From the war in Iran to the ballot box, Americans bear the consequences of decisions made by elected officials. But gerrymandering, closed primaries, and political money make it harder for voters to hold those leaders accountable.
Democrats must heed a warning from Marjorie Taylor Greene: voters care less about party affiliation and more about whether politicians deliver results. A record turnout of independent voters determined the 2026 election's outcome.
If he had sought re-election, current incumbent Democrat Rep. Jared Golden would have beaten Republican Paul LePage and kept this seat in Democratic hands.
Independent voters helped deliver a decisive defeat to Republicans in 2026, but Democrats shouldn't confuse their votes with party loyalty. The message is clear: Neither party is entitled to their support.
Drawing on his childhood surrounded by gang culture in Los Angeles, reform advocate Rey David López-Calderón explains why California's effort to repeal the Top Two primary is about more than elections. It's about loyalty, control, and who gets to decide where voters belong.
Before approving a one-time tax on the wealth of billionaires who lived in the state at a certain point in time, Californians should consider what such a policy will do to future tax revenues. Since wealth is mobile, those who stand to lose the most will simply leave.
Brad Lander is running for Congress. So why was he in Israel just days before the election? His overseas trip raises a bigger question: What happens to political accountability when closed primaries effectively decide elections months before voters cast their November ballots?
Dirty tricks like recruiting same-name candidates to split votes has a history not limited to a single state or party. But it won't work in Alaska's US Senate race because the state uses ranked choice voting.
Independent voters are now "kingmakers" in competitive races, but campaigns treat them as data points, not people. Without direct conversation, candidates miss opportunities to engage the largest voting bloc.
Independent voters have become a decisive force at the ballot box. The next question is whether that influence can translate into lasting political power.
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.
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.
