Independent United — The Middle Isn’t Empty

Independent United

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Lead story

Politics without a party line.

Independent United gathers the tools, data, and people independent candidates need to run — and gives everyone else a place to follow what pragmatic, non-ideological politics actually looks like. No platform. No party. Just what works.

The Brief

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Ballot access

The signature rules nobody explains to first-time candidates

Every state sets its own bar for getting an independent name on the ballot. Here’s the plain-language version, state by state.

6 min read
Local wins

A city council seat, a school budget, and no party behind either

How three independents flipped local races by running on line items instead of platforms — and what transfers to your race.

8 min read
Field notes

Fundraising without a national committee

A practical breakdown of small-dollar tools, compliance basics, and what independent campaigns spend money on first.

5 min read

Resource Desk

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Toolkit

Ballot access guide

Petition thresholds, filing windows, and deadlines by state.

Open guide
Toolkit

Campaign finance basics

What independents must file, and where the FEC forms actually live.

Open guide
Template

Issue one-pagers

Editable, non-ideological policy briefs on housing, budgets, and infrastructure.

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Directory

Volunteer & staff network

Find people who’ve worked independent races before — or offer to help one.

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Candidate
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Candidate spotlight

Meet the independents on the ballot this cycle

We profile candidates running without party backing — what they’re proposing, how they’re funding it, and where you can find their filings. No endorsements. Just the record.

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The Agenda

Full policy set →
Budgets

Spend what’s audited, not what’s promised

A standard for evaluating any proposal, regardless of who’s making it.

Governance

Term limits and open primaries, explained plainly

Structural reforms judged on outcomes, not on who they historically favor.

Accountability

Publish the vote, publish the reasoning

A baseline transparency standard we ask every candidate we cover to meet.

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One email, every Friday. What independent candidates are doing, what’s changed in ballot access law, and what’s worth reading. No spin either direction.