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# #IndyVote! Independent Candidates Engage via Twitter
- URL: https://ivn.us/independent-candidates-engage-via-twitter-indyvote/
- Published: 2012-05-29T23:45:11.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-22T19:25:15.000Z
- Author: Jane Susskind
- Tags: News

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/02/Word-Cloud-Independent-.jpg)](https://ivn.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Word-Cloud-Independent-.png)

Today we hosted our second tweet chat, this time inviting independent-minded candidates and voters. Nine independent-minded candidates participated: Phil Dodds, Jack Todd Arnold, Maurice Duhon, Linda Parks, Chad Condit, Anthony Adams, Eric Reyes, William "Cleave" Drummond, TJ O'Hara.

This was a unique opportunity for an open discussion among independents from across the country. Topics included: legalizing marijuana, the Occupy Movement, innovation in campaigning tactics, the rise of independent candidates and voters, overcoming hyper-partisanship, and individual reasons for rejecting the two party duopoly. Over the course of an hour, independents had an open forum to discuss their views, opinions, and frustration with partisan politics.

*Here are some of the highlights from today's chat:*

**The first question came from John Spicer, a political enthusiast living in Wilmington, North Carolina.**

> [#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/terpman92/status/207532513311203328?ref=ivn.us)

**Responses varied among the candidates:**

> [#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/MDfor18/status/207532973128552448?ref=ivn.us)

> [terpman92](https://twitter.com/terpman92?ref=ivn.us)[#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/ChadCondit/status/207533239731093504?ref=ivn.us)

> [#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/jacktoddarnold/status/207534080047325185?ref=ivn.us)

> [#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/LindaParks2012/status/207537825229455360?ref=ivn.us)

**Linda Parks, an independent running for Congress in California's 26th district shared with us some of the challenges she faces running without the backing of a party establishment.**

> [#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/LindaParks2012/status/207540262908600320?ref=ivn.us)

> [politikelly](https://twitter.com/politikelly?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/LindaParks2012/status/207533651058098176?ref=ivn.us)

**Jack Todd Arnold, an independent candidate running for Congress in Tenesse's 7th district shared with us some of the tactics he's using to compete with incumbents and Super PAC money:**

> [#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/jacktoddarnold/status/207546842802700289?ref=ivn.us)

> [#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/jacktoddarnold/status/207547368369950720?ref=ivn.us)

> [LindaParks](https://twitter.com/LindaParks?ref=ivn.us)[#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/jacktoddarnold/status/207545810349604865?ref=ivn.us)

**When asked how the candidates will reach out to the youth and convince voters that their vote counts, the candidates answered:**

> [IVNetwork](https://twitter.com/IVNetwork?ref=ivn.us)[#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/EricReyes2012/status/207546647511703552?ref=ivn.us)

> [VoteAnthony](https://twitter.com/VoteAnthony?ref=ivn.us)[#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/thehuli/status/207546948637564928?ref=ivn.us)

> [IVNetwork](https://twitter.com/IVNetwork?ref=ivn.us)[#Indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523Indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/VoteAnthony/status/207545102959263745?ref=ivn.us)

> [#Indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523Indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/VoteAnthony/status/207538206063869952?ref=ivn.us)

> [IVNetwork](https://twitter.com/IVNetwork?ref=ivn.us)[#indyvote](https://twitter.com/search/%2523indyvote?ref=ivn.us)[May 29, 2012](https://twitter.com/ChadCondit/status/207541558004822017?ref=ivn.us)

We want to thank everyone who participated. The high level of engagement we saw from candidates and voters speaks to the increasing support of independent-minded politicians. In case you missed today's chat, we plan to continue the dialogue throughout this election season and hope to hear from our readers.