Joe Manchin launches Independent Leadership Council to elect independents

Former Sen. Joe Manchin has launched the Independent Leadership Council to recruit and support independent candidates for Congress. The group, co-led by his daughter Heather, aims to build a centrist movement, not a third party, amid growing voter disillusionment. A record 45% of Americans now identify as independent. The council is targeting races in states like California, Montana, and Alaska.

Independent Leadership Council launch

• ▪The initiative is co-led by Joe Manchin and his daughter, Heather Manchin, a former pharmaceutical executive
• ▪Senior advisers to the council include Adam Brandon, former head of FreedomWorks, and Seth Cohen, a former Forbes Media executive
• ▪The project combines work from Heather Manchin's nonprofit "Americans Together" and Adam Brandon's "Independent PAC"
• ▪Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has launched the Independent Leadership Council to recruit and support independent candidates for Congress
• ▪The council's stated goal is to build a movement toward the political center, not to start a third party

Target races across states

• ▪Supported candidates include California Rep. Kevin Kiley, Montana Senate candidate Seth Bodnar, and Iowa House candidate Michael Bridgford
• ▪The council's initial focus is on competitive congressional seats in the current election cycle
• ▪The group is also considering supporting candidates in Alaska and Washington

Independent voter momentum

• ▪In Alaska, nearly two-thirds of registered voters are not affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic party
• ▪A recent Gallup poll found that a record high of 45% of American adults identify as political independents

Manchin's political evolution

• ▪Manchin has stated he does not plan to run for office again
• ▪Joe Manchin, a longtime Democrat, left the party to become an independent before retiring from the Senate in January 2025

Ballot access challenges

• ▪In Nebraska, the Democratic Senate nominee dropped out to give independent Dan Osborn a clearer path against the Republican incumbent
• ▪Independent candidates face structural challenges such as gaining ballot access and fundraising without an established party network
• ▪In Alaska, independent candidate Bill Hill was endorsed by his main Democratic opponent, who dropped out of the race