Political Wire

SubscribeSign in
  • Front Page
  • Trending
  • Polling
  • Trial Balloon
  • Books
  • Membership
    • Members FAQ
    • Exclusive Analysis
    • My Favorites
  • Sign In
Theme
Text size

Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 195

Shake Up

A new episode of Trial Balloon just dropped for Political Wire members. Log in or become a member

Trial Balloon · Ep. 195: Shake Up

What Is Tucker Carlson Teasing?

August 5, 2026 · 11:13 am ET · Leave a Comment

Tucker Carlson said he’s sharing something with his followers at 6 p.m. ET.

Said Carlson: “MAGA was betrayed. We all were. It’s time for a new path forward.”

Third Parties

Can Independents Win?

August 4, 2026 · 6:00 pm ET · Leave a Comment

The Economist: “Running as an independent is sufficiently difficult that, at least historically, few politicians have deemed it wise to do so. Independent candidates lack the campaign infrastructure of an established party and, in many states, must collect more signatures to earn a place on a ballot. However aspiring politicians now face a shifting set of odds.”

“Last year 45% of Americans identified as independent, the highest share since at least 1988, according to Gallup. Those independents are, in turn, five percentage points more likely to lean Democratic than Republican. Centrists who might have formerly identified as Democrats are taking note.”

Third Parties, Trends

Carlson and Greene Plot ‘America First’ Party

August 1, 2026 · 3:25 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Former Republicans Majorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson are apparently serious about their plans to launch a new political party — and they’ve got some help too,” Mediaite reports.

“Greene posted a picture on Saturday of her and her new husband Brian Glenn sitting at a wooden table headed by Carlson, who was flanked by lame duck Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and another ex-fan of President Donald Trump: Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center who quit earlier this year in protest of the Iran war. Massie and Kent’s wife are also seated at the table.”

Said Greene: “We said no more foreign wars and we meant it and supported Donald Trump because he made that promise. But he’s betrayed us all. Our commitment is America First for all Americans, right, left, and center. The movement has begun.”

Third Parties

Limited-time offer

Try Political Wire Free for 60 days

Members get Talking Points analysis, Trending News, the Polling Dashboard, the Trial Balloon podcast, new site features and no ads.

Start your free trial.


Joe Manchin Wants to Elect More Independents

July 27, 2026 · 5:11 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“A year and a half after leaving office, former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is embarking on a new political chapter with an initiative designed to elect independents to Congress,” NPR reports.

Said Manchin: “The way the parties have weaponized the political process today, they make it impossible to have a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ next to your name and speak to the other side.”

2026 Campaign, Third Parties

Manchin Launches Council to Elect Independents

July 24, 2026 · 9:40 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is launching the Independent Leadership Council, a new effort to elect independent candidates to Congress that will focus first on competitive seats this election cycle,” Semafor reports.

Said Manchin: “We’re trying to build a true independent network. Not a third party, but a movement of people that will bring our country and the people who are participating in politics today more towards the center.”

CNN: Joe Manchin reenters the political orbit with a new independent experiment.

2026 Campaign, Third Parties

Libertarians Won’t Be On the Ballot in Georgia

July 11, 2026 · 6:47 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“One of the biggest wild cards in Georgia politics won’t be on the November ballot. It means there likely won’t be statewide runoff races in Georgia this year,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

“The Libertarian Party of Georgia said it can’t submit the roughly 72,000 signatures required by the Tuesday deadline to qualify statewide candidates for the ballot.”

“It means Georgia voters won’t have a Libertarian option in statewide races in November, removing third-party candidates that have repeatedly forced high-profile contests into overtime elections.”

Third Parties

Tucker Carlson Says He’s Starting a New Political Party

July 2, 2026 · 6:27 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Tucker Carlson intends to start a new political party after disavowing President Trump and the Republican Party over the Iran war,” the New York Post reports.

Said Carlson: “’I’m going to help build a third party. There should be a good-faith effort to figure out what benefits the country.”

Third Parties

Greene Says She May Launch a Third Party

July 1, 2026 · 9:50 am ET · Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) “revealed she is ‘in talks’ to launch a ‘true America-Focused’ political party, one week after she announced she was ditching the GOP,” Mediaite reports.

She added: “I’ll also say this — it’s going to take the American people to get involved, and the American people are the ones that really push campaigns. And so if the American people truly want to give a strong challenge to the failed two-party system of America, then they’re going to have to step up.”

Third Parties

No Labels Arizona Wants to Change Its Name

April 7, 2026 · 10:00 am ET · Leave a Comment

New York Times: “Democrats and Republicans alike have waged legal and rhetorical war over the name of the would-be Arizona Independent Party, underscoring the tension in the state as it enters a midterm election season with a lot on the line, including the governorship, the attorney general’s post and at least two U.S. House seats.”

“The fight centers on the use of the I-word, independent, the most common way to refer to the state’s many politically unaffiliated residents, who make up more than a third of its electorate.”

Third Parties

Record Number of Americans Identify as Independents

January 12, 2026 · 7:53 am ET · Leave a Comment

A new Gallup poll finds the share of American adults who identify as political independents hit a record high of 45% last year, Semafor reports.

The increase over the past high of 43%, recorded in 2014, 2023, and 2024, was partially driven by younger Americans increasingly identifying as independent.

Third Parties, Trends

Five Types of Independents

September 28, 2025 · 12:12 pm ET · Leave a Comment

CNN: “Among independents, there is a subset that rejects party labels but aligns closely with one of the two major parties on many issues, which we’re calling Democratic Lookalikes and Republican Lookalikes. The poll also identifies two groups that remix the definition of a traditional swing voter — the Disappointed Middle and the Upbeat Outsiders. A fifth group — The Checked Out — is largely uninterested in politics.”

Third Parties, Trends

Get Ready for an Independent Candidate Surge

August 25, 2025 · 8:03 am ET · Leave a Comment

NOTUS: “Inspired by Dan Osborn’s surprisingly strong showing in Nebraska, independents are jumping into races across the country.”

2026 Campaign, Third Parties

Elon Musk Pulls the Plug on Third Party

August 19, 2025 · 9:18 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Elon Musk is quietly pumping the brakes on his plans to start a political party,“ the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Musk has told allies that he wants to focus his attention on his companies and is reluctant to alienate powerful Republicans by starting a third party that could siphon off GOP voters.”

“Musk’s posture marks a shift from early last month, when he said he would form what he called the America Party to represent U.S. voters who are unhappy with the two major political parties.”

Third Parties

Most Voters Support a Third Party

July 31, 2025 · 9:00 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Elon Musk’s talk of a third political party is an idea supported by more than half of voters in the latest Fox News national survey – as long as that party isn’t linked to the billionaire.”

“By an 11-point margin, more voters think it is a good idea rather than a bad one for there to be a third major party (53% vs. 42%). That’s down from a 27-point spread in 2010, the most recent time Fox asked the question.”

“Independents – by a 44-point margin and Democrats – by 20 points say a third party is a good idea while Republicans think it’s a bad one by 9 points.”

Third Parties

The Never Mind Party

July 30, 2025 · 5:43 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Elon Musk’s new political party is so far a no-go on the launch pad,” Axios reports.

“The rockets-to-robotaxis billionaire hasn’t taken visible steps to make formal filings for the America Party, and once-frenetic whispers from third party consultants about working for him have gone radio silent.”

Third Parties

Democrats Welcome Elon Musk’s Third Party Threat

July 26, 2025 · 1:21 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Elon Musk is promising to shake up the midterms with his own political party. Democrats aren’t sweating it,” Politico reports.

“Musk’s yet-unfulfilled plans to form an ‘America Party’ could threaten Republicans already fighting to defend their seats by razor-thin margins in next year’s midterms elections, Democrats argued, by siphoning off more disgruntled conservatives from Republicans than disaffected liberals from the Democrats.”

Third Parties

Nearly Half Would Join Third Party

July 16, 2025 · 3:00 pm ET · Leave a Comment

A new Quinnipiac poll finds 49% of voters would consider joining a third party as an alternative to the Republican and Democratic parties, while 45% say they would not consider joining a third party.

Third Parties

Elon Musk Consulted Right-Wing Thinker on Third Party

July 9, 2025 · 12:21 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“As Elon Musk studies up on how to start a third political party, among the people from whom he has sought advice is a somewhat surprising choice of consultant: the right-wing blogger Curtis Yarvin, who is perhaps best known for advocating monarchism,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Yarvin is one of the most influential thinkers on the so-called tech right, where he has attracted attention for his oft-expressed distaste for traditional American democracy.”

Third Parties

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »
Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

More about Taegan Goddard →

Your Account

Members

For the full experience, sign in.

Become a Member

Read everything on Political Wire. No ads, Talking Points analysis, Trial Balloon podcast, new features and more.

  • Join Political Wire
  • Gift a Membership

Members Only

  • Weekly News Quiz
  • Schumer Has a Huge Advantage in Leadership Fight
  • The Three Forces Behind the Democratic Landslide
  • Bigger, Bluer Than Expected
  • Trump’s Successor Trap
  • Winning Elections Is Easier Than Governing

More members only posts →

Electoral Map Electoral Vote Map

222Democrat 97Toss-up 219Republican
270

Make your own map →

The starting map is built from how each state has voted compared with the country as a whole, not from how a state voted on its own. The last two presidential elections, with 2024 counting more than 2020. Then we…

Updated Nov. 4, 2026

?Political Trivia

  • The Way It Was →
  • Yea or Nay? →
  • Split Decision →
  • Pollster →
  • Daily Trivia →

Copyright © 2026 · Goddard Media LLC

Political Wire® is a registered trademark of Goddard Media LLC

Also from Goddard Media: Political Dictionary · Political Job Hunt · Electoral Vote Map

Privacy PolicyCorrections PolicyContact