Joe Manchin is launching a new independent network

Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has launched the Independent Leadership Council (ILC) to recruit and elect independent candidates to Congress. The organization aims to build infrastructure and strategize for candidates running outside the Democratic and Republican parties. This effort follows a Gallup poll indicating that a record 45% of Americans identify as political independents. Manchin, 78, will lead the group to support independent candidates in competitive congressional races across the country.