Former Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., on Friday announced the launch of the Independent Leadership Council (ILC) to elect independent candidates to Congress.

Manchin previously served as a Democratic senator from 2010-2025, though he left the party in 2024 amid frustrations over partisanship and intense backlash from within his party over his votes.

Speaking to CNN, Manchin insisted that he was not seeking to launch a third-party, but merely to put independent voices in both chambers.

“We’re trying to get a person who can be committed to – and totally committed to – being an independent with an independent voice," he added. "They can vote with Democrats and Republicans when they’re right and speak out against them when they’re wrong.”

Congress currently has few independents, with Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Angus King, I-Maine, both caucusing with the Democrats. 

The sole independent member of the House is Rep. Kevin Kiley, Calif.; who left the Republican Party after California redrew his district, in an apparent attempt to stay electorally viable.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.