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

Former Senator Joe Manchin has launched the Independent Leadership Council to support independent candidates during the 2026 midterms. According to its website, the council serves as an opportunity to fix politics. Manchin argues that the US requires leaders who are free from party control to effectively govern. This new political push focuses on backing candidates who operate outside the traditional two-party system to bring about systemic change within the American political landscape for the upcoming elections.