What Is an Independent Candidate? A Guide to Independent Politics

In a political system dominated by two major parties, more voters are asking a simple question: What is an Independent candidate?

Put simply, an Independent candidate is someone who runs for public office without being affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties. They build campaigns rooted in community priorities, not national party platforms.

With 45% of Americans identifying as politically Independent, this isn’t a fringe concept. It’s a growing movement.

But what does it really mean to be an Independent candidate today? How do Independent politicians differ from third-party candidates? And why are more local leaders choosing this path?

Let’s break it down.

What Is an Independent Candidate in U.S. Politics?

An Independent candidate is a candidate who runs for office without formal affiliation with a major political party.

That means:

• They aren’t nominated by Democrats or Republicans
• They’re not bound by a national party platform
• They don’t answer to party leadership structures
• They typically build their own campaign infrastructure

An Independent politician, once elected, continues serving without party alignment. They often caucus with a major party on an issue-by-issue basis instead of voting strictly along party lines.

It’s important to distinguish between Independent candidates and third-party candidates. Some Independents choose to be affiliated with smaller parties like the Libertarian or Green Party, but many choose to have no party affiliation at all. At its core, running as an Independent candidate means prioritizing voters over party loyalty.

Why More Candidates Are Running as Independents

Many Independent candidates don’t start out wanting to disrupt the system. They step up because no one else will.

Kevin Moxley, who’s running for state legislature in Idaho, put it plainly: “I felt like someone needed to run. I don't necessarily believe that I am the most qualified candidate, but I decided I was the one that was going to have to have the courage to do it, so here I am.”

That sense of civic responsibility, not partisan ambition, motivates many Independent politicians. They may also be frustrated by hyper-partisanship and legislative gridlock.

“The Democrats go to their corner, and the Republicans go to their corner, and in state houses that have supermajorities, the minority is just basically fighting bad legislation all the time. They can't really get any of their priorities through,” explained Moxley. “As an Independent, I think that I could affect bad legislation and make it palatable and possibly even get some of my own legislation through working with both parties.”

For many candidates, running Independent is about flexibility. It’s about being able to collaborate across ideological lines and focus on results instead of partisan wins.

What Do Independent Candidates Stand For?

There is no single ideology that defines an Independent candidate.

Unlike major-party candidates, Independents aren’t required to adopt a pre-written platform. That means their political positions vary widely.

Independent candidates may be:

• Fiscally conservative
• Socially progressive
• Libertarian-leaning
• Centrist or moderate
• Community-first pragmatists
• Nonpartisan reformers

What unites them is not ideology, but independence from party control.

As Andy Fekete, elected to the school board in Huntley, Illinois, in 2025, put it: “Partisan politics does not have a place on our school boards, in our communities, or in our schools. Students come to us from many, many backgrounds and beliefs. We need to create learning environments that support all of our families.”

He added, “My personal politics do not belong in school or on the school board. This is an Independent, nonpartisan role and an Independent, nonpartisan race.”

For many Independent politicians, especially at the local level, the goal is simple: Keep national party politics out of community governance.

How Do Independent Candidates Get on the Ballot?

One of the biggest barriers facing an Independent candidate is ballot access. Unlike Democratic and Republican nominees in many races, Independents typically must:

• Collect a required number of voter signatures
• Submit paperwork without party infrastructure support
• Pay filing fees
• Meet strict deadlines

Ballot access laws vary by state and office, but they are often more demanding for Independent candidates than for major-party candidates. Because of these barriers, some Independents choose to run as write-in candidates. However, write-in campaigns face additional challenges, like lower campaign visibility and higher voter education hurdles.

While these barriers are significant, they also serve as early tests of grassroots strength. Collecting signatures forces Independent candidates to start organizing and building real community relationships early.

LEARN MORE: If you want a deeper dive into ballot access laws and strategy, explore our guide on how Independent candidates get on the ballot.

The Challenges of Running as an Independent Candidate

Running as an Independent candidate is not easy. Without party backing, Independent politicians often lack:

• Automatic fundraising networks
• Party voter databases
• Institutional endorsements
• Media amplification

In a system where party labels often act as shortcuts for voters, Independent candidates must work harder to build name recognition and credibility. But being an Independent can also be an advantage, especially at a time when the number of Americans identifying as Independent is so high.

Missy Evans, newly elected mayor of Hartzell, Alabama, built her campaign around community collaboration.

“Our campaign slogan was, ‘Let's get moving,’ and that really was intentionally meant to reflect a couple of different things,” she said. “First of all, a more collaborative approach to our community. The incumbent was historically less interested in engaging the voices of the community. We're a town of about 15,000, and there's a lot of growth happening around us here in north Alabama. There's a general consensus that the growth is leaving our community out.”

That collaborative focus often resonates more than party branding in local elections.

The Role of Independent Candidates in Local Elections

Independent candidates are often most competitive at the local level. Many local elections are nonpartisan by nature, so party labels aren’t even relevant or printed on ballots.

Additionally, voters in local elections tend to prioritize things that Independent campaigns can easily connect with, like:

• Community building
• Practical problem-solving
• Transparency and accountability
• Nonpartisan governance

In races for offices like school board, city council, and even mayor, party labels frequently matter less than lived experience and trust. Independent politicians can center their campaigns on local issues rather than national culture wars. That flexibility allows them to build broad coalitions across ideological lines.

And increasingly, Independents are winning.

Local victories demonstrate that voters are willing to choose independence when candidates clearly articulate their values and show up for their communities.

LEARN MORE: See how Independent candidates won their local elections.

Independent Candidates vs. the Two-Party System

The United States operates within a powerful two-party structure that controls everything from debate access and ballot rules to fundraising networks and media narratives. This structure makes it difficult for Independent candidates to compete on a level playing field, particularly in national races. But dissatisfaction with the two-party system is growing.

Many voters feel:

• Forced to vote strategically rather than authentically
• Frustrated by partisan gridlock
• Unrepresented by either major party
• Disillusioned by donor-driven politics

Independent candidates offer an alternative. They create space for leadership based on community priorities rather than party strategy.

If you’re considering running as an Independent, you don’t have to navigate this system alone.

GoodParty.org supports Independent, nonpartisan, and third-party candidates by providing free and low-cost campaign strategy tools, voter outreach support, and community and training resources.

Our goal is simple: level the playing field so Independent politicians can compete and win.

If you’re tired of waiting for the “perfect” candidate, you might be the one your community needs.

Photo by Ninthgrid on Unsplash