Campaigns

Campaigns cover the initiatives, races, and ballot questions where independent-minded voters could decide the outcome. IVN.us reports on contests at every level, from local measures to statewide elections, with nonpartisan coverage and information so independent-minded voters can make informed choices.

Independents and Republicans May Hold the Power in Los Angeles – If They Actually Vote

A coordinated Democratic Socialist coalition is mobilizing across six races in LA. The largest bloc of eligible voters in several key districts isn't hearing from anyone.

IVN Editorial Board

/ April 20, 2026

Independents and Republicans May Hold the Power in Los Angeles – If They Actually Vote

Who Will Eric Swalwell Voters Choose Now? We Know

US Rep. Eric Swalwell has officially suspended his campaign for California governor in the midst of multiple sexual misconduct and assault allegations. He also announced Monday that he is resigning from Congress.

Shawn Griffiths

/ April 13, 2026

Billionaires, Voter ID, Uber, and More: The 2026 California Ballot Is Already a Money War

In California, almost $325 million has already been raised in support and opposition to a handful of direct democracy initiatives hoping to appear on the ballot on November 3, 2026.

Cara Brown McCormick

/ April 13, 2026

California ballot initiative paperwork and campaign finance documents beside stacks of cash, symbolizing big-money influence in the 2026 election.

10 States Where Independent Voters Will Decide the 2026 Elections

The 2026 midterm elections are already underway as states conduct their primary elections – and independent voters are expected to have a major impact on results from California to Maine and in several places in-between.

Shawn Griffiths

/ April 7, 2026

Independent voters will decide the most hotly contested elections in the 2026 midterms -- and in places you wouldn't expect.

Trump Won This Latino California District; Now Independents Will Decide Who Holds It

Donald Trump carried the district by 1.3% in 2024, winning 49.5% to Kamala Harris's 48.2%, a striking outcome in a district where Democrats still held a registration advantage exceeding 13 points.

Cara Brown McCormick

/ April 7, 2026

Image of Empire Polo Club, located in California Assembly District 36.

Trump EO Pushes Citizenship Verification and Mail Ballot Tracking Further Than SAVE Act Debate

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 31 directing federal agencies to build a new citizenship-verification system for federal elections and requiring the U.S. Postal Service to begin rulemaking on new standards for mailed ballots.

Chad Peace

/ March 31, 2026

Donald Trump signing an executive order with voter registration documents, a passport, and mail ballot tracking materials on a presidential desk.

Paige Against the Machine: Scranton Mayor Runs Against Congressional Corruption and Old Party Rules

In the fall of 2019, Scranton, Pennsylvania, was in crisis. Its mayor, Bill Courtright, had resigned and pleaded guilty to federal charges of bribery, extortion, and conspiracy.

Cara Brown McCormick

/ March 30, 2026

Paige Against the Machine: Scranton Mayor Runs Against Congressional Corruption and Old Party Rules

10 U.S. House Members Who Quit Their Party While in Office

Impeachments. Wave elections. Gerrymandered maps. A stolen election that never was. Frustration with leadership. The reasons House members abandon their parties mid-term are as varied as the members themselves.

Cara Brown McCormick

/ March 26, 2026

A lone congressman walks away from red and blue partisan paths toward the U.S. Capitol, symbolizing Kevin Kiley’s switch from Republican to independent.

Kevin Kiley Leaves GOP, Bets on Independent Voters in California’s 6th District

On March 9, 2026, US Rep. Kevin Kiley held a press conference and announced he was breaking up with the GOP. With that, Kiley became the only capital "I" Independent in the House

Cara Brown McCormick

/ March 24, 2026

Chad Bianco’s 650,000-Ballot Seizure Puts California Governor Race in National Spotlight

Riverside County sheriff and California gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco has bolstered his national name ID after he seized over 650,000 ballots cast in the 2025 special election for Proposition 50.

Shawn Griffiths

/ March 23, 2026

Screenshot of Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco during a press conference about the ballots seized by his department.

Will Independent Voters Deliver Dawn Addis a Third Assembly Term in California’s Central Coast?

Dawn Addis, born July 12, 1972, is a former teacher and Morro Bay city councilmember who was first elected to the Assembly in 2022 and re-elected in 2024

Cara Brown McCormick

/ March 19, 2026

Assembly member Dawn Addis speaking with an ASL interpreter next to her.

Race to Watch: With Moderate Esmeralda Soria Out, Who Will Appeal to Independents in the Central Valley?

This 2026 race snapped into focus in May 2025 when Soria announced she would seek the SD14 State Senate seat being vacated by Anna Caballero due to term limits. The announcement transformed an already competitive district into one of the top Republican targets in California.

Cara Brown McCormick

/ March 12, 2026

Illustration of an independent voter casting their ballot with recognizable Merced, California, landmarks in the background.