirror the information” gained from political leaders or partisan social media and news outlets, according to a 2024 report in The Conversation based on a review of 10 years of opinion surveys.
In contrast, “Independents’ political views and perspectives ... reflect the economic and social conditions they see and experience every day.”
Reflecting this sentiment, the number of independents contesting House and Senate races shot up to 217 this year (about 80 more than in 2024).
“The surge reflects deep dissatisfaction with the two-party system,” Newsweek reported in July. Surveys show nearly 60% of U.S. adults hold unfavorable views of both parties. But candidates not linked to a major party, Newsweek noted, face “steep structural barriers” to being elected. These include fundraising, signature requirements to get on ballots, and limited campaign infrastructure.
Despite the challenges, many candidates are impelled by the desire to steer political discourse toward civility and issues that matter most to ordinary citizens. One of them is Adam Withrow, a Coloradan running for the U.S. Senate.
“We have this false dichotomy of two parties, that we have two choices and nothing else is relevant,” he told Colorado Public Radio on Wednesday. “We need to, at very least, widen that conversation.”
That’s a process – and opportunity – that Americans across the political spectrum can get behind.
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