Big Picture

A New Independent in the House?

California Representative Kevin Kiley recently made waves by officially dropping his Republican affiliation to serve as an independent. While Kiley cited a desire to move past "hyper-partisanship," the move has already come with a cost: losing his seats on key House committees.

Is this a genuine stand against the two-party system or a strategic calculation ahead of a tough reelection bid in a redrawn district? Politico breaks down the immediate fallout in D.C. and what it means for the slim majority in Congress.

Read the full story at Politico →

In this week's newsletter… we confront the sobering reality that America doesn’t just have a politics problem, but a hatred problem, where total polarization has turned basic decency into a radical act. We look at why fixing our broken primaries requires telling the truth about independents—the 45% of voters who are still systematically excluded from the democratic process. In the states, we track the independent surge in Georgia that is poised to decide the upcoming elections, and issue a critical warning for Oklahoma voters to beat the fast-approaching party-affiliation deadline. Finally, we dive into the fallout of California Representative Kevin Kiley’s "bombshell" rebrand to Independent status, exploring both his high-stakes gamble for principled leadership and the immediate loss of committee seats that comes with stepping outside the two-party lines.

NUMBER TO KNOW

11%

11% of Americans said a celebrity has caused them to reconsider their position on a political issue.

This Week’s Independent Ideas

America Doesn't Just Have A Politics Problem. It Has A Hatred Problem.

In a 25-country survey, the United States was the only nation where a majority of adults rated the morality and ethics of their fellow citizens as bad. Not Nigeria. Not Mexico. Only us.

In a New York Times column, David French argues that America has reached end-stage polarization — a point where hatred between political tribes has become so total that even basic decency toward the other side is treated as betrayal. The two-party system didn't create this sickness, but it feeds it. And until Americans can disagree without despising, no election result — and no constitutional guardrail — will be enough to save us from ourselves.

Read the full article at New York Times →

Why Fixing Primaries Starts With Telling The Truth About Independents

Reforming primary elections is a popular idea. But according to Open Primaries' Jeremy Gruber, most reform efforts are missing the point.

In a Citrus County Chronicle op-ed, Gruber argues that broken primaries are a symptom — not the disease. The real problem is the systemic exclusion of independent voters from every level of political life. With independents now the largest voting bloc in the country at 45%, the question isn't just whether they can vote in a primary. It's whether a democracy that penalizes one-third of its citizens for refusing to pick a side can call itself a democracy at all.

Watch the full report at Citrus County Chronicle →

The Deciders: Georgia’s Independent Surge

With the primary election just weeks away, all eyes are on Georgia’s independent voters. In a state known for razor-thin margins, unaffiliated voters are no longer just a "swing" demographic—they are positioned to potentially decide which candidates make it to the November ballot.

11Alive (WXIA Atlanta) explores the growing influence of the independent bloc in the Peach State and why both major parties are scrambling to earn their support. Are you part of the movement shifting the political landscape?

Watch the full report at 11Alive →

Oklahoma Voters: The Clock is Ticking

If you’re planning to change your party affiliation in Oklahoma, you have less than a week to act. State law mandates a "blackout period" for party changes starting April 1, meaning any requests submitted after the March 31 deadline won't be processed until September—well after the June primaries.

FOX23 News Tulsa highlights why this deadline is critical for those looking to switch to Independent status or join a different party before the 2026 midterm cycle kicks into high gear. Don't let a calendar date decide your primary eligibility.

Get the deadline details at FOX23 →

The "Bombshell" Rebrand: Kevin Kiley Goes Independent

The political world is still buzzing after California Rep. Kevin Kiley’s decision to drop his Republican affiliation mid-term. By re-registering as "No Party Preference," Kiley has become the only independent in the House of Representatives, a move he claims is a strike against the "gerrymandering and hyper-partisanship" currently paralyzing D.C.

NBC News looks at the high-stakes gamble Kiley is taking as he seeks re-election in a newly redrawn, Democratic-leaning district. Is this a new blueprint for principled leadership, or a survival tactic in an evolving political map? See why this race is now one of the most watched in the country.

Read the full report at NBC News →

The Price of Independence? Kiley Loses Committee Seats

What happens the moment you leave the two-party system? For California Rep. Kevin Kiley, the answer was immediate: removal from his House committee assignments. Following his transition to Independent status, leadership confirmed that the move triggered an automatic vacancy on his Judiciary, Education, and Transportation seats.

NOTUS examines whether this is a permanent "exile" or a temporary procedural hurdle. Kiley remains optimistic about being reappointed as an independent, but the situation highlights the rigid rules that often penalize lawmakers who step outside the partisan lines. Is the system built to block Independent voices?

Read the full analysis at NOTUS →

Partner Spotlight

Grand Bargain Project

What if 83% of Americans already agree on a path forward — and Congress just hasn't caught up?

Our friends at the Grand Bargain Project are doing something remarkable: building cross-partisan consensus around seven interconnected reforms covering everything from healthcare and education to the national debt. In this Morning Joe appearance, Founder & CEO Sol Erdman breaks down the mission, shares the striking poll results behind it, and introduces their Engine of Mass Construction — a WebApp that lets everyday Americans help shape the policy package themselves.

A must-watch for anyone who believes Washington's dysfunction isn't inevitable.

The Independence Party

Independent voters don't have equal access to the political process everywhere. In Alaska, open primaries and ranked choice voting allow candidates and voters outside the major parties to participate more fully. In other states, the barriers are steep.

In Illinois, major party candidates for governor need roughly 5,000 signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Candidates running outside the two parties may need around 25,000 — often in a shorter timeframe. Indiana's requirements are higher still: independent candidates for statewide office typically need 35,000 to 45,000 signatures compared to roughly 4,500 for major party candidates.

Groups in both states are exploring workarounds. In Illinois, one strategy by the Independence Party involves running a candidate who, by earning at least 5% of the vote, could establish ongoing ballot access for a new party. Indiana has a similar threshold — 2% of the vote — that qualifies a party for minor party status and future ballot access.

Ballot access laws shape who can run and how voters engage. Understanding them is the first step toward changing them.

Fresh from the IC

Independent Voters Are Telling Us the Truth About AI—And Nobody in Power Is Listening

Washington and Silicon Valley say they're building AI for everyone — but are they actually listening to everyone?

This piece digs into Wave 9 of our AI & Main Street focus group series, where 15 independent voters from across the country spoke candidly about how AI is already changing their lives — and what they fear it's becoming. They're using it for job prep, small business automation, and emotional support. They're also watching for deepfakes, worrying about job loss, and asking a question no one in power seems eager to answer: who is this actually for?

Near-unanimous verdict from the group: not them.

A grounded, revealing read on what Main Street really thinks about AI — and why independent voters may be the only ones telling the truth about it. Read it here!

The Independent Center is the go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, who now make up the plurality of the electorate.

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.