Why IAF exists
More Americans are describing themselves as politically independent. But being independent-minded should come with more than frustration with the two major parties. It should come with an understandable way to recognize—and hold accountable—people who seek to represent us without a national party agenda.
A larger independent voice
Gallup reported that 45% of U.S. adults identified as independents in its 2025 polling, compared with 27% identifying as Democrats and 27% as Republicans. It was the highest independent share in Gallup's comparable polling series since 1988.
State voter rolls offer a different but related view. In North Carolina, unaffiliated registration grew from 2,958,892 voters (37.79%) on November 1, 2024, to 3,170,212 (40.18%) on October 27, 2026. That's an increase of 211,320, about 7.1%, and unaffiliated voters became the state's largest registration group. In Arizona, the Secretary of State reported 1,527,483 voters (34.92%) in the “Other” registration category on October 20, 2026, the largest category in that release.
These measures are not interchangeable. Gallup measures self-identification among adults; state reports count registration categories that vary by state. Many self-identified independents lean toward a major party, and none of these figures proves that the same share would vote for an independent candidate.
The missing piece is a clear promise
For some people, “independent” means a different set of policy positions. For others, it means rejecting the idea that their representative should follow a national party line. IAF begins with the second question: Who does an elected official serve first?
We believe independent-minded voters deserve a clearer answer than a label alone. Our proposed commitment describes how an IAF-aligned candidate would raise money, choose priorities, work with colleagues, and account for their conduct in office.
A constructive path forward
Americans do not need to agree on every issue to share a belief in representative government. A representative from Montana may have different priorities than one from Georgia. Both should be free to pursue the concerns of their own constituents—and to work together where those concerns meet. That's the opportunity IAF wants to explore and help make credible.
If you've ever felt that neither national party quite speaks for you, there is a place here to learn what comes next.
Sources and context
- Gallup, January 12, 2026: “New High of 45% in U.S. Identify as Political Independents”
- North Carolina State Board of Elections, November 1, 2024: Daily Absentee Statistics Report, voter registration table
- North Carolina State Board of Elections, October 27, 2026: Daily Absentee Statistics Report, voter registration table
- Arizona Secretary of State, October 20, 2026: Final Voter Registration Numbers