Independent Leadership Council Groups Surpass $10 Million in Funding

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independent Leadership Council (ILC), a national organization co-founded by Heather Manchin, Adam Brandon and Seth Cohen to support independent leaders in Congress, along with its related PAC, announced today that it has raised more than $10 million since its launch in July, demonstrating growing momentum and support for an alternative to the two-party gridlock that has come to define American politics.

The funding comes from a broad coalition of Democrats, Republicans and independents united by a shared conviction: the political system no longer reflects the people it serves. Nearly half of Americans identify as independent or unaffiliated, and in 106 congressional districts and 16 states, unaffiliated voters outnumber voters registered with either major party. Yet today, not one member of Congress was elected as an independent and governs without caucusing with either party. That is an extraordinary disconnect between the country and the people representing it.

The ILC believes this convergence of growing independent identification, deep dissatisfaction with both parties and historically narrow congressional margins has created a unique opening for independent leadership. In a closely divided Congress, it doesn't take dozens of independents to change the dynamic. It only takes a few members of Congress to shift the balance of power away from the parties and to the people.

"We have seen what can happen when neither party can take a consequential vote for granted, and Senator Manchin brings invaluable lived experience of exactly that to the leadership of this effort," said Adam Brandon, co-founder of the Independent Leadership Council. Brandon continued, "For years, Americans have said they want better choices. We want  to prove those choices can win and go on to make a real difference. A few true independents in a closely divided Congress can shift meaningful leverage away from party leadership and back toward the people, demonstrating an entirely new model for governing. Surpassing $10 million gives us the resources to begin proving it."

Heather Manchin added, "Independent leadership isn't about standing alone. It's about having the freedom to think independently and the leverage to bring both sides to the table. We aren't trying to replace the Republican Party or the Democratic Party, and we aren't building another party. We're creating the conditions for leaders to answer to the people who elected them instead of the political machinery that too often determines who runs, who wins and how Washington governs." Manchin continued, "We fully expect to double our current number in the weeks ahead as the candidates we support demonstrate that they can win and will change the way Washington operates by refusing to caucus with either party."

The ILC's mission rests on three commitments: restoring fair competition to a political system currently controlled by two parties that protect incumbents over voters; supporting leaders willing to find real solutions instead of engaging in partisan gridlock; and holding elected officials genuinely accountable to the people they serve, not to party leadership.

In the coming weeks, the ILC and Independent PAC will announce support for a slate of independent candidates running for the U.S. House and Senate, with the strongest opportunities coming out of the West and Midwest. What unites these candidates is not ideology, but a shared commitment: each is pledging not to caucus with either party once elected. In addition, each candidate has expressed a willingness to work to find common-sense solutions to the challenges facing America today and has a viable path to victory.

The ILC was launched in July following a national convening at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, bringing together leaders, funders, and independent candidates from across the country under a shared platform focused on fair competition, common-sense solutions, and government accountability.

About the Independent Leadership Council

The Independent Leadership Council is a national organization dedicated to supporting independent-minded leaders in Congress who refuse to caucus with either political party and commit to full transparency and accountability to the voters they serve. Learn more.

Independent PAC is a federal hybrid PAC dedicated to supporting independent candidates through independent advocacy efforts. Learn More.

Media Contacts:
Alex Comisar | [email protected] | (214) 728-4909
Liam Dineen-Herzog | [email protected] | (475) 204-1155

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SOURCE Independent Leadership Council