Shawn Griffiths
WASHINGTON, D.C. — One week after hosting its inaugural event in DC, the founders of The Independent Center announced the formation of the Independent PAC, a hybrid political action committee designed to do one thing: deny the two major parties a majority in Congress.
“You take five seats, you change everything in this town,” said Adam Brandon, Senior Advisor to Independent PAC.
“With both houses so closely divided, a small group of independent representatives can achieve outsized impact that will advance the shared issues and values of independent-minded Americans and strike back at the influence and power of extremists on both sides.”
And by closely divided, it’s worth noting that the GOP’s majority in the House is 50.6% – meaning it would only take a few seats to flip the majority.
Independent PAC is betting on a simple but seismic shift — that a handful of truly independent lawmakers could hold the balance of power in an increasingly polarized legislature, forcing compromise and breaking the stranglehold of partisanship.
It’s not the first time the plan has been proposed. The strategy – known as the “fulcrum strategy” – originated with election reform pioneer and businessman Peter Ackerman and dates back to 2012. Other people involved with the proposition were John Robinson, Thomas Layton, Ryan Ross, Kahlil Byrd, and Cara Brown McCormick.
It was also a key part of Charles Wheelan’s Centrist Manifesto, published in 2013, and was adopted by his better elections group Unite America in 2014, back when it was called The Centrist Project.
The Independent PAC has emerged at a time when voter frustration with the two-party system is at its highest recorded levels. Despite independents making up the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. electorate, they remain largely shut out of political representation.
“In my 20 years, I’ve never seen such a wave of opportunity for independent candidates,” said Brett Loyd, a partner with Independent PAC. “Every cycle, the number of independent candidates at all levels has been growing dramatically. Voters want more choices.”
Independent PAC plans to provide those choices by identifying strong, viable independents and giving them the resources and strategic muscle needed to win.
From campaign financing to voter outreach, the PAC is building a full-service political infrastructure to elevate independent candidates and disrupt the unresponsive and unrepresentative status quo in D.C.
This is something independent candidates who enter the electoral arena tend to lack and one of the many things that give party candidates a seemingly insurmountable advantage – that and the system is designed to disadvantage candidates outside the two major parties.
“With our new capabilities, we’re ready to give independents the tools, funding, and strategic support they need to drive real change,” Loyd added.
The Independent Center says this isn’t just about a new PAC. It’s about a movement. The group has already laid a foundation with its research, education, and advocacy. It is now expanding its mission with a direct-action arm that will engage in electoral politics and policy advocacy.
At the heart of the strategy:
- Grassroots organizing,
- Campaign infrastructure, and
- A renewed focus on issue-based coalitions
As partisan gridlock, ideological extremism, and performative politics dominate headlines, Independent PAC hopes to carve a new path — one driven by consensus, accountability, and common sense.
“The two-party system isn’t working for most Americans,” said Brandon. “We’re not here to prop up one side or the other. We’re here to empower the middle, the forgotten majority, and create a new kind of political leverage rooted in independence.”
It remains to be seen how successful the Independent PAC will be. The Independent Center has connected with big names in the US political sphere, like former US Sen. Joe Manchin, who can help raise awareness and bring attention to the effort.
There are many systemic barriers to entry and longevity to such efforts. However, with the balance of Congress resting on a handful of seats, the Independent PAC hopes that five voices in the middle can shout louder than a hundred at the extremes.