Frustrated with fellow Democrats, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia left the Democratic Party in 2024 to become an independent. He and his daughter Heather are now trying to elect more independents to Congress through the Independent Leadership Council, a nonpartisan nonprofit. The group aims to cultivate and financially back declared independent candidates this fall, capitalizing on growing public disillusionment with partisan stalemate.

In a recent interview, the Manchins argued that voters are hungry for normalcy, noting that 16 states and 106 districts now have unaffiliated independents outnumbering Republicans or Democrats. They plan to roll out endorsements and financial support via independent PACs by mid-September, targeting candidates in states like Montana, Alaska, California, Illinois, and Iowa. Heather Manchin emphasized the strategic potential to "punch through" in specific areas.

When asked if endorsed candidates must commit to specific declarations, Joe Manchin highlighted the challenge of functioning without caucusing, noting the insurmountable pressure and shunning independents face. He suggested his experience proves that one independent vote can make a difference and force bipartisan cooperation, though he acknowledged the difficulty of operating outside the two-party enterprise in the Senate.