Former Senator Joe Manchin and his daughter Heather Manchin discussed their push to elect independent candidates on Face the Nation, outlining a new effort aimed at breaking the two-party stranglehold on American politics. The duo, who head the Independent Leadership Council launched in late July 2026, sat down with CBS News host Margaret Brennan on August 2 to explain how they plan to support and fund independents running for Congress.
The Independent Leadership Council combines the work of Heather Manchin’s Americans Together nonprofit with the Independent Center, a research organization focused on independent voters. The initiative is designed to provide infrastructure and financial backing for candidates willing to run outside the two-party system and remain independent once in office.
During the interview, Heather Manchin outlined the core requirements candidates must meet to receive support. She explained that the council created a “Declaration of Independence” asking for three things: support for opening competition and primary elections, a commitment to work with anyone on good ideas from both sides of the aisle and “get things done,” and accountability through explaining votes. “We think that’s pretty low table stakes,” she said.
Joe Manchin pointed to the structural barriers independents face compared to party-backed candidates. He noted that in the last presidential election, only seven states were competitive, leaving 43 predetermined. Similarly, of 435 congressional seats, 395 were predetermined before the campaign even began. Manchin argued that the two-party system controls ballot access, requiring independents to gather thousands of signatures while Democrats and Republicans simply pay a fee to get on the ballot.
The polling backdrop for this effort is significant: 47% of American adults identify as political independents, according to CNN polling cited during the interview. That represents the highest level in a decade, though previous attempts to break through the two-party system have struggled. Manchin argued that both parties now depend on independents to win elections, yet refuse to cede them real power or committee positions in Congress.
The Manchins emphasized they are being strategic about their goals. Rather than backing dozens of candidates, Heather Manchin said they are targeting “a handful” in competitive races, with the goal of electing just one or two to demonstrate that independents can win. “If we could get two or three elected, think of what the difference that independent bloc can make,” she said, noting that even a small number of truly independent voices could shift how Congress operates and requires votes to pass legislation.
The effort has already attracted significant financial backing. According to reporting from NPR’s coverage of the initiative, the Manchins convened roughly 40 people at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia—including high-profile donors and eight independent candidates—and received “over eight figures in commitments” to support the effort, according to Adam Brandon, a senior adviser at the Independent Center.
A key tension in their approach emerged during the Face the Nation discussion: the Manchins made clear they would not support self-described socialist candidates, even if they had some good ideas. Joe Manchin expressed concern that some on the far left want to dismantle core institutions, including Congress and the Senate itself, and reject police and strong defense. Heather Manchin added that this shows how control has “completely outweighed character” in both major parties.
The effort reflects a broader frustration with partisan gridlock. Manchin’s Independent Leadership Council launch came as he and his daughter have been visible advocates for centrist politics and political reform. The council represents his most concrete step since leaving the Senate to reshape the political landscape by creating pathways for candidates who reject party affiliation entirely.
Sources
- CBS News — Full transcript of Face the Nation interview with Joe and Heather Manchin, August 2, 2026
- NPR — “Inside Joe Manchin’s new quest to elect more Independents to Congress,” July 27, 2026
- Time — “What Is Joe Manchin’s New Independent Leadership Council,” July 24, 2026
