THE CANDIDATE

Federal directory · 2026 cycle

Independent

Independent is not a political party — it is the FEC designation for federal candidates who file unaffiliated with any registered party. This page lists every Independent candidate in the 2026 cycle.

See every 2026 Independent candidate

73 of 225 candidates have filed FEC reports; total raised: $9.7 million this 2026 cycle.

About the Independent

Federal candidates filing with the FEC as Independent — unaffiliated with any registered party.

History of the Independent

Founded
Not a party — see paragraphs below for the FEC designation context.

"Independent" is not a political party. On Federal Election Commission filings, the `cand_pty_affiliation = IND` field identifies candidates who have chosen to register without affiliating with any of the formally organized federal parties (Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, Constitution, Forward, or smaller ballot-qualified parties).[1][2]

Independent federal candidacies have a long history in the United States. Notable Independent senators in the modern era include Bernie Sanders (Vermont, 2007–present), Angus King (Maine, 2013–present), Joseph Lieberman (Connecticut, 2007–2013), Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona, 2022–2025), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska, briefly in 2010 after losing the Republican primary).[1][2] All five caucused with a major party in office despite running as Independents.

For state ballot-access purposes, Independent candidates typically must collect signatures from registered voters in their state. The signature thresholds vary widely by state, from roughly 1,000 signatures in Tennessee to roughly 90,000 in California for statewide office.[1][2]

Sources

  1. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_politician
  2. [2]https://ballotpedia.org/Independent_(Politics)

Independent platform

Independent candidates by definition do not share a unified platform — each Independent candidate runs on their own set of positions. The "Independent" designation is a registration choice, not an ideology.

Independent candidates do not share a unified platform. See the individual candidate pages below for each Independent candidate's positions on the issues.

Sources

  1. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_politician
  2. [2]https://ballotpedia.org/Independent_(Politics)

Recent electoral performance — Independent

Independent candidates have won federal office repeatedly in U.S. history, most often by incumbents who left a major party rather than by Independent challengers winning open seats. The contemporary Senate has consistently included two-to-three Independents who caucus with a major party for committee-assignment purposes.

  • Bernie Sanders has been the Independent senator from Vermont since 2007 and caucuses with the Democratic Party.[1][2]
  • Angus King has been the Independent senator from Maine since 2013 and caucuses with the Democratic Party.[1][2]
  • Kyrsten Sinema served as an Independent senator from Arizona from December 2022 through January 2025, after leaving the Democratic Party.[1][2]
  • Joseph Lieberman served as an Independent senator from Connecticut from 2007 to 2013, after losing the 2006 Democratic primary and winning the general election as "Connecticut for Lieberman."[1][2]

Sources

  1. [1]https://ballotpedia.org/Independent_(Politics)
  2. [2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_politician

Current federal representation — Independent

Federal candidates currently filing with the FEC as Independent for the 2026 cycle, sourced from FEC `cand_pty_affiliation = IND`. Note that "Independent" is a registration designation, not a party — these candidates do not share a platform.

No Independent federal incumbents have filed for the 2026 cycle.

Independent candidates — 2026 cycle

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