65%

The percentage of Americans of U.S. adults say they would be likely to vote for a strong, well-funded independent candidate who shared their views and was willing to work with both sides. That's roughly two in every three Americans.

The two-party grip is loosening in several state races. Here are the stories this week featuring independent candidates making real moves on the ballot.

1 - Can Montanans be persuaded by Seth Bodnar’s anti-partisan platform?

Montana Free Press · October 19, 2026 

Montana Free Press asks whether Seth Bodnar’s “Montana is my party” pitch can win in a state where 42% of voters call themselves independent, more than Republicans (39%) or Democrats (19%). He’s backed by Democrats and Republicans alike, but rivals say refusing to caucus would cost Montana clout. With ballots out and Election Day Nov. 3, it’s a real test of whether the space between the parties is big enough.

2 - U.S. Senate Race: Bodnar Pitches Independence as the Fix for a ‘Broken’ Washington

Flathead Beacon · October 19, 2026 

Seth Bodnar is pitching himself as an “off ramp” from a broken Washington, but polls have him trailing Republican Kurt Alme by 8 to 19 points. He leads in fundraising ($3.2M+) and has won over former Democratic leaders, though Democrat Alani Bankhead is still on the ballot. A political scientist says that even a loss could be a launchpad, since he’s “building a political brand.”

3 - Seth Bodnar attracting Democratic and Republican voters as an independent candidate for US Senate

Daily Montanan · October 21, 2026 

Bodnar has outraised Republican Kurt Alme ($4.68M to $2.87M) and drawn bipartisan support, including former rivals Marc Racicot (R) and Dorothy Bradley (D). But Cook and Sabato both rate the race solid or safe Republican, and a political scientist calls Alme “the absolute frontrunner.” Bodnar’s pitch is that voters feel “politically homeless,” though the piece also covers a settled lawsuit over his University of Montana record.

4 - Why Former Sen. Joe Manchin is endorsing Rep. Kevin Kiley

Local 3 News · October 16, 2026 

Joe Manchin endorsed Kevin Kiley on CNN’s The Arena, saying he “totally, absolutely, 1,000%” backs him because he’s “inspired by his independence.” Manchin’s pitch is that Kiley sees the “toxic atmosphere” in Washington and sits in the middle. Kiley says he wants to copy Manchin’s model in the House: use his independence as leverage, including a push to let independents serve on committees.

5 - Poll says Kiley, Pan virtually tied in Sacramento-area 6th District House race

The Sacramento Bee · September 29, 2026 

A poll shows Kiley and Pan tied at 37% each in CA-6, with 26% undecided, in a race experts had favored Pan to win given the district’s new Democratic lean. Kiley’s camp used the numbers to knock Pan for dodging debates, while Pan’s campaign kept hitting Kiley over his GOP past and 2022 Trump endorsement.

6 - Independent US Senate candidate Todd Achilles says he won’t caucus with either political party

Idaho Capital Sun · October 7, 2026 

At a Boise press conference with ILC co-founder Adam Brandon, independent Todd Achilles pledged not to caucus with either party, hold town halls in all 44 Idaho counties every two years, and join public debates. He also signed a notarized statement to resign in 2039, capping himself at two terms. “I want to get back here and get my skis on,” he said.

Voting Reform & Independent Voters

1 – The fight over who gets to vote in Oregon primaries isn’t going away, new poll shows

The Oregonian · October 21, 2026 

A new Oregonian/OregonLive poll finds 70% of Oregon voters want all voters, regardless of party, able to vote in primaries, including 73% of Democrats and 50% of Republicans. But voters have twice rejected open-primary measures (2008, 2014), and pollster John Horvick says they can’t agree on a replacement because they fear one party “gaming” the system. Meanwhile, nonaffiliated voters have jumped nearly 70% since 2016 to more than 1.15 million, now the state’s largest registration group.

2 – I'm an independent. Give me something to vote for | Your Turn

USA Today · October 21, 2026 

A Nebraska Marine combat veteran and diesel mechanic, who left the GOP in 2022, argues the two-party system makes politics a “package deal” on every issue. He says independents aren’t undecided, just unwilling to let a party hold their convictions for them, and he wants candidates who explain their positions instead of marketing to the middle. His fix is more competition: open primaries, ranked-choice voting, easier ballot access, and an end to gerrymandering.

3 – Pennsylvania House Approves Open Primary Bill with Bipartisan Support

R Street · October 15, 2026 

Pennsylvania’s House passed HB 280 with bipartisan support on Sept. 29. It would let the state’s 1.5 million unaffiliated voters, nearly 17% of registrants, choose one party’s primary ballot each cycle. Chris McIsaac of R Street argues taxpayers shouldn’t fund elections that exclude a large slice of voters, especially since about 28% of state House races have just one candidate on the general election ballot. The bill now awaits the Senate, and it’s unclear whether it will act before the 2026 session ends.

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We represent those who are fed up with partisan politics and feel politically homeless. We believe the future is not red or blue; it’s fiscally responsible, socially inclusive, and free to choose the best options for ourselves, our families, and our communities.