Midterm Elections 2026: Five Independent Candidates To Watch Amid Joe Manchin's New Political Push

Former Sen. Joe Manchin has launched the Independent Leadership Council to back independent candidates in the 2026 midterms, arguing the US needs leaders free from party control.

With Midterm elections approaching rapidly, former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is making a return to the political spotlight—not as a candidate, but as a champion for independent voices. A year and a half after leaving the Senate, Manchin has launched the Independent Leadership Council, a new initiative aimed at recruiting and supporting independent candidates across the country.

Speaking alongside his daughter Heather Manchin, who is also leading the effort, the former senator said the goal is not to create another political party but to empower candidates who are willing to work with both Democrats and Republicans.

“We’re not trying to start another party,” Manchin said, adding that independent lawmakers should be free to support either party when they believe it is right and oppose them when necessary.

The initiative comes at a time when political independence is on the rise. According to a Gallup poll, 45% of US adults now identify as political independents, the highest level recorded. Independents have also remained the country’s largest political group for more than a decade as frustration with the two-party system continues to grow.

Manchin officially launched the effort by convening independent candidates in West Virginia. If the council chooses to back candidates, it could campaign for them, help raise money and organize support in their districts. Manchin believes that even a small number of independent lawmakers in Congress could influence legislation and encourage greater bipartisan cooperation.

The former senator said he does not plan to seek elected office again, instead focusing on helping candidates who share his vision of independent leadership.

Among the candidates associated with or highlighted by the Independent Leadership Council are:

Manchin retired from the Senate in January 2025 after serving as a Democrat for decades before finishing his final months in office as an independent. Since leaving Washington, he has promoted centrist initiatives, published a book and continued speaking on national issues.

While he acknowledged missing his former Senate colleagues, Manchin said he has no interest in returning to elected office. Instead, he hopes the Independent Leadership Council can demonstrate that independent candidates can succeed and eventually reshape American politics beyond the traditional Democratic-Republican divide.

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