> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://ivn.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Buttigieg Goes Independent? - URL: https://ivn.us/buttigieg-goes-independent/ - Published: 2026-10-27T15:40:56.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-27T15:40:56.000Z - Description: Plus, DSA v. Dems in California and independent voters to decide Congress - Author: IVN Editorial Board - Tags: Weekly Newsletter The balance of power in Congress will be decided next week, by independent voters. **In the few competitive congressional districts left,** [**the votes that matter won't be coming from Democrats or Republicans.**](https://ivn.us/10-congressional-races-where-independent-voters-will-decide-the-winner/) Meanwhile, independent candidates are putting up the most competitive fights the country has ever seen. [**Bill Hill has pulled even in Alaska**](https://ivn.us/alaska-independent-bill-hill-has-caught-up-to-nick-begich-new-polls-say/), early [**votes look good for Brian Bengs**](https://ivn.us/7-independent-campaigns-to-watch-in-the-final-two-weeks/) in South Dakota, and [**Pete Buttigieg just broke ranks to endorse Seth Bodnar**](https://ivn.us/buttigieg-breaks-ranks-as-independent-senate-candidates-shake-up-2026/) in Montana. And in California, the Democratic Socialists of America are testing their power in the Dem v. Dem statewide race for Insurance Commissioner. [**Can the DSA-supported Democrat win a general election against a moderate Democrat**](https://ivn.us/can-ben-allen-fight-off-jane-kim-and-the-dsa-machine-to-become-californias-9th-insurance-commissioner/)? Check out more stories that go outside the two-sided narrative below. ### *FEATURED ▶▶▶* ## 10 Congressional Races Where Independent Voters Will Decide the Winner [![Independent voters](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/10/image-8b30b3b6-f553-4d54-be71-4ca74f0540cd.jpg)](https://ivn.us/10-congressional-races-where-independent-voters-will-decide-the-winner/) From California’s Central Valley to Alaska, control of Congress runs through districts where **neither party can win on its base alone**. Shawn Griffiths breaks down the 10 races to watch, and what independent turnout means in each. [READ FULL ARTICLE](https://ivn.us/10-congressional-races-where-independent-voters-will-decide-the-winner/) ### *POPULAR ON IVN ▶▶▶* [Buttigieg Breaks Ranks as Independent Senate Candidates Shake Up 2026 ](https://ivn.us/buttigieg-breaks-ranks-as-independent-senate-candidates-shake-up-2026/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/05/matt-shinners.png) Matt Shinners [ ![Buttigieg Breaks Ranks as Independent Senate Candidates Shake Up 2026](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/10/Pete-Buttigieg-endorses-seth-bodnar.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/buttigieg-breaks-ranks-as-independent-senate-candidates-shake-up-2026/) [“We’ve Been Conned”: The 65-Year-Old Lie Behind Closed Primaries ](https://ivn.us/weve-been-conned-the-65-year-old-lie-behind-closed-primaries/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/06/1517747530842.jpg) Jeremy Gruber [ ![“We’ve Been Conned”: The 65-Year-Old Lie Behind Closed Primaries](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/10/Private-Barrier--Public-Election.png) ](https://ivn.us/weve-been-conned-the-65-year-old-lie-behind-closed-primaries/) [Are Independent Voters About to Flip Texas? ](https://ivn.us/are-independent-voters-about-to-flip-texas/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![Are Independent Voters About to Flip Texas?](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/10/image-a511b82e-57f3-4335-914e-65b3d94cfc22.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/are-independent-voters-about-to-flip-texas/) [Business Owner Tim Gaspar and DSA-Backed Barri Worth Girvan Face Off in Los Angeles ](https://ivn.us/business-owner-tim-gaspar-and-labor-backed-barri-worth-girvan-face-off-in-los-angeles/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/Cara-McCormick-IVN.png) Cara Brown McCormick [ ![Business Owner Tim Gaspar and DSA-Backed Barri Worth Girvan Face Off in Los Angeles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/10/lacd3-gaspar-vs-worth-girvan-ghost-preview-v2.png) ](https://ivn.us/business-owner-tim-gaspar-and-labor-backed-barri-worth-girvan-face-off-in-los-angeles/) [Alaska Independent Bill Hill Has Caught Up to Nick Begich, New Polls Say ](https://ivn.us/alaska-independent-bill-hill-has-caught-up-to-nick-begich-new-polls-say/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/05/matt-shinners.png) Matt Shinners [ ![Alaska Independent Bill Hill Has Caught Up to Nick Begich, New Polls Say](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/10/bill-hill-alaska-polling.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/alaska-independent-bill-hill-has-caught-up-to-nick-begich-new-polls-say/) [Independent Voters Are Showing Up in North Carolina Like Never Before ](https://ivn.us/independent-voters-are-showing-up-in-north-carolina-like-never-before/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![Independent Voters Are Showing Up in North Carolina Like Never Before](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/10/image-f025c33b-3c53-40fa-8f24-4d06b7dc7ee4.png) ](https://ivn.us/independent-voters-are-showing-up-in-north-carolina-like-never-before/) ### *INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES ▶▶▶* ## 7 Independent Campaigns to Watch in the Final Days of the Midterms [![Dan Osborn campaign event](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/10/Dan-Osborn-Campaign.png)](https://ivn.us/7-independent-campaigns-to-watch-in-the-final-two-weeks/) Seven independent campaigns for Senate and House are at their critical moment, from Nebraska to Alaska to Montana. **Races are tightening, and the surprises are coming in the final stretch.** Matt Shinners rounds them up. [READ FULL ARTICLE](https://ivn.us/7-independent-campaigns-to-watch-in-the-final-two-weeks/) ### *CALIFORNIA ▶▶▶* ## Can Ben Allen Fight Off Jane Kim and the DSA Machine to Become California’s 9th Insurance Commissioner? [![Ben Allen vs Jane Kim](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/10/INSCOMM---Allen-vs.-Kim---Ghost-Preview-Image-1.png)](https://ivn.us/can-ben-allen-fight-off-jane-kim-and-the-dsa-machine-to-become-californias-9th-insurance-commissioner/) California’s first ever race for an elected insurance commissioner between two Democrats is the sleeper contest on every ballot, and **most voters still have no idea who either candidate is**. Cara Brown McCormick on what decides it. [READ FULL ARTICLE](https://ivn.us/can-ben-allen-fight-off-jane-kim-and-the-dsa-machine-to-become-californias-9th-insurance-commissioner/) ### *LATEST EPISODE ▶▶▶* ## Independent Voter Podcast Open Primaries founder John Opdycke joins Chad Peace and Cara McCormick: **48 percent of Americans identify as independent but have no real voice in elections**. EP64 on what it takes to break the two-party system. [WATCH NOW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SBUz8W4Ggo&ref=ivn.us) ### *VIDEO CLIP ▶▶▶* ## However You Vote, Vote Down-Ballot [![However you vote, vote down-ballot](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/10/lion-clip.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DekkfWzjgE7/?ref=ivn.us) The Lion is back, and so is IVP’s push to make your vote count down-ballot! Watch our video calling voters like you to action in California: [WATCH NOW ON INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/p/DekkfWzjgE7/?ref=ivn.us) ## NEW: A Fresh Look for IVN We just redesigned IVN.us. Browse the latest stories by the topics you care about: election reform, California, independent candidates, open primaries, and ranked choice voting, and catch every episode of our shows in one place. [EXPLORE THE NEW IVN](https://ivn.us/) ### *VETERANS ▶▶▶* ## Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff With Election Day closing in, Rieckhoff takes aim at **the attacks on independent voters and the billionaire money fueling the two-party system**. Plus Hillary Clinton’s swipe at McConaughey, and why it backfired. [WATCH NOW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TajEIYLkIsI&ref=ivn.us) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/05/omp-320x50-1.gif)](https://openmyprimary.org/?ref=ivn.us)