About us

United in a mission to give independent Americans a voice

Our Mission

Independent voters are now the third force in American politics.

To win, Republicans and Democrats now rely on independent voters to swing their way. Since neither party has enough base support, independent voters are in a powerful position.

It's time we organize.

The Independent Center’s mission is to be the resource hub and champion for the millions of Americans who believe we share common ground.

Through our research, events, and outreach we will highlight, promote, and ensure our politicians are held accountable for their promises to independent voters and all Americans.

The Statue of Liberty in the brand colors of the Independent Center

Our Values

Choice

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to choose the best options for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Social Tolerance

We are tolerant of differences, and we understand that we need to treat others with empathy, trust and fairness—just as we want to be treated.

Fiscal Focus

We want common-sense solutions that preserve and respect our freedoms and allow us to choose the best solutions to the problems our nation faces. We believe in equal opportunity and merit.

Our Common-Sense Solutions

Leadership

As the world’s largest economy and most vibrant democracy, America’s leadership has benefited its citizens throughout history. To secure our ambitions and dreams, we must strengthen our military and ensure its continued global advantage. Our economy and citizens' well-being are increasingly interdependent on strong international alliances and partnerships. The American Dream resonates worldwide, and we must actively work to uphold its ideals—empowering individuals and setting an example through the strength of our institutions and government.

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Relevant issues:
Trump Administration
Independent Representatives
Military + Defense
Entrepreneurship
U.S. Senate
Foreign Policy
American Dream
Government

Growth and Abundance

Growth and abundance are essential to improving quality of life and raising our standard of living. By fostering innovation and expanding opportunities, we enable Americans to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals. To stay competitive, we must embrace modernization, encourage competition, and support individual ambition. A thriving economy—driven by productivity, job creation, and entrepreneurship—provides the resources necessary for a prosperous and self-sustaining nation.

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Relevant issues:
Rights
Entrepreneurship
Innovation
Farm + Food
Budget
Student Loans
American Dream
Housing
Trade
Tariffs
Inflation
Tax
Medicare
Social Security
Debt + Deficit

Civic Responsibility

Civic responsibility is the foundation of strong, resilient communities and a thriving nation. Each of us has a role to play in shaping our society. Safe, vibrant communities, volunteerism, and philanthropy should be supported—not replaced—by distant and impersonal government bureaucracy. Our greatest strengths lie in our commitment to social tolerance, religious freedom, and cultural diversity.

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Relevant issues:
Health
Community Safety
Rights
Crime + Justice
Polling
Independent Voters
American Dream
Energy + Environment
Primaries
Education

Human Dignity

Human dignity is rooted in the fundamental need for health, education, and safety at the individual, family, and community levels. Achieving this requires aligning economic growth, civic responsibility, and an effective government. Our future depends on a strong, healthy population and a sustainable environment that fosters opportunity and long-term prosperity.

Get Involved
Relevant issues:
Health
Community Safety
Rights
Crime + Justice
Farm + Food
Political Violence
Student Loans
American Dream
Housing
Medicare

Effective Government

An effective government is one that is smaller, focused, and fit-for-purpose. We must move away from an overburdened and overreaching bureaucracy that stifles progress. Addressing our mounting debt and deficit requires bold, strategic reforms to reimagine the role of government programs. A modernized, efficient government can enhance economic vitality and civic engagement while restoring public trust in our institutions.

Get Involved
Relevant issues:
Trump Administration
Independent Representatives
Partisan Politics
Military + Defense
U.S. Senate
Filibuster
Foreign Policy
DOGE
Budget
Independent Voters

Independent Center FAQs

What is the Independent Center?

What is the Independent Center's core beliefs and values?

How do I get more involved with the Independent Center?

How does the Independent Center do its polling?

How can I learn more about registering and voting as an independent?

Team Members, Advisors, and Partners

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Lura Forcum

President
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What do you do at the Independent Center?

What do you bring to the team?

Why are you an Independent?

What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

What’s your go-to book, podcast, or show right now?

If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Adam Brandon

Senior Advisor
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A Conversation with Adam

What do you do at the Independent Center?

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Why are you an Independent?

What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

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If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Kristina Crane

Operations Manager
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What do you do at the Independent Center?

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Why are you an Independent?

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If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Justin Longo

Director of Communications
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A Conversation with Justin

What do you do at the Independent Center?

I serve as the connection between the Independent Center and the media, the press, members of Congress, and our community of independent voters. My responsibility is to convey our message to our audiences and enhance exposure for the IC brand. In other words, I am on a never-ending quest for eyes and ears.

What do you bring to the team?

I have over 15 years of experience in communications and media relations, most of which was spent at the state level in Colorado. I co-founded, edited, managed, and eventually sold the most successful independent newspaper in the state. Additionally, I co-founded Liberty on the Rocks, a global network of happy hour meetup groups.

Why are you an Independent?

I am an independent because I don't subscribe to or have any faith in the two major parties. I have watched them both harm America for 25 years, and I want to help create a third way out of this mess.

What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

The biggest misconception about independents is that they are merely third-party voters. In reality, independents vote for Republicans and Democrats. The key difference is that independents are open to voting for whoever they believe is the best choice at the time. They feel like any candidate can earn their vote, regardless of political affiliation.

What’s your go-to book, podcast, or show right now?

I have been enjoying listening to Modern Wisdom, hosted by Chris Williamson.

If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

I would love to sit down with musician Lou Reed. I would pepper him with questions about the Velvet Underground and what it was like to lead a revolution in NYC during the mid-1960s.

Eric Harrison

Policy Analyst
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A Conversation with Eric

What do you do at the Independent Center?

TL;DR: I read and write. I’m on the policy team, and my role is to stay up-to-date on what works and what doesn’t in public policy. I also monitor Congress's machinations to help keep the IC aware of what’s happening.

What do you bring to the team?

I’m a researcher at heart. I love research methodology and answering questions. I’ve been lucky to do that in congressional and state legislative offices as well as non-partisan groups like The Council of State Governments.

Why are you an Independent?

To quote Lewis Black “A Republican stands up in Congress and says 'I GOT A REALLY BAD IDEA!!' and the Democrat stands up after him and says 'AND I CAN MAKE IT SHITTIER!!”

What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

Bitterness towards the two-party duopoly is not the underlying philosophy. Independents actually have a remarkably cohesive approach to public policy. Good public policy needs a variety of ideas to sharpen and hone each other to be better.

What’s your go-to book, podcast, or show right now?

Right now a lot of Cal Newport and Ryan Holliday. Chef’s Table on Netflix. Heavy Metal 101and Dracula: The Danse Macabre are a couple of fun podcasts.

If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Anthony Bourdain at some random coffee shop in Sana’a or Aden. The conversation about the cultural impact of food and his philosophy around it would be second to none. Doing it on one of the oldest coffee cultures in the world is just a cherry on top.

Jason Pye

Senior Policy Advisor
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A Conversation with Jason

What do you do at the Independent Center?

My primary job is to keep our community informed about policy issues that may come up in the news. I’ve come to enjoy explaining how Congress works or why certain things are done the way they are. Because of the nature of my job, I spend much of my time researching and writing.

What do you bring to the team?

The main thing I bring to the Independent Center is a vast knowledge of Congress and the lawmaking process, as well as an in-depth understanding of several policy issues, such as budget and appropriations, healthcare, and immigration. I like to nerd out on this stuff.

Why are you an Independent?

I tried to do the party thing, and I realized that what I believe doesn’t fit neatly inside any particular box. I have fairly progressive viewpoints on social issues, but I view solutions to our fiscal and economic problems through a market lens. Party and ideological politics are just another thing used to divide us.

What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

That they may lean toward one party or another. Take the issues that are getting a lot of coverage in any given week, independent voters will agree with the Democratic perspective on one but with the Republican perspective on another. I think independent voters have something that’s missing from the conversation on any given policy issue, and that’s empathy.

What’s your go-to book, podcast, or show right now?

America’s Philosopher: John Locke in American Intellectual Life

If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

I would probably say Thomas Jefferson. He was clearly an incredibly smart person, but he was also as complex and hypocritical. I want to know what was going through his mind when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. I want to ask him if he didn’t see the clear contradiction of writing “all men are created equal” while also owning people as property. I want to know why he waited so long to reconcile with John Adams.

Parissa Sedghi

Operations Advisor
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What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

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If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Daniel Schnur

Board Member
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What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

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If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

William Yu

IC Contributor
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Ethan Nelson

Data + Marketing Specialist
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Kyle Simpson

President Of KSE LLC
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If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Vance Reavie

Tech + Strategy Specialist
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Gabriel Mitchell

Data Storyteller
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If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Holden Lipscomb

Senior Content Strategist
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A Conversation with Holden

What do you do at the Independent Center?

I focus on planning and developing content that meets strategic goals and community needs and work closely across departments to ensure a cohesive strategy across all channels.

What do you bring to the team?

I received my MA in Religion, Politics, and Conflict from the University of Virginia. This provides me with a background in how to negotiate, compromise, and address the (often) competing concerns and considerations of various stakeholders. Similar to what we’re trying to do with political polarization!

Why are you an Independent?

Being an independent gives me the freedom to acknowledge when both Republicans or Democrats make valid points or arguments, without being arbitrarily tied to a label that fails to reflect the complexity and nuance of today’s issues.

What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

Whenever you have an honest conversation about the independent movement, almost everyone will immediately say, “I completely agree with you!” There’s strength in numbers and almost everyone agrees that the status quo isn’t working. The potential of this movement is tremendous.

What’s your go-to book, podcast, or show right now?

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela

If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Winston Churchill. The coffee would be almost guaranteed to be followed by brandy and champagne. Plus he’s known to take mid-day naps… Need I say more?

Brett Loyd

Polling + Research Specialist
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What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

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If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

Melanie Aycock

Design + Marketing Specialist
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Why are you an Independent?

What’s one thing you think people misunderstand about independent voters?

What’s your go-to book, podcast, or show right now?

If you could have a coffee chat with any historical or current figure, who would it be and why?

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