Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is launching the Independent Leadership Council, a new effort to recruit and support independent candidates across the country, marking his most significant political project since leaving the Senate in January 2025. At 78, Manchin is stepping back into politics after spending his final months in office as an independent, fed up with what he describes as extremes in both major parties.
Manchin kicked off the effort Thursday by convening candidates in West Virginia, including California Rep. Kevin Kiley, who is seeking reelection as an independent; Seth Bodnar, an independent candidate for Senate in Montana; Michael Bridgford, an independent candidate for the House in Iowa; and Bill Hill, a commercial fisherman running as an independent in Alaska. The group is also eying races in Washington state.
“We’re not trying to start another party,” Manchin told CNN in an interview with his daughter, who is also leading the council. “We’re trying to get a person who can be committed to — and totally committed to — being an independent with an independent voice. They can vote with Democrats and Republicans when they’re right and speak out against them when they’re wrong.”
The initiative comes at a time of deepening disillusionment with both major parties. A Gallup poll released earlier this year found that a record high 45 percent of American adults identify as political independents, according to CNN reporting. Manchin believes independent lawmakers can wield significant influence in Congress, particularly when both chambers are closely divided.
“It doesn’t take too many to say, ‘C’mon, people, get your act together,'” Manchin said. “They can bring them to their knees and make people understand, ‘This is crazy.'”
The Independent Leadership Council combines work being done by Manchin’s daughter Heather at Americans Together, a centrist political nonprofit, with Independent PAC, an effort led by former FreedomWorks President Adam Brandon to put millions of dollars behind independents. If supported, the Manchins said they could campaign for candidates in person, raise money for them, and help organize on the ground in their districts.
The effort reflects a growing momentum among independent candidates. In Nebraska, Democratic Senate nominee Cindy Burbank ended her 2026 campaign to give Dan Osborn, who ran a competitive independent Senate race in 2024, a clearer field against Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts. Similarly, in Alaska’s only congressional district, independent Bill Hill’s fortunes rose after his most serious Democratic opponent, pastor Matt Schultz, dropped out and endorsed him.
Despite the optimism, independent candidates continue to face significant structural challenges. Ballot access requirements vary by state, and candidates running without a major party’s infrastructure struggle with fundraising and organizational support. In several states, independent candidates for Congress are attracting significant funding and the attention of their opponents from major parties.
Kevin Kiley said he wants to be part of building more infrastructure for independents and is “very happy” to be working with Manchin. “He’s someone who demonstrated during his time in office that he was willing to go against both sides when necessary to serve his constituents,” Kiley said in an interview. “We need more people like that who are independent-minded.”
Manchin’s own political journey reflects his centrist frustrations. He registered as an independent in May 2024 after decades as a Democrat, citing partisan extremism. He then declined to run for reelection or pursue a presidential bid in 2024, saying he had tried electoral politics for “42, 43, 44 years” and was now focused on helping others pursue the same goal of bringing people together across party lines.
“I don’t see me getting back into the fray, I really don’t,” Manchin told CNN. “I think I’ve tried it for 42, 43, 44, years and been fairly successful at working with people on both sides and bringing people together. Now I’m trying to help people around the country that want that same outcome.”
Sources
- CNN — reported on Manchin’s launch of the Independent Leadership Council, the candidates involved, the 45 percent independent identification figure from Gallup, and details on Manchin’s motivations and strategy
- Semafor — provided Manchin’s quote about building a true independent network and details on the combination of Americans Together, Independent PAC, and the West Virginia summit
- Reuters — reported on Dan Osborn’s competitive 2024 Nebraska Senate race and his 2026 candidacy
