US midterms: What to know about independent voters and candidates

According to Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera, a record number of Americans now identify as political independents, with estimates suggesting nearly 117 million adults—or 44 percent of the electorate—reject the two major party labels. Despite this, these voters often lean toward either the Democratic or Republican parties, with truly unaffiliated voters making up only about 7 to 10 percent of the population. While independents are highly sought after as swing voters, they frequently vote for major-party candidates whom they perceive as more viable.

The American electoral structure, characterized by winner-take-all contests and high financial barriers, presents significant challenges for third-party and independent candidates. Political scientist Bernard Tamas notes that while legal hurdles are often cited, the primary obstacle is a lack of campaign funding compared to the billions raised by the Democratic and Republican parties. Because independent candidates struggle to gain name recognition and funding, voters often fear that supporting them is a wasted ballot or will inadvertently act as a "spoiler" that helps their least preferred major-party candidate win.

Despite these systemic difficulties, some analysts see the 2026 cycle as a uniquely strong environment for outsiders. Organizations like the Independent Leadership Council are providing resources to bolster candidates in specific races, such as in Nebraska and Montana. While there are currently very few independent members in Congress, experts suggest that high-profile candidates like Dan Osborn in Nebraska could potentially break through, even as the two-party system continues to dominate the broader political landscape.

Source: Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/2/us-midterms-what-to-know-about-independent-voters-and-candidates?traffic_source=rss