Former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin has launched a new organization, the Independent Leadership Council, which aims to support political candidates who operate outside the traditional two-party system. Manchin stated that the council is not intended to form a new political party but rather to foster leaders who can "be committed to—and totally committed to—being an independent with an independent voice."
According to Manchin, these independent candidates would be empowered to align with Democrats or Republicans when their policies are deemed correct, and to publicly oppose them when they are not. He expressed optimism that this approach could influence the 2028 presidential race, viewing the current effort as a pilot program to demonstrate the viability of independent leadership.
The council's website frames its mission as an "opportunity to fix politics," asserting that decades of partisanship have created divisions that many Americans do not want. The organization proposes charting a "new path that gives leaders the freedom to serve people, not parties."
If the council decides to back candidates, it plans to offer assistance with campaigning, fundraising, and on-the-ground organizing. Heather Manchin, who is involved with the initiative, described it as an experiment designed to "prove it can be done."