Maps show where independent candidates are rejecting both parties

A growing number of candidates are seeking federal office without the backing of either major party, as more Americans identify as political independents heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

A Newsweek analysis of independent congressional candidate lists found 217 entries across U.S. House and Senate races in the 2026 cycle: 170 for the House and 47 Senate hopefuls.

When multiple candidates running in the same House district or Senate state are combined, the lists cover 153 distinct contests—129 House districts or at-large seats and 24 Senate races. The largest concentrations appear in Texas, Illinois, New York, California, Washington and Virginia.

The surge comes as the country’s main political parties—Democrats and Republicans—gear up for an election that will decide whether President Donald Trump’s GOP retains control of one or both chambers in Congress, or if the current minority party has done enough to win back voters after its 2024 disappointment.

Independents win seats at a far lower rate than the main parties, but with growth from democratic socialists on the left, and shifting voter sentiment, November could mark a sea change.

“The Republicans are definitely dragged down this year by Trump’s unpopularity, which helps the Democrats,” Michael S. Kang, a professor covering voting rights at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, told Newsweek. “But the Democratic brand is still not very strong either. So there’s opportunity perhaps for independent candidates to separate themselves from both and attract voters who aren’t excited about either major party right now.”

Sentiments Shift as Midterms Loom

The rise in independent candidates is visible in filings as well as voter sentiment. The ones listed in the House data span from Alaska’s at-large district to Wyoming’s at-large seat, while the Senate list includes candidates in states including California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

The surge reflects deep dissatisfaction with the two-party system at a moment when both Democrats and Republicans are struggling with voter confidence, even though the independent label itself does not represent a unified ideology.

While independent candidates still face steep structural barriers—including fundraising, ballot access, party infrastructure and voter concerns about “spoiler” effects—the spread across House and Senate races suggests the 2026 midterms are becoming a test of whether anti-party sentiment can translate into viable campaigns.

“With more Americans identifying as independents than at any point in recent history, it’s no surprise more candidates are choosing to run outside the two-party system,” Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano told Newsweek on Friday. “Voters are looking for leaders who can build broad coalitions — not just appeal to partisan bases. Winning as an independent remains an uphill battle, but where elections reward candidates for earning majority support, independents have shown they can be competitive.”

Independent Candidates Across the US

The House candidate list examined by Newsweek includes independent candidates in 42 states or territories, with the largest number in Texas, New York, Illinois, California, Washington and Virginia. Texas had 15 House independent candidate entries, followed by New York with 14, Illinois with 12, California and Washington with 11 apiece and Virginia with 10.

The Senate list included 47 independent candidate entries across 24 states. Tennessee and South Carolina each had four, while Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Texas showed three apiece.

The maps also show that independent activity is not confined to one political region. Candidates appear in deep-red states, Democratic strongholds and battleground states.

That fits with the broader pattern described by an Independent Center analysis that argued recent coverage has shown “voters are drifting away from both major parties” while independent candidates and election-reform campaigns pick up traction in places that have traditionally been treated as safely red or blue.

The Independent Center report pointed to Colorado as a key example, saying unaffiliated voters there now outnumber registered Democrats and Republicans combined. It also argued that some reform groups are increasingly focused not just on electing independent candidates but on changing election rules, including open primaries and ranked-choice voting.

Bernard Tamas, professor of political science at Valdosta State University in Georgia, told Newsweek that it was important to note that not all primaries were complete, meaning the list of candidates was not complete.

“If they do increase, it would reverse a trend that has lasted over a quarter of a century,” Tamas said of independent candidates.

“In 2000, the number of House districts with third-party candidates reached its highest level since the 1930s. Specifically, the year 2000 saw 559 third-party and independent U.S. House candidates, the highest number since at least 1932.”

The Senate Flashpoints

Two of the highest-profile independent Senate bids are in Montana and Nebraska.

In Montana, Seth Bodnar, former president of the University of Montana, is running as an independent for U.S. Senate.

“I think you see an American populace that is fed up with a system that’s not working for them,” Bodnar said in an interview with Newsweek. “We see, again, national political leaders who, again are not working to quell the fires of division in this country, but rather they’re bringing the gasoline. And they’re bringing that gasoline, they’re pouring it on that fire of division.”

The candidate said he felt that “a large number of us feel not well-served by the current two-party system.”

In Nebraska, Dan Osborn has become one of the most prominent independent candidates in the country after his closer-than-expected 2024 Senate race. Speaking to Newsweek in March, he also addressed the issue of the two main parties and their leadership.

“Dysfunctional,” Osborn said. “What I see from the outside looking in is—I see a Congress that takes money from special interests, lobbyists and corporations… I want to take my orders from the people of Nebraska, the way the framers of the Constitution intended this to be, a government by and for the people…”

Those races underscore one of the central tensions facing independent candidates: They often campaign on frustration with both parties, but opponents frequently try to define them as aligned with one side or the other.

The Voter Backdrop

The candidate surge coincides with a changing national party-identification landscape.

According to a study published in January, Gallup found that the 45 percent of Americans identifying as independents in 2025 broke down as 20 percent Democratic-leaning, 15 percent Republican-leaning and 10 percent who did not lean toward either party.

Taking party identification and leanings together, Gallup found that Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents had a 47 percent to 42 percent edge over Republicans or Republican-leaning ones in 2025.

Gallup attributed part of the rise in independent identification to younger generations. It reported that majorities of Gen Z adults and millennials identified as independents in 2025, while more than four in 10 Gen X adults did the same. By contrast, one-third or less of baby boomers and Silent Generation adults identified as politically independent.

That generational divide could matter beyond 2026. If younger voters continue to reject formal party identification at higher rates, independent candidates may find larger audiences, even if the mechanics of winning remain difficult.

The Challenge for Independents

Independent candidates face practical hurdles that Democrats and Republicans often avoid. Major-party candidates typically benefit from built-in ballot access, donor networks, voter files and party infrastructure. Independents often have to build those systems from scratch.

“There are a number of reasons why third parties are more likely to run candidates in some years and not others. For example, the Libertarian Party nearly collapsed after the 2024 election due to severe internal conflict. Such internal conflicts can undermine a party’s ability to mount many campaigns,” Tamas said.

The candidates directory notes that independent hopefuls generally must collect signatures from registered voters for ballot access, with thresholds varying widely by state. It cites examples ranging from roughly 1,000 signatures in Tennessee to about 90,000 in California for statewide office.

That makes the current spread of independent candidates notable, but not necessarily predictive of election success. Some may fail to qualify for the ballot, some may run symbolic campaigns and others may face pressure from major-party voters who fear that a third option could split the electorate.

Still, the map of independent candidates shows that the two-party system is facing challenges in more places than just a handful of marquee races. Whether those candidates win or lose, their presence points to a wider political mood: A large share of voters no longer sees either party as a natural home.

What Happens Next

The key test will be whether independent candidates can convert dissatisfaction into votes, fundraising and ballot access.

If candidates such as Bodnar in Montana or Osborn in Nebraska remain competitive, other political outsiders may see 2026 as proof that bypassing party primaries is no longer merely a protest tactic. But if most independent candidates fail to break through, the surge may instead reinforce the durability of the Democratic and Republican machines.

For now, the map tells a clearer story than any one race: Independent candidates are not appearing in isolated pockets. They are running from Alaska to Florida, from New York to Texas, and in Senate races across the country—mirroring a national electorate in which nearly half of adults now say they do not identify with either major party.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Edward T. Cummins.