Former Manchin launches independent candidate network

Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has launched a new political organization aimed at recruiting and supporting independent candidates for Congress, marking his most significant return to the political arena since retiring from the Senate in January 2025. The initiative, called the Independent Leadership Council, held its inaugural meeting in West Virginia on Thursday, July 23, 2026, bringing together a slate of unaffiliated candidates from across the country.

Manchin, who served as a Democrat from 2010 until switching his party affiliation to independent in 2024, emphasized that the council is not an attempt to form a third party. He described it instead as an effort to build a network for candidates committed to a centrist, independent voice. In an interview, Manchin said the goal is to support individuals who can vote with either major party when they agree and speak out against them when they disagree. He argued that even a small bloc of independent lawmakers could break legislative gridlock in a closely divided Congress, stating that they could force colleagues to compromise.

The council's initial efforts are focused on several competitive races in the 2026 midterm...