Former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin has launched the Independent Leadership Council (ILC), a new initiative to recruit and support independent candidates for office. The announcement comes as a Gallup poll found that 45% of Americans identify as political independents, signaling growing discontent with the two-party system.
Manchin, who left the Democratic Party in 2024, emphasized that the ILC is not a third party but a movement to elect candidates who can work across party lines. “We’re trying to get a person who can be committed to being an independent with an independent voice,” Manchin told CNN.
The ILC held its first summit in West Virginia, bringing together independent candidates from California, Montana, Iowa, Alaska, and Washington. Among them were Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.), Seth Bodnar (Montana Senate candidate), and Michael Bridgford (Iowa House candidate). Manchin and his daughter, Heather Bresch, are leading the effort, which includes fundraising, campaigning, and strategic support for candidates.
Manchin’s political career has been marked by his willingness to break from party lines. In 2018, he was the only Democrat to vote for Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation. He has also criticized the Democratic Party’s shift toward progressive policies, including what he calls an embrace of socialist ideology.
The ILC’s strategy focuses on electing independents in competitive races, leveraging the influence of a small but decisive bloc in a closely divided Congress. Manchin argued that independent lawmakers could force bipartisan compromise, stating, “They can bring them to their knees and make people understand, ‘This is crazy.’”
Currently, Congress has few independents, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Angus King (I-Maine), who caucus with Democrats, and Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.), the sole independent in the House. The ILC aims to expand this presence, capitalizing on a political climate where independent candidates are gaining traction and funding.
Manchin’s initiative reflects broader trends in American politics, where disillusionment with major parties has led to increased support for independent and third-party candidates. The ILC’s success could reshape future elections by introducing a new dynamic in congressional politics.