Latest Blog Post - Oct 10, 2026
Independents for US House and Senate Surge Ahead of 2026 Midterms
By Joseph Oddo
Washington, DC – September 30, 2026 -- In 1970, Gil Scott Heron declared, “The revolution will not be televised.” He knew that any rise of alternatives to empire would be met with a fierce media blackout. Today corporate captured media algorithms have blocked reporting of the public outpouring of support for dozens of Independents who could seriously disrupt the balance of power in congress.
They all share concerns that Marianne Williamson declared about Washington DC – “this town is being held hostage. Money is just one form of corruption. There is also power.”
Think of the power an independent would have as a fulcrum in a closely divided body, not caucusing with either legacy party, forcing them to come to the negotiating table, iron out the budget, and get things done to earn the deciding votes on legislation.
As the United Independent organizer Christopher Life points out, these seven chose not to plug into durable existing infrastructure knowing they would have to sell their soul. Instead, they ran independent in order to “maintain integrity.” He reminds us of the purpose of government. A structure, a system of organizing for these specific purposes: prevent harm; reduce suffering; improve quality of life; coordinate effectively; and steward our natural world.
This surge of Independents won’t be the story of the year until positive results arrive on the day after the November election. All indicators reveal an unprecedented surge in support for independent candidates, especially the following seven for the US House and Senate. John Opdycke, Founder and President of Open Primaries declares, “Voters are leaving the parties in huge numbers, in red states and blue. Why? Because the two parties used to offer stability and now they produce chaos. Independent candidates are working to tap the spirit of independence into real change. 2026 could be a big step forward.”
Here are the stories of seven candidates who could get elected, if elections remain free and fair this November. Introduced at the United Independent Convention in Washington, DC on September 24, all seven made the challenging decision well over a year ago to choose the independent route, much to the dismay of their family and friends. They did so knowing that very little infrastructure was in place for their launch activities, financing opportunities, or field operations.
Brian Bengs has been an independent since he was 19 because he “didn’t want to be a gutless robot for some political party.” As both a military and civilian instructor, he taught how the system was supposed to work, but knew it didn’t. He was compelled to run for US Senate in South Dakota because congress had completely abdicated its responsibility. With hand warmers in his gloves and figuring out how to keep the pens from freezing in the minus fifteen-degree temperatures to gather petition signatures in South Dakota’s frigid January weather, Bengs crafted text messages to tell voters where they could meet to stay in their car to sign. While he stood out in the cold articulating his intention to ensure congress simply did their job, most voters responded, “Can you just make it work, so it does something?” He says he chose to run independent because “team red and team blue do not need another foot soldier in their color wars.”
Too many do not hear the bell of liberty, sort of like the fading bell in the ‘Polar Express’. Brian Bengs finishes, “Age and cynicism creep in, but not with this group of independents. This movement hears the bell!”
Todd Achilles describes his state of Idaho as having two million people and two and a half million cows. Not taking himself too seriously, he relates the first rule in politics is not to raise more money, but to run against somebody that nobody likes. So, challenging an eighty-three-year-old US Senate incumbent was an easy decision. He decided to run Independent because sixty-five percent of Idahoans consider themselves independent. After serving in the state house, he realized that corporate Democrats and corporate Republicans do not present much difference. He is running because he was worried that the United States may not see the celebration of its 260th year.
“Democrats have taken our little states off their map. Republicans take for granted states of Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas. Here in Idaho we only have 350,000 voters.”
In Nebraska, coming close as an Independent in 2024 inspired Dan Osborn to try again for US Senate. This US Navy veteran is unapologetically for the workers, and asks himself every day, “How can we uplift somebody’s life today?” Meanwhile his opponent is asking, “How can I enrich my campaign coffers today, so I can keep getting elected to serve a political party’s agenda?” The enthusiasm for Osborn – a true Independent – is highlighted by the fact that the $50 million his opponent recent poured into this race has not moved the needle. “We are running the old-fashioned way, going to all 93 counties.”
Back in Idaho, retired two-star Major General Sarah Zabel purposely avoided politics as a matter of serving in the military. The us versus them mentality that permeates the political parties fuels her unwillingness to ignore politics any longer. She took on the challenge to run for the US House of Representatives knowing that it meant having no party structure to lean on. She started with no idea on how to succeed as an Independent. Her’s is a flyover – talk-over county where the people are never asked what they want. By asking folks what was on their mind, she found out that her neighbors were not as diehard MAGA as the pundits would lead them to believe.
“Running independent means no megaphone. So I have to be out there making sure people are hearing about me.”
In Alaska, Bill Hill has the incumbent congressman – the progeny of a political dynasty – nervous. Especially telling is the fact that they are bringing both the Speaker of the House and the President to Alaska to campaign for the incumbent.
Bill didn’t recognize the character described in fliers arriving in the mail. One month they proclaim “Bill Hill: an ultra-MAGA”, then the following month “Bill Hill: an ultra-Marxist.” He knows neither of those characters. This humble fisherman, educator and School Superintendent of the Year attributes the new Ranked Choice voting system as being a sea change for improved government. Proof that power has returned to the people was displayed when four governor vetoes - that required a 75% vote - were overturned.
He chose to run independent because he did not want to be told how to vote. “It’s clear that the nation has lost its way. Congress no longer does its job of holding the government accountable to the naked political corruption, the daily attacks on the rule of law, or basic people-centered issues of affordable rent, food, and healthcare.”
Seth Bodnar, a former Green Beret and Rhodes Scholar, stepped away from his position as president at the University of Montana to pursue an independent run for the US Senate because he believes, “We are at a time of great crises in the United States. People will be the focus of my mission, not the blue team or the red team.” His message: Our political system keeps failing us. We have so-called leaders focused on distracting us rather than fixing problems. They answer only to their donors. When you have a political system that favors party over country, then you have a failing country. “DC should be a place to serve, not to get rich.”
In California, the mid-term redistricting efforts by the California Democrats to counter the Texas Republicans resulted in Republican Kevin Kiley switching to become the only independent in the US House of Representatives. Now up for reelection, Kiley is most proud of his office’s constituency advocacy role. “When people ask for help, we don’t ask what party they are. We ask, how can we help?” The rules disadvantage independents, but Kevin knows if there are only a couple of independents in the House, they could have an immediate impact on the rules. As this United Independent Convention demonstrates, “independents are the most underrepresented group in the country.”
Heather Herrygers, Founder of Independent Vo!ce summarized the sense of excitement surrounding these seven qualified candidates. “Tom Hanks once said ‘a hero is someone who voluntarily walks into the unknown.’ That really resonated when I saw these independent candidates standing together on stage at the Independent National Convention. They represent a shared mission to serve their constituents and their country, and to be a voice for the people instead of the parties. I am so grateful that they are willing to work together to fulfill the vision set forth by our Constitution ‘to form a more perfect union.’ They are true American heroes.”
Five out of seven of these candidates are former military. They already sacrificed and served our country, but they are not done serving. With a certain level of risk-taking, akin to a gambler’s spirit, they stepped up as independents because they do not shy away from a battle. Rather they have found new political battlefields to develop a plan, solidify contingencies, secure necessary resources, and continuously renew their commitment to fight for their country no matter the obstacles.
Though all seven may not get elected, they have all won by being in the fight!
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Joseph Oddo, writer, civics instructor, and campaign advisor is based in Charleston, South Carolina. He twice represented the Alliance Party in South Carolina, and three times represented the Independent Greens of Virginia on the ballot for the US House of Representatives. He advocates for term limits, non-partisan redistricting, and Instant Runoff Voting while recruiting, coaching and campaigning for independent candidates. His website is BetterCandidates.org.
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