# Independent Voter News
> Independent Voter News covers elections, voter rights, and political reform from a nonpartisan perspective. Journalism that puts voters before parties.
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## Pages
- [About Independent Voter News](https://ivn.us/about.md) - Independent Voter News (IVN.us) is a national news platform built around a single conviction: voters should not have to join a political party to have meaningful political power. That belief shapes what we cover and how we cover it. The American political system structurally disadvantages independe…
- [Actions](https://ivn.us/actions.md) - Credibility We're non-partisan and accredited Ignore IVN Etiquette Some simple guidelines for a healthy community Ignore Write for us IVN is an open platform Ignore
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- [Independent Voter Podcast](https://ivn.us/podcasts.md) - Join us every week as we post a new podcast about the elections for independent voters. We bring you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today’s political narratives.
- [Publish with IVN](https://ivn.us/publish.md) - Don't agree with something you see? Write your own story. IVN is a platform built for independent-minded journalists coming from different perspectives. Our contributors span the political spectrum. They include attorneys, organizers, former elected officials, professional journalists, academics, s…
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## Posts
- [AI Is Now Running a Super PAC. Its Target? Control of the US Senate](https://ivn.us/ai-is-now-running-a-super-pac-its-target-control-of-the-us-senate.md) - A newly launched super PAC in New Hampshire will use AI to influence Senate races by elevating third-party candidates designed to siphon votes from Republican candidates and help Democrats gain control of the chamber.
- [Did Trump's FBI Just Tip Maine and the Senate to Democrats?](https://ivn.us/did-trumps-fbi-just-tip-maine-and-the-senate-to-democrats.md) - A ProPublica investigation into Susan Collins, a defense contractor and a super PAC, is the strongest case yet for the law that three out of four Mainers have already passed.
- [One Election. Two Congressional Maps. Missouri Voters Caught in the Middle](https://ivn.us/one-election-two-congressional-maps-missouri-voters-caught-in-the-middle.md) - Missouri voters face confusion as dueling court rulings create uncertainty over which congressional map will be used for the November general election, while absentee ballots are already being sent out.
- [The Most Dishonest Campaign Ad in 2026?](https://ivn.us/the-most-dishonest-campaign-ad-in-2026-newsletter.md) - Plus: Katherine Gehl on the politics of no competition
- [California’s 22nd District Exposes What Political Insiders Still Don’t Get About Latino Voters](https://ivn.us/californias-22nd-district-exposes-what-political-strategists-still-dont-get-about-latino-voters.md) - California’s 22nd Congressional District challenges conventional wisdom about Latino voters, party loyalty, and the political assumptions that shape how campaigns are fought.
- [MAGA, the DSA, and the Politics of No Competition](https://ivn.us/maga-the-dsa-and-the-politics-of-no-competition.md) - From MAGA’s takeover of the GOP to the rise of democratic socialists, the author argues that America’s political upheaval is a symptom of an election system that rewards party capture, discourages independent competition, and leaves voters with too few choices.
- [People vs Politics: The Documentary About Independents Who Won’t Quit on Fairer Elections](https://ivn.us/people-vs-politics-the-documentary-about-independents-who-wont-quit-on-fairer-elections.md) - From the election reform battles of 2024 to the campaigns of 2026, a new documentary follows the independent voters who keep fighting to change American politics—even when the odds are stacked against them.
- [Independent Voters Can Be Heard in California. The Top-Two Primary Is Worth Defending](https://ivn.us/independent-voters-can-be-heard-in-california-the-top-two-primary-is-worth-defending.md) - California voters broke the political parties’ grip on primary elections in 2010. A new repeal effort raises a fundamental question: Who should get to choose the candidates on the November ballot?
- [Alaska Voting Rights PAC Makes Bill Hill Its First Independent Endorsement](https://ivn.us/alaska-voting-rights-pac-makes-bill-hill-its-first-independent-endorsement.md) - The Voter Protection Project, which has backed only Democrats since 2019, joins a coalition of democracy groups supporting independent congressional candidate Bill Hill. This year, Alaska’s top-four election system is also on the ballot, as it faces another attempt to repeal it.
- [Alaska’s Repeal Campaign Is Selling Open Primaries While Trying to End Them](https://ivn.us/alaskas-repeal-campaign-is-selling-open-primaries-while-trying-to-end-them.md) - Alaska's repeal campaign inadvertently reveals voter demand for open primaries by attacking them. With independents making up two-thirds of Alaska voters, the message is clear: voters want to participate without choosing a party first.
- [Texas GOP’s Closed-Primary Push Hits Pause. The Next Fight Is in Austin](https://ivn.us/texas-gops-closed-primary-push-hits-pause-the-next-fight-is-in-austin.md) - A federal judge paused a Texas GOP lawsuit seeking closed primaries, saying the legislature should decide the issue in 2027. The case has exposed a divide within the party, with Abbott and Cornyn taking opposing positions on whether to exclude independent voters from taxpayer-funded primaries.
- [The Most Dishonest Campaign Ad in 2026?](https://ivn.us/the-most-dishonest-campaign-ad-in-2026.md) - A campaign ad in Alaska claims Ballot Measure 2 would bring back open primaries and reject dark money, but the state already has nonpartisan open primaries that the measure would actually repeal and restrict campaign finance transparency.
- [Is This Mic On? Dan Osborn Meets the Opposition Research Machine](https://ivn.us/is-this-mic-on-dan-osborn-meets-the-opposition-research-machine.md) - Three leaked recordings in two weeks have put a spotlight on the Nebraska Senate race and on the research operations that dig up this kind of material.
- [Democrats Gerrymandered David Valadao’s District. Did It Backfire?](https://ivn.us/democrats-gerrymandered-david-valadaos-district-it-backfired.md) - Both Parties Spent Millions Picking This Matchup. 100,000 Independents Get to Decide Who Wins.
- [How California's Top-Two Primary Puts DSA vs. Democrats to the Test (Steve Peace) | EP59](https://ivn.us/podcasts/how-californias-top-two-primary-puts-dsa-vs-democrats-to-the-test-steve-peace-ep60.md) - California's top-two primary brings DSA-backed Democrats face-to-face with the party's moderate wing before the entire electorate. Steve Peace, who authored the law, discusses whether his system is working as designed.
- [On the Ballot, But Not the Stage: Illinois Independent Faces Familiar Debate Lock Out](https://ivn.us/on-the-ballot-but-not-the-stage-illinois-independent-faces-familiar-debate-lock-out.md) - Illinois independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett is demanding access to a debate forum with the Democratic and Republican nominees, facing the same polling-based exclusion rules that have kept independent and third-party candidates off debates for decades.
- [Independent Candidates Are Taking Idaho by Storm in 2026](https://ivn.us/independent-candidates-are-taking-idaho-by-storm-in-2026.md) - A closed Republican primary, a weak Democratic Party, and a wide gap between how Idahoans register and how they identify have produced an unusually deep bench of independents.
- [Polygraphs, Purges, and the Snake Pit Inside Hegseth’s Pentagon. What is the Pentagon Doing About AI?](https://ivn.us/podcasts/polygraphs-purges-and-the-snake-pit-inside-hegseths-pentagon-what-is-the-pentagon-doing-about-ai.md) - Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe pulls back the curtain on a Pentagon defined by press restrictions, unexplained leadership shakeups, internal polygraphs, military influencers, and growing questions about transparency and credibility.
- [America Has an Uncontested Election Problem. Here’s What Can Be Done](https://ivn.us/america-has-an-uncontested-election-problem-heres-what-can-be-done.md) - From open primaries and multi-member districts to campaign finance reform and a culture that encourages more people to run, there are ways to bring competition back to elections where voters too often have only one choice.
- [Chula Vista Has Waited 34 Years for a University. How Much Longer Does California Need?](https://ivn.us/chula-vista-has-waited-34-years-for-a-university-how-much-longer-does-california-need.md) - After more than three decades of waiting, Chula Vista’s long-promised public university needs both perspectives of business leadership and public service to cut delay, reduce uncertainty, and finally get it built.
- [The Election Sprint Is Here. Maine Voters Sound Anything but Sold.](https://ivn.us/podcasts/the-election-sprint-is-here-maine-voters-sound-anything-but-sold.md) - Every week, Unorganized Territory is talking to voters, with a special focus on the issues, emotions, perceptions and personal challenges shaping their views of the candidates in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, a crucial contest in the battle for control of Congress.
- [Alaska’s Ranked Choice Repeal Has a Dark-Money Clause Voters Can’t Ignore](https://ivn.us/alaskas-ranked-choice-repeal-has-a-dark-money-clause-voters-cant-ignore.md) - Alaska's effort to repeal ranked choice voting would also roll back campaign finance transparency rules, removing disclosure requirements for dark money and out-of-state donations that voters approved in 2020.
- [The Socialists Are Coming.](https://ivn.us/california-special-your-independent-guide-to-november.md) - Five California races pit the DSA against the Democratic establishment, and independents may hold the deciding vote. Plus: your no-spin guide to everything on November’s ballot.
- [Orange County, Birthplace of the Reagan Revolution, May Be About to Elect a Socialist](https://ivn.us/orange-county-birthplace-of-the-reagan-revolution-could-elect-a-democratic-socialist.md) - No Republican reached the November ballot in the race for Assembly District 68, so 68,000 independent voters will decide between DSA-recommended Jessie Lopez and moderate Democrat David Penaloza.
- [DSA on One Side, Labor and Cops on the Other: South Bay Independents Get the Deciding Vote](https://ivn.us/dsa-on-one-side-labor-and-cops-on-the-other-south-bay-independents-get-the-deciding-vote.md) - Assembly District 66 sends two Democrats to November with no Republican in the race, leaving 97,000 independents to choose between a socialist-backed progressive and a moderate with union and law enforcement support.
- [Forget Brooklyn. Socialism's Next Test Runs Through West LA, and Independents Are the Judges](https://ivn.us/forget-brooklyn-socialisms-next-test-runs-through-west-la-and-independents-are-the-judges.md) - A DSA-recommended candidate and a moderate Democrat are the only two names on the ballot in California's Senate District 24, leaving independent and Republican voters to break the tie.
- [Election Day Is November 3. For 390 House Seats, It's Already Over](https://ivn.us/election-day-is-november-3-for-390-house-seats-its-already-over.md) - Nearly 90% of House seats are already decided before Election Day, with most contested only in partisan primaries that exclude independent voters and limit meaningful participation to just 9.4% of the voting-age population.
- [East LA: Independent Voters May Decide Whether or Not Socialists Win Senate Seat](https://ivn.us/east-la-independent-voters-may-decide-whether-or-not-socialists-win-senate-seat.md) - In California's East LA State Senate District 26, 144,000 independent voters will likely decide a general election between a socialist-backed candidate and a moderate Democrat, with no Republican on the ballot.
- [California 2026: The Candidates, Choices, and Elections That Show How Much Power Independent Voters Really Have](https://ivn.us/california-2026-the-candidates-choices-and-elections-that-show-how-much-power-voters-really-have.md) - The Golden State's nonpartisan primary system allows all voters to participate in this November's legislative races, offering a unique test of how DSA-backed candidates compete when elections aren't decided in closed Democratic primaries.
- [Ad-A-Palooza: Maine’s Senate Race Is Being Fought One Commercial Break at a Time](https://ivn.us/ad-a-palooza-maines-senate-race-is-being-fought-one-commercial-break-at-a-time.md) - Susan Collins and Troy Jackson are flooding Maine’s airwaves with competing messages aimed at the voters who could decide one of the country’s closest Senate races.
- [West Virginia's Switch to Closed Primaries Has Been a Train Wreck](https://ivn.us/west-virginias-switch-to-closed-primaries-has-been-a-train-wreck.md) - Plus, Rob Sand promises to give independents an equal vote in Iowa. More and more independent voters are changing the conversation and the movement for fairer elections has garnered a national stage.
- [SHOCK UPSET: Incumbent Governor Loses Rhode Island Primary, Where Independent Ken Block is on November Ballot](https://ivn.us/shock-upset-incumbent-governor-loses-rhode-island-primary-where-independent-ken-block-is-on-november-ballot.md) - While Rhode Island’s major parties emerge from bruising primaries, Ken Block enters the general election arguing that a state dominated by unaffiliated voters is ready for something beyond partisan politics.
- [How Trump's Own Mail-In Voting Rule Could BACKFIRE on Republicans | EP58](https://ivn.us/podcasts/how-trumps-own-mail-in-voting-rule-could-backfire-on-republicans-ep58.md) - A whistleblower leak reveals Trump's USPS mail-in ballot rule could invalidate entire batches of ballots over a single envelope error, threatening midterm elections already underway in multiple states.
- [Kentucky Independents Just Outregistered Both Parties Combined. Yet, They're Still Shut Out](https://ivn.us/kentucky-independents-just-outregistered-both-parties-combined-yet-theyre-still-shut-out.md) - Independent voters are Kentucky’s fastest-growing political bloc, but nearly 384,000 remain shut out of the partisan primaries that help decide who governs them.
- [Independent National Convention 2026: America’s Independent Movement Is Entering the Same Room](https://ivn.us/independent-national-convention-2026-americas-independent-movement-is-entering-the-same-room.md) - This September in Washington, leaders from across independent politics and democracy reform will gather alongside independent candidates from across the country. The significance is what becomes possible when an increasingly large but fragmented political ecosystem begins to coordinate.
- [How The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Changes the Way Americans See Third Parties](https://ivn.us/how-the-national-popular-vote-interstate-compact-changes-the-way-americans-see-third-parties.md) - The NPVIC compact wouldn’t eliminate America’s two-party system, but it could change the way voters think about third-party candidates — replacing state-by-state spoiler fears with a national contest for the most votes.
- [Guide to California’s Proposals for Independent-Minded Voters](https://ivn.us/guide-to-californias-proposals-for-independent-minded-voters.md) - Voter ID. A billionaire tax and two measures designed to counter it. A nonpartisan Secretary of State. And a constitutional right for every eligible voter to participate in publicly funded elections. Here is what California’s independent-minded voters need to know.
- [We've Made Elections Fairer, But Independents Still Can't Win](https://ivn.us/weve-made-elections-fairer-but-independents-still-cant-win.md) - Election reform can open the door to independent candidates. But without donors, data, staff, and campaign infrastructure, most are still starting from zero.
- [Don't Let a Signature Kill Your Vote: The California Latino Voter's Survival Guide to November](https://ivn.us/dont-let-a-signature-kill-your-vote-the-california-latino-voters-survival-guide-to-november.md) - With Prop 39 confusion swirling and mail ballot rejections at a decade high, here's what you actually need to know before November 3.
- [Trump Appeals to SCOTUS to Resolve Mail-in Ballot Chaos](https://ivn.us/trump-appeals-to-scotus-to-resolve-mail-in-ballot-chaos.md) - Plus: CNN's Zakaria makes the case for open primaries
- [Can USPS Still Stop Your Mail Ballot? 7 Things Voters Need to Know Now](https://ivn.us/can-usps-still-stop-your-mail-ballot-7-things-voters-need-to-know-now.md) - A federal judge blocked mandatory USPS rules for mail ballots through the November election, but the Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to overturn that decision. Here's what voters need to know about the fast-changing legal battle.
- [Are The Independent Senate Candidates Really 'Toxic Socialist Democrats'?](https://ivn.us/are-the-independent-senate-candidates-reall-toxic-socialist-democrats.md) - Republicans have a new line of attack on the Independents running in several states. Does it hold water?
- [Rob Sand Hopes to Win Iowa Independents with One Promise: He'll End Closed Primaries](https://ivn.us/rob-sand-hopes-to-win-iowa-independents-with-one-promise-hell-end-closed-primaries.md) - Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, an independent-turned-Democrat, is running for governor on a platform to replace closed party primaries with an open "people's primary" where all voters can participate regardless of party affiliation.
- [Fareed Zakaria Makes the Case for Letting Independents Vote in Primaries](https://ivn.us/fareed-zakaria-makes-the-case-for-letting-independents-vote-in-primaries.md) - His CNN special says the US is in the midst of a "super imperial presidency" sliding towards illiberal democracy.
- [San Francisco Democrats Just Said No to Taxing Billionaires](https://ivn.us/san-francisco-democrats-just-said-no-to-taxing-billionaires.md) - San Francisco's Democratic Party refused to endorse a one-time wealth tax on billionaires, creating a rare public split with the state party and exposing tensions between the party's moderate and DSA-aligned wings.
- [Missouri Politicians Tried to Override Voters. The State’s Highest Court Said No — Twice](https://ivn.us/missouri-politicians-tried-to-override-voters-the-states-highest-court-said-no-twice.md) - Missouri's highest court unanimously rejected efforts by state officials to block two ballot measures, ruling voters retain the right to reject a new congressional map and strengthen protections for the citizen initiative process.
- [The Party Labels Are Fading. The Primary Rules Aren’t](https://ivn.us/the-party-labels-are-fading-the-primary-rules-arent.md) - As more Americans identify outside the two major parties, independent voters are challenging primary rules that can leave them out of the elections that shape their communities.
- [Did CBS Just Join Trump's Campaign Against Ranked Choice Voting?](https://ivn.us/did-cbs-just-join-trumps-campaign-against-ranked-choice-voting.md) - CBS News published a headline about Alaska's primary that risks reinforcing false narratives about ranked choice voting being promoted by Trump, but the candidates in question are allowed to run regardless of the voting system used.
- [The Democratic Party Told Him To DROP OUT. He Said No. (Antonio Villaraigosa) | EP57](https://ivn.us/podcasts/the-democratic-party-told-him-to-drop-out-he-said-no-antonio-villaraigosa-ep57.md) - Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa discusses his defiance of California Democratic Party pressure to drop out of the governor's race and his critique of party strategy and fiscal policy.
- [Pentagon In Chaos. Driscoll Out. Hegseth Paying Trolls on X. Plus: Independents Flex Nationally](https://ivn.us/podcasts/pentagon-in-chaos-driscoll-out-hegseth-paying-trolls-on-x-plus-independents-flex-nationally.md) - With Democrats moving left and Republicans moving right, more and more moderates and independents are left politically homeless. Paul Rieckhoff argues that the future belongs to independent voters, who are close making up a majority in the US.
- [What Voters Deserve from Our Energy Future: 6 Strategies for Reliable, Affordable Power](https://ivn.us/what-voters-deserve-from-our-energy-future-6-strategies-for-reliable-affordable-power.md) - Voters shouldn't have to choose between keeping the lights on today and building a cleaner future — here's what a serious "all-of-the-above" energy plan actually looks like.
- [Why Undoing Top Two Would Be a Step Backward for California](https://ivn.us/why-undoing-top-two-would-be-a-step-backward-for-california.md) - California's Top Two primary gives independent voters a voice in all elections. Closing primaries to party members only would strip voting power from 5.2 million registered independents.
- [Irvine Elected Its Mayor With 39% of the Vote. Now Voters Can Change the Rules](https://ivn.us/irvine-elected-its-mayor-with-39-of-the-vote-now-voters-can-change-the-rules.md) - Irvine voters will decide in November whether to adopt ranked choice voting for local elections, a system that ensures winners have majority support rather than plurality wins.
- [Washington Finally United America: 89% Say Government Corruption Is Widespread](https://ivn.us/washington-finally-united-america-89-say-government-corruption-is-widespread.md) - Independents are among the most distrustful Americans, as new polling shows confidence in government and major institutions hovering near historic lows.
- [Perot 2.0 Isn’t a Candidate. It’s a Movement](https://ivn.us/perot-2-0-isnt-a-candidate-its-a-movement.md) - Independent candidates are multiplying, independent voters are organizing, and the two-party system is facing a challenge it thought it had buried decades ago.
- [Forget the Polls. Bettors Are Putting Real Money on These Independent Candidates](https://ivn.us/forget-the-polls-bettors-are-putting-real-money-on-these-independent-candidates.md) - What is going into people's bets? Is it just vibes, or is there something deeper?
- [Poll: 51% of Massachusetts Voters Back Scrapping Party Primaries](https://ivn.us/poll-51-of-massachusetts-voters-back-scrapping-party-primaries.md) - A new poll shows 51% of Massachusetts voters support replacing the state's partisan primary system with a nonpartisan open primary where all candidates appear on one ballot, a change that will appear on the November ballot.
- [They're Attacking the Last Frontier](https://ivn.us/theyre-attacking-the-last-frontier.md) - Plus, young voters are following the lead of Latinos, everywhere.
- [Alaska Is Voting on More Than Ranked Choice Voting. It’s Voting on Who Gets to Vote](https://ivn.us/alaska-is-voting-on-more-than-ranked-choice-voting-its-voting-on-who-gets-to-vote.md) - Alaska voters will decide whether to repeal their nonpartisan election system, which could allow political parties to shut out 60% of voters registered as independents from participating in primaries.
- [Susan Collins Has Defied Political Gravity for 30 Years. Trump May Finally Pull Her Down](https://ivn.us/susan-collins-has-defied-political-gravity-for-30-years-trump-may-finally-pull-her-down.md) - Maine’s longtime Republican survivor has built her career on independence, local results, and crossover support. In 2026, Trump’s unpopularity, tariffs, and political chaos are making that formula harder to sustain.
- [Alaska Made Elections Matter Again. Now They Want to Kill the System](https://ivn.us/alaska-made-elections-matter-again-now-they-want-to-kill-the-system.md) - Alaska is testing a new election system designed to increase competition and deliver better results for voters. As opponents push for repeal, the state's 2026 races show how ranked-choice voting and open primaries are reshaping elections.
- [“I Know What You Are”: When You Leave the Political Tribe, You Become the Enemy](https://ivn.us/i-know-what-you-are-when-you-leave-the-political-tribe-you-become-the-enemy.md) - Partisan politics trains voters to see the other side as a threat. Independents refuse to play along — and pay a price for it.
- [NYC Keeps Silencing Independents. Now 1.2 Million Voters Are Building a Movement](https://ivn.us/nyc-keeps-silencing-independents-now-1-2-million-voters-are-building-a-movement.md) - After another setback for open primaries, reformers say the real breakthrough may be the growing civic power of New York City’s 1.2 million independent voters.
- [Before a California Bill Gets a Vote, It Has to Get Past Blanca Pacheco](https://ivn.us/before-a-california-bill-gets-a-vote-it-has-to-get-past-blanca-pacheco.md) - Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco chairs the California Assembly's Rules Committee, giving her significant power over which bills get hearings, how quickly they move, and whether laws take effect immediately.
- [Young Voters are Following This Latino Trend](https://ivn.us/young-voters-are-following-this-latino-trend.md) - Latino voters aren't realigning with Republicans or Democrats. They're de-aligning entirely. And Gen Z is following the same pattern.
- [A Supreme Court Ruling Built for the Major Parties Is Helping Idaho Libertarians](https://ivn.us/a-supreme-court-ruling-built-for-the-major-parties-is-helping-idaho-libertarians.md) - A federal judge granted the Idaho Libertarian Party temporary freedom from state campaign spending limits, following a Supreme Court decision that removed federal caps on coordinated party spending with candidates.
- [The Opioid Crisis Was Never Only Rural and White](https://ivn.us/the-opioid-crisis-was-never-only-rural-and-white.md) - Racial blind spots in opioid policy are costing lives. Stopping the crisis requires solutions built for every community.
- [One Thing Is Clear in 2026: Independent Candidates Are No Longer Just Spoilers](https://ivn.us/one-thing-is-clear-in-2026-independent-candidates-are-no-longer-just-spoilers.md) - From one-on-one Senate showdowns to growing campaign infrastructure, independent candidates are entering the fall with more money, attention, and opportunity than usual.
- [California Just Did the Opposite of Mamdani](https://ivn.us/the-right-to-vote-isnt-a-party-perk.md) - 14 California Assembly Democrats just made a bold statement
- [The TRUTH About Trump’s New USPS Ballot Rule (It’s Complicated) | EP56](https://ivn.us/podcasts/the-truth-about-trumps-new-usps-ballot-rule-its-complicated-ep56.md) - President Trump's new USPS ballot rule has Republicans and Democrats divided. On this episode, hosts break down what the rule actually does, why a Supreme Court ruling this week is more limited than headlines suggest, and California's fight over open primaries.
- [Independent Vets Surging In Idaho, Montana, Nebraska & South Dakota. Achilles Up 5 On Risch.](https://ivn.us/podcasts/independent-vets-surging-in-idaho-montana-nebraska-south-dakota-achilles-up-5-on-risch.md) - In his weekly Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Wednesday hit with Connell McShane on News Nation, Paul lays out the great American betrayal of Afghanistan, the Afghan allies still hung out to dry, and the surging map of independent veteran candidates the legacy media keeps missing.
- [Maryland Tried to Rewrite the Rules for Congressional Maps. A Judge Just Hit the Brakes.](https://ivn.us/maryland-tried-to-rewrite-the-rules-for-congressional-maps-a-judge-just-hit-the-brakes.md) - HB 2100 would strip state constitutional map-drawing standards from congressional districts. A court says voters can’t consider it — at least not yet.
- [California Legislators Lead Landmark Voting Rights Amendment](https://ivn.us/california-legislators-lead-landmark-voting-right-amendment.md) - A coalition of California Democrats wants to put independent voters’ right to participate in publicly funded elections into the state Constitution — but getting it before voters will require Republican support.
- [Could USPS Refuse to Deliver Your Ballot? A New Election Fight Is About to Explode](https://ivn.us/could-usps-refuse-to-deliver-your-ballot-a-new-election-fight-is-about-to-explode.md) - The Supreme Court opened the door to Trump’s mail-ballot policy — but it did not uphold the USPS rule, and a separate court order still blocks it from being used this November.
- [70% of America’s Elections Had Only One Candidate. That’s a Problem.](https://ivn.us/70-of-americas-elections-had-only-one-candidate-thats-a-problem.md) - Americans don’t lack political opinions. They lack candidates willing—or able—to overcome the money, party gatekeeping, ballot access rules, and other barriers that keep so many elections from ever becoming competitive.
- [Assembly Democrats Defend Independent Voters Against a Party-Driven Effort to "Undo the Top Two" Nonpartisan Primary](https://ivn.us/a-dozen-california-democrats-defend-independent-voters-against-a-party-driven-effort-to-undo-the-top-two-nonpartisan-primary.md) - Fourteen California Democrats co-sponsor a constitutional amendment to protect independent voters' right to participate in all publicly funded elections, including primaries, amid a coordinated effort to repeal the state's nonpartisan top-two primary system.
- [From Bartender to Bush’s War Room & 50 Years in GOP Politics (Anne Dunsmore) | EP55](https://ivn.us/podcasts/from-bartender-to-bushs-war-room-50-years-in-gop-politics-anne-dunsmore-ep55.md) - GOP operative Anne Dunsmore traces her 50-year political career from a lost bet in a D.C. bar to George H.W. Bush's inner circle. She discusses her rise through fundraising and independent thinking in American politics.
- [500,000 Oklahoma Independents Can Vote on Voter ID Tuesday — But Not for Governor](https://ivn.us/500-000-oklahoma-independents-can-vote-on-voter-id-tuesday-but-not-for-governor.md) - Nearly 500,000 Oklahoma independent voters can vote on a voter ID amendment Tuesday but are locked out of the Republican gubernatorial runoff that will effectively decide the next governor in the deep red state.
- [An Independent Just Broke Through in Alaska — As Republicans Try to Kill the System That Made It Possible](https://ivn.us/an-independent-just-broke-through-in-alaska-as-republicans-try-to-kill-the-system-that-made-it-possible.md) - Bill Hill finished second in Alaska’s top-four primary and now takes on Republican Rep. Nick Begich III in a ranked-choice general election — while voters simultaneously decide whether to repeal the system that helped put an independent in contention.
- [At Harlem Week, NYC Independents Had One Question: Why Can’t We Vote?](https://ivn.us/at-harlem-week-nyc-independents-had-one-question-why-cant-we-vote.md) - Hundreds signed a call for Mayor Mamdani to hear directly from the 1.2 million independent voters locked out of NYC primaries.
- [She Lost. She Came Back. Then Suzette Valladares Made California History.](https://ivn.us/she-lost-she-came-back-then-suzette-valladares-made-california-history.md) - Suzette Valladares became the first Latina Republican to serve in both houses of the California Legislature by refusing to treat setbacks as dead ends. In 2025, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones appointed her caucus whip.
- [9 Ways Ranked Choice Ballots Fix What’s Broken in American Elections](https://ivn.us/9-ways-ranked-choice-ballots-fix-whats-broken-in-american-elections.md) - America accepts spoilers, wasted votes, and non-majority winners as normal. Ranked ballots show we don’t have to.
- [Missouri Voters Got the Signatures. A Judge Says They Still Can’t Vote on Trump-Backed Map](https://ivn.us/missouri-voters-got-the-signatures-a-judge-says-they-still-cant-vote-on-trump-backed-map.md) - A Missouri judge blocked voters from using a referendum to overturn a Republican-backed congressional map, despite the initiative collecting over 300,000 signatures. The group behind the effort said it will appeal.
- [Border Patrol STOPPED Her: Becoming a US Citizen LEGALLY is Harder Than Ever | EP54](https://ivn.us/podcasts/border-patrol-stopped-her-becoming-a-us-citizen-legally-is-harder-than-ever-ep54.md) - IVP's producer shares her journey from green card to US citizen, revealing how naturalization has become harder under the Trump administration, including processing delays and tense border encounters.
- [3 Million Independents Locked Out of Voting in Florida’s Closed Primary](https://ivn.us/podcasts/3-million-independents-locked-out-of-voting-in-floridas-closed-primary.md) - Millions of independent voters were locked out of taxpayer-funded elections in Florida, including 640,000 veterans. Plus, the DSA continues its takeover of the Democratic Party, and Stephen Colbert for Senate?
- [Well, that didn't work](https://ivn.us/well-that-didnt-work.md) - Plus: The RNC is running the same playbook
- [Florida’s ‘Phantom Candidates’ Are Back And They’re Still Locking Voters Out](https://ivn.us/floridas-phantom-candidates-are-back-and-theyre-still-locking-voters-out.md) - Florida's closed primary system allows single write-in candidates to block voters outside the dominant party from participating in elections, effectively turning primaries into general elections that exclude 3.3 million independents.
- [Alaska Caps Campaign Cash — Now Voters Face a Dark Money Fight](https://ivn.us/alaska-caps-campaign-cash-now-voters-face-a-dark-money-fight.md) - Alaska voters approved campaign contribution limits in Tuesday's primary, but face another vote in November on whether to repeal disclosure rules that expose sources of political spending.
- [Why Rick Bennett Left the GOP to Run for Governor of Maine (NOT What You Think) | EP53](https://ivn.us/podcasts/why-rick-bennett-left-the-gop-to-run-for-governor-of-maine-not-what-you-think-ep53.md) - Former Maine Republican Senate President Rick Bennett is running for governor as an independent, arguing that the two-party system itself is corrupt and a major cause of government dysfunction.
- [Americans Are Leaving the Two Parties Faster Than the System Can Trap Them](https://ivn.us/americans-are-leaving-the-two-parties-faster-than-the-system-can-trap-them.md) - Independent voters are now the largest political bloc in America, but closed primaries and two-party ballots still leave millions with nowhere else to go.
- [America’s Democracy Is Cracking. The Revolution to Rebuild It Has Already Begun.](https://ivn.us/americas-democracy-is-cracking-the-revolution-to-rebuild-it-has-already-begun.md) - From a national popular vote and ranked choice voting to proportional representation, court reform and a constitutional right to vote, Rob Richie argues the next era of American democracy will require rewriting the rules.
- [DNC Backs Down on Ranked Choice Voting Ban After Backlash](https://ivn.us/dnc-backs-down-on-ranked-choice-voting-ban-after-backlash.md) - The Democratic National Committee reversed its proposed ban on ranked choice voting in the 2028 presidential primary after backlash from party members and reformers, reverting delegate selection rules to their 2024 language.
- [Missouri Secretary of State Admits Popular Amendment Qualified — Says Voters Still Won’t Get a Say](https://ivn.us/missouri-secretary-of-state-admits-popular-amendment-qualified-says-voters-still-wont-get-a-say.md) - Missouri's Secretary of State admitted in court that a proposed amendment to protect citizen initiatives had enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but is still refusing to put it before voters.
- [Latino Independents Could Decide California in 2026—If Anyone Bothers to Reach Them](https://ivn.us/latino-independents-could-decide-california-in-2026-if-anyone-bothers-to-reach-them.md) - Latino voters with no party preference are poised to play an outsized role in California’s 2026 elections — but both parties may be failing to reach the voters who could decide them.
- [We Expect Election Referees to Be Neutral. So Why Do We Make Them Pick a Team?](https://ivn.us/we-expect-election-referees-to-be-neutral-so-why-do-we-make-them-pick-a-team.md) - We trust secretaries of state to administer elections impartially, even though most are chosen through partisan contests that reward the very political pressures they are expected to resist.
- [America’s First Socialist President? His Name Is Donald Trump](https://ivn.us/americas-first-socialist-president-his-name-is-donald-trump.md) - The Trump administration is taking direct ownership stakes in major U.S. corporations like Intel, U.S. Steel, and Westinghouse Electric, marking an unprecedented expansion of federal control over American business.
- [Someone in Sacramento Is Actually Trying to Solve Problems](https://ivn.us/someone-in-sacramento-is-actually-trying-to-solve-problems.md) - California's Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of 26 lawmakers, is quietly working to solve real problems like housing costs and energy by passing bills without partisan conflict.
- [New Texas Secretary of State Holds the Line Against GOP Push to Close Primaries](https://ivn.us/new-texas-secretary-of-state-holds-the-line-against-gop-push-to-close-primaries.md) - Despite pressure from within his own party, Robert Howden says Texas will defend its open primary system — and that any effort to close it belongs in the Legislature, not the courts.
- [Lauren Pinkston Is Betting Tennessee Isn’t as Red as It Looks](https://ivn.us/lauren-pinkston-is-betting-tennessee-isnt-as-red-as-it-looks.md) - The independent candidate for governor argues Tennessee’s one-party dominance is fueled by historically low turnout—and she thinks the voters sitting on the sidelines could upend the conventional wisdom.
- [Trump’s Birthright Citizenship 2.0 Could Put Him on a Collision Course With Pro-Lifers](https://ivn.us/trumps-birthright-citizenship-2-0-could-put-him-on-a-collision-course-with-pro-lifers.md) - The Trump administration's new executive order on birthright citizenship aims to work within Supreme Court limits by denying citizenship to children born to non-citizen parents in specific categories, but experts warn it could create constitutional conflicts.
- [California’s Election Referees Wear Party Jerseys. Two Amendments Aim to Change That.](https://ivn.us/californias-election-referees-wear-party-jerseys-two-amendments-aim-to-change-that.md) - California legislators introduce two constitutional amendments to remove party control from elections: one making the secretary of state a nonpartisan office, another transferring ballot language authority to a nonpartisan body.
- [Elon Musk's $1.5 Million Attack on Ranked Choice Voting in Alaska | EP52](https://ivn.us/podcasts/elon-musks-1-5-million-attack-on-ranked-choice-voting-in-alaska-ep52.md) - Elon Musk, the DNC, and State Republicans are all fighting the same enemy: Your right to a meaningful vote.
- [68,000 ‘Zombie Votes’ Haunted Wisconsin’s Democratic Primary](https://ivn.us/68-000-zombie-votes-haunted-wisconsins-democratic-primary.md) - Over 68,000 Wisconsin Democratic primary voters cast ballots for candidates who dropped out before the election, highlighting how ranked choice voting could prevent votes from being wasted when candidates exit the race.
- [Senator Joe Manchin, Heather Manchin, And Their Plan to Break the Two-Party Machine](https://ivn.us/podcasts/senator-joe-manchin-heather-manchin-and-their-plan-to-break-the-two-party-machine.md) - Joe and Heather Manchin are betting that a handful of independent victories in 2026 could break the two-party grip on Congress—and they’re building the organization to make it happen.
- [Steve Hilton Blames Sam Altman and Dario Amodei for Making America Fear AI](https://ivn.us/steve-hilton-blames-sam-altman-and-dario-amodei-for-making-america-fear-ai.md) - California's Republican gubernatorial nominee Steve Hilton says AI leaders like Sam Altman and Dario Amodei have damaged public trust in their industry and argues the state must ease opposition to data center construction to compete with Texas and Ohio.
- [Elon Musk Enters the Election Reform Chat](https://ivn.us/elon-musk-enters-the-election-reform-chat.md) - He's a player. It's the game.
- [Pelosi Finally Reveals What She Told Biden Before He Dropped Out](https://ivn.us/pelosi-finally-reveals-what-she-told-biden-before-he-dropped-out.md) - Nancy Pelosi detailed her private conversation with President Biden before he withdrew from the 2024 race, saying she questioned his polling and campaign strategy but that accounts of the meeting "did not really happen" as reported.
- [IA-1 Is the Tightest District in America. Independent Michael Bridgford Sees That as an Opening.](https://ivn.us/ia-1-is-the-tightest-district-in-america-independent-michael-bridgford-sees-that-as-an-opening.md) - An independent candidate with little money and no party machine is betting that the closest House district in America is ready to break from the same Republican-Democratic rematch.
- [California Amendment Introduced to Take Party Politics Out of the Office That Runs Elections](https://ivn.us/california-amendment-introduced-to-take-party-politics-out-of-the-office-that-runs-elections.md) - Assemblymembers Josh Hoover and Natasha Johnson introduce constitutional amendment to make the secretary of state's office nonpartisan, addressing concerns about conflicts of interest in election administration.
- [Texas Banned Gas-Station THC. Talarico Says It’s a Gift to the Cartels](https://ivn.us/texas-banned-gas-station-thc-talarico-says-its-a-gift-to-the-cartels.md) - Texas hemp ban targets delta-8 and other synthetic THC products, creating a major wedge issue in the closely watched Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton.
- [The Republican Party Left Gen. Sarah Zabel—Now She’s Running Against It](https://ivn.us/the-republican-party-left-gen-sarah-zabel-now-shes-running-against-it.md) - The retired Air Force major general says neither party represents her politics—and she’s betting Idaho voters are ready for an independent who puts policy before party.
- [Despite National and Local Pressure, Montana's Democratic Senate Candidate Stays On the Ballot](https://ivn.us/despite-nation.md) - This decision puts Montana in contrast with Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska, where the Democrat dropped out of the race to clear the way for an Independent candidate.
- [Elon Musk is Trying to Kill Alaskan Voting Rights](https://ivn.us/elon-musk-is-trying-to-kill-alaskan-voting-rights.md) - Elon Musk has funneled $1.5 million into efforts to repeal Alaska's Top Four open primary system, which lets all voters participate in primaries regardless of party affiliation.
- [Paul Rieckhoff: Mamdani's Board of Elections Quietly Crushes NYC Open Primaries](https://ivn.us/podcasts/paul-rieckhoff-mamdanis-board-of-elections-quietly-crushes-nyc-open-primaries.md) - NYC's Board of Elections rejected 42,000 petitions demanding open primaries, affecting a million independent voters. Meanwhile, independent candidates in South Dakota, Nebraska, Idaho and Montana are positioning themselves as kingmakers in the Senate.
- [It's Official: Both Parties Oppose Ranked Choice Voting](https://ivn.us/its-official-both-parties-oppose-ranked-choice-voting.md) - Both the Democratic and Republican national committees are now opposing ranked choice voting, with the DNC set to vote Saturday on banning it in 2028 primaries even in states where voters approved it.
- [In the Birthplace of the GOP, an Independent Is Coming for a Republican Seat](https://ivn.us/in-the-birthplace-of-the-gop-an-independent-is-coming-for-a-republican-seat.md) - Independent firefighter Mike Thurow is taking on a Republican incumbent in an R+8 Wisconsin district—and early polling suggests voters may be more open to his candidacy than they are to a Democrat.
- [Alabama GOP Wants Independents Out of Its Primaries](https://ivn.us/alabama-gop-wants-independents-out-of-its-primaries.md) - After a legislative effort to require party registration stalled, the Alabama GOP made closing its primaries an official party priority—even as some Republican lawmakers warn it would shut out too many independent voters.
- [Missouri Voters Crushed a Partisan Power Grab - the State Blocked Them Anyway | EP51](https://ivn.us/podcasts/missouri-voters-crushed-a-partisan-power-grab-the-state-blocked-them-anyway-ep51.md) - In this episode of the Independent Voter Podcast, hosts Ethan, Cara, and Shawn dig into the escalating battle between citizen-led direct democracy and entrenched political power.
- [A Third Democrat Drops Out. Now Independent Brian Bengs Takes on Incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds Head-to-Head](https://ivn.us/a-third-democrat-drops-out-now-independent-brian-bengs-takes-on-incumbent-sen-mike-rounds-head-to-head.md) - South Dakota is now the third Senate race where a Democrat cleared the field for an independent.
- [Party Insiders Just Torched the Biggest Excuse Against Open Primaries](https://ivn.us/party-insiders-just-torched-the-biggest-excuse-against-open-primaries.md) - Political insiders from both parties largely reject the claim that independent voters would sabotage primaries if allowed to participate, and some say open primaries produce stronger candidates.
- [The Case That Could Bring an End to Super PACs](https://ivn.us/the-case-that-could-bring-an-end-to-super-pacs.md) - The battle against unlimited campaign donations is argued in federal court after Maine voters approved a $5,000 super PAC contribution cap.
- [California Latinos Showed Up—Now Party Insiders Want to Shut Them Out](https://ivn.us/california-latinos-showed-up-now-party-insiders-want-to-shut-them-out.md) - California's nonpartisan Top Two primary brought record Latino turnout in the 2026 governor's race. Now party insiders are pushing to repeal it, which strategist Mike Madrid warns would silence the state's fastest-growing voting bloc.
- [The Voters Who Weren’t Supposed to Show Up](https://ivn.us/the-voters-who-werent-supposed-to-show-up.md) - CA's primary turnout record was powered by Latino independents. So why are party insiders trying to shut the door behind them?
- [Missouri Drew a Gerrymander. Now Its Secretary of State Says Voters Can’t Say No.](https://ivn.us/missouri-drew-a-gerrymander-now-its-secretary-of-state-says-voters-cant-say-no.md) - Missouri's Secretary of State blocked a voter referendum to overturn a partisan congressional gerrymander, ruling it unconstitutional without revealing signature counts. The decision will likely face legal challenges.
- [In Texas, Bobby Pulido Shows Neither Party Can Gerrymander the Latino Vote](https://ivn.us/in-texas-bobby-pulido-shows-neither-party-can-gerrymander-the-latino-vote.md) - Mike Madrid sits down with Bobby Pulido—Grammy-winning Tejano music star turned Democratic congressional candidate—to discuss one of the most important political realignments in America.
- [With 30 Days Left, Monique Limón Decides What Moves in the California Senate](https://ivn.us/with-30-days-left-monique-limon-decides-what-moves-in-the-california-senate.md) - California's first Latina Senate leader enters the final month with control over hundreds of bills and a legislative record her office says received bipartisan support 87% of the time.
- [Washington’s Top Two Primary Put Four Independent Veterans in the Parties’ Way](https://ivn.us/washingtons-top-two-primary-put-four-independent-veterans-in-the-parties-way.md) - Four independent veterans are competing in Washington's Top Two primary on Tuesday, representing different branches and offices while benefiting from the state's nonpartisan system that gives independents equal ballot access.
- [The Troy Army Just Took Maine—Now It Has to Take Down Susan Collins](https://ivn.us/the-troy-army-just-took-maine-now-it-has-to-take-down-susan-collins.md) - Maine Democrats nominated Troy Jackson for Senate after a rapid grassroots campaign mobilized delegates across the state. Now he faces incumbent Susan Collins in a race that polling shows is too close to call.
- [America’s Closed Primary System Runs on Fake Party Membership](https://ivn.us/americas-closed-primary-system-runs-on-fake-party-membership.md) - Closed primaries do not protect party purity—they force independent voters to register with parties they do not believe in just to have a meaningful voice.
- [Dan Osborn is Ready to Represent the Working Class in Congress. Is Nebraska Ready to Let Him?](https://ivn.us/dan-osborn-is-ready-to-represent-the-working-class-in-congress-is-nebraska-ready-to-let-him.md) - "For me, it really is money in politics," he said. "Money in politics touches so many, if not every, issue that's out there. If you're taking their money, you've got to do their bidding."

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