Manchin Unveils Drive to Elect Independents to Congress
Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent in 2024, is launching the Independent Leadership Council (ILC) — a major initiative to recruit, fund, and elect independent candidates to Congress. The effort, announced July 24 and followed by an inaugural summit at West Virginia’s historic Greenbrier Resort, aims to break the two-party stranglehold on American politics by supporting candidates who pledge to remain outside the Democratic and Republican system.
Context: A Political Evolution
Manchin, one of the most conservative Democrats during his 14-year Senate tenure, frequently broke with his party on key votes before registering as an independent in May 2024. He did not seek re-election, but has now reentered the political arena with a mission to reshape how Congress operates.
The initiative comes at a moment of record dissatisfaction with the two major parties. According to a Gallup poll, 45% of Americans identified as political independents in 2025 — the highest percentage ever recorded. Exit polls from the 2024 election showed 34% of voters identified as independent, up sharply from 26% in 2020. Majorities of Gen Z adults and millennials now identify as independents.
The Independent Leadership Council
The ILC is co-founded by Manchin, his daughter Heather Manchin, and senior advisers from the Independent Center — a nonprofit that studies and engages with independent voters. The council combines Americans Together (Heather Manchin’s organization) with the Independent Center and works alongside Independent PAC, led by former FreedomWorks president Adam Brandon.
“We’re trying to build a true independent network,” Joe Manchin told NPR. “Not a third party, but a movement of people that will bring our country and the people who are participating in politics today more towards the center.”
At the Greenbrier summit on July 25-26, roughly 40 attendees — including high-profile donors, political reform advocates, and eight independent candidates — gathered to build momentum for the 2026 midterm elections. All candidates signed a “Declaration of Independents,” pledging to remain outside the two-party system.
“The pledge is simply this: that you remain independent and not be part of the Democrat or Republican system,” Manchin said. “We’re going to challenge the system.”
Funding and Strategy
The effort has already secured significant financial backing. Adam Brandon told NPR the ILC has “over eight figures in commitments” — more than $10 million — to support independent candidates. “This isn’t about a moral victory — this is about winning,” Brandon said.
The Independent Center has developed proprietary AI tools to identify congressional districts where independent candidates have the best chance of winning. The technology analyzes voter sentiment, turnout patterns, and demographic data in real time, and has identified roughly 40 winnable seats. The center aims to field approximately 10 viable independent candidates in the 2026 cycle.
Breaking Historical Precedent
Independent candidates face steep odds. No new independent has won a U.S. House seat in 35 years. Current independent Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Angus King (I-ME) both caucus with Democrats — precisely the outcome the ILC seeks to avoid.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA), who left the Republican Party in March and attended the Greenbrier summit, is pushing to change House rules so that independents can serve on committees without caucusing with either party.
“The division is getting worse, the polarization is getting worse, the gridlock in Congress is getting worse,” Kiley told NPR. “Given how closely divided the chamber is, it could be a real sea change.”
Potential Impact on a Divided Congress
With control of the House razor-thin, even a small bloc of independents could wield outsized influence over speaker elections and critical legislation. Former Arizona Rep. Matt Salmon, who spoke at the summit, noted that “as an independent, your strength is in a slim majority because when the key votes come, they’re going to need your vote.”
Heather Manchin emphasized a measured, strategic approach. “We’re not out here saying we’re going to run 50 people,” she said. “We’re talking about a handful. If we can show one or two getting in, it just unlocks the untapped potential of giving independents a voice in this country.”
What to Watch For
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the ILC faces significant challenges: restrictive ballot access laws in many states, the historical difficulty of winning as an independent, and the risk of being labeled spoilers. However, with record numbers of Americans rejecting party labels and over $10 million committed to the effort, the initiative represents the most organized push for independent congressional candidates in decades.
If successful, even a handful of independent lawmakers could fundamentally alter the dynamics of a closely divided Congress — and potentially reshape the American political landscape for years to come.