In politics, an independent is a politician who is not affiliated with any political party. In countries with a two-party system, independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between the two parties, they may hold an extremist viewpoint that goes beyond that of either major parties, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they don't feel either party addresses. The name Independence Party can refer to various political parties throughout the world Canada - Independence Party of British Colombia Faroe Islands - Independence Party (Sjálvstýrisflokkurin) Iceland - Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) Morocco - Independence Party Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico Independence Party Taiwan - Taiwan Independence Party United Kingdom - United Kingdom Independence Party, Scottish Independence Party... There are several political parties called Independent Party: Uruguay Independent Party (Uruguay) United States Independent Party of Connecticut Independent Party of Delaware Independent Party of Oregon American Independent Party (California) United Kingdom United Kingdom Independence Party Defunct parties include: Independent Party (South Africa) Category: ... For other uses, see Politics (disambiguation). ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A two-party system is a form of party system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections. ... In politics, centrism usually refers to the political ideal of promoting moderate policies which land in the middle ground between different political extremes. ... Extremism is a term used to describe the actions or ideologies of individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common standards of ethics and reciprocity. ...

[edit] Australia

Independents have rarely been elected to the federal Parliament of Australia, although they tend to be more common in state parliaments. A large number of independents are former members of one of Australia's main parties, the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia or the National Party of Australia. Currently, two independents sit in the Australian House of Representatives: Tony Windsor from New South Wales and Bob Katter from Queensland. A third, Peter Andren, decided to leave his seat of Calare to run for the Senate at the 2007 general election, before being diagnosed with cancer. He later passed away on November 3, 2007, 21 days prior to the election.^[1] In the past, independent senators such as Brian Harradine have had considerable influence in the Senate. Type Bicameral Houses House of Representatives Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives David Hawker, Liberal Party since 16 November 2004 President of the Senate Alan Ferguson, Liberal Party since 14 August 2007 Members 226 (150 Representatives, 76 Senators) Political groups Liberal Party ALP National Party Country Liberal Party Greens... ALP redirects here. ... This article is about the modern Australian political party. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... Type Lower house Speaker of the House David Hawker, Liberal since November 16, 2004 Members 150 Political groups ALP (85) Liberal Party (53) National Party (10) Last elections 24 November 2007 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site House of Representatives Entrance to the House of Representatives Judicial High... Tony Windsor Antony Harold Curties Tony Windsor (born 2 September 1950), Australian politician, has been an independent member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2001, representing the Division of New England, New South Wales. ... NSW redirects here. ... Hon Bob Katter The Hon Robert Carl Bob Katter MP (born 22 May 1945), is an Australian politician. ... Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Motto(s): Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Anna Bligh (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd... Peter James Andren (born 28 August 1946), is an Australian politician. ... The Division of Calare is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. ... Type Upper house President Alan Ferguson, Liberal since 14 August 2007 Members 76 Political groups Coalition (39) ALP (28) Green (4) Democrat (4) FFP (1) Last elections 9 October 2004 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site Senate Entrance to the Senate Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State... The 2007 election for the federal Parliament of Australia, in which 13. ... is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Brian Harradine (born January 9, Australian politician, has been an independent member of the Australian Senate since 1975, representing the state of Tasmania. ...

Following the 2007 federal election, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter retained their seats, while Nick Xenophon was elected to the Senate. Independent Senators are quite rare. The next general election for the Parliament of Australia is expected to take place in late 2007, although it can be held as late as 19 January 2008. ... Hon. ... Type Upper house President Alan Ferguson, Liberal since 14 August 2007 Members 76 Political groups Coalition (39) ALP (28) Green (4) Democrat (4) FFP (1) Last elections 9 October 2004 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site Senate Entrance to the Senate Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State...

[edit] Canada

Independent politicians have held considerable sway in the Canadian House of Commons in recent years as Canada has been governed by successive minority governments with independent Members of Parliament (MPs) holding the balance of power. Type Lower House Speaker Peter Milliken, Liberal since January 29, 2001 Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Peter Van Loan, Conservative since January 4, 2007 Opposition House Leader Ralph Goodale, Liberal since January 23, 2006 Members 308 Political groups Conservative Party Liberal Party Bloc Québécois... For minority governments in general, see dominant minority. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office. ...

In the 2004 federal election, Chuck Cadman was elected to federal parliament as an independent MP representing the British Columbia riding of Surrey North. Cadman had previously represented that riding on behalf of the Reform Party of Canada and Canadian Alliance, but after the Canadian Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to form the new Conservative Party of Canada in 2003, Cadman lost the nomination to represent the Conservative Party in that riding to Jasbir Singh Cheema. Cadman then stood in the subsequent election as an independent and defeated Cheema, as well as the candidates of other Canadian parties, by a significant margin. The Canadian federal election, 2004 (more formally, the 38th general election), was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. ... Chuck Cadman Charles Chuck Cadman, (February 21, 1948 – July 9, 2005) was a Canadian politician and Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2005, representing the riding of Surrey North in Surrey, British Columbia. ... Motto: Splendor sine occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 36 Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 5th Total 944... For the song by Chamillionaire, see Ridin. In the British Isles since Anglo-Saxon times, a riding is traditionally a sub-division (especially in three) of a county[1]. The term has similar or analogous meanings in other countries. ... Surrey North is a Canadian federal riding in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. ... The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. ... The Canadian Alliance, formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance, was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Conservative Party of Canada (French: Parti conservateur du Canada), colloquially known as the Tories, is a conservative political party in Canada, formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in December 2003. ... Jasbir Singh Cheema is a Canadian television personality and politician. ...

In the spring of 2005, Cadman cast the tying vote in favor of a budget supported by the Liberal Party government of Paul Martin as well as the New Democratic Party (NDP), but opposed by the opposition Conservatives and Bloc Québécois. Two other independents also voted on that budget. Carolyn Parrish, independent MP for Mississauga—Erindale, had recently been kicked out of the Liberal Party for criticizing Prime Minister Martin but nonetheless sided with the Liberals on the budget vote. David Kilgour independent MP for Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, had previously quit the Liberal caucus and voted with the opposition parties against the budget. The tie vote required the Speaker of the House Peter Milliken to cast the deciding vote, and he did so in favor of the budget, allowing the government to survive. The Liberal Party of Canada (French: ), colloquially known as the Grits (originally Clear Grits), is a Canadian federal political party. ... For other uses, see Paul Martin (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Canadian political party. ... The Bloc Québécois (BQ) is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to the promotion of sovereignty for Quebec. ... Mark Critch (left), Carolyn Parrish (right) and a Bush doll, in a skit that led to her dismissal from the Liberal caucus. ... Mississauga—Erindale in relation to the other Toronto area ridings Mississauga—Erindale is a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004. ... This article is about the Canadian politician. ... Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada. ... Current house speaker Peter Milliken In Canada the Speaker of the House of Commons (French: Président de la Chambre des communes) is the presiding officer of the lower house and is elected by fellow MPs. ... Peter Andrew Stewart Milliken, MP, BA , MA , LL.B (born November 12, 1946) is a Canadian lawyer and politician. ...

Cadman was terminally ill with cancer at the time he cast his crucial vote, and he died later in 2005. In the 2006 federal election, his riding was won by NDP candidate Penny Priddy. Neither Parrish nor Kilgour (nor Pat O'Brien, MP for London—Fanshawe, who quit the Liberal Party to sit as an independent after the 2005 budget vote) stood for re-election in 2006. However another independent candidate, André Arthur, was elected in the Quebec riding of Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, and was the only independent to win a seat in that election. The overall election was won by the Conservative Party, but with another minority. The combined Conservative and NDP seats in parliament currently amount to 154 out of a total of 308, meaning that if the Conservatives and NDP vote together, Arthur too may find himself holding the balance of power. Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... Rendition of party representation in the 39th Canadian parliament decided by this election. ... Penny Priddy is a politician from British Columbia. ... Patrick Wayne Pat OBrien, M.Ed , BA (born January 13, 1948) is a former member of the Canadian House of Commons. ... London—Fanshawe is a federal and provincial electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons, and located in the province of Ontario. ... André Arthur M.P., is a radio host and politician from Quebec City. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier (formerly known as Portneuf) is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1867. ...

[edit] Ireland

Since the Irish general election in 2007, there are five Independent Teachtaí Dála (Members of Parliament) in Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Irish parliament). This is 3% of the total, 4 of these Independent have signed agreements to support the current Irish government. There are 7 Independent Senators in Seanad Éireann (the upper house of the Irish parliament). In countries where multi-seat, Single transferable vote constituencies exist, independents are more common. The Irish general election of 2007 took place on 24 May 2007 after the dissolution of the 29th Dáil by the President on 29 April 2007, at the request of the Taoiseach. ... A Teachta Dála (Irish for Dáil Deputy, pronounced chock-ta dawla) is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Irish Oireachtas or National Parliament. ... This article is about the current Irish body. ... The Government of the 30th Dáil will be appointed following the 30th Irish general election. ... Type Upper house of Oireachtas Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan, Fianna Fáil since 13 September 2007 Members 60 Political groups Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Party Independents Progressive Democrats Green Party Sinn Féin Last elections 2007 Meeting place Leinster House Web site www. ... This STV ballot for the Australian Senate illustrates group voting tickets. ...

[edit] Poland

Polish Sejm election ordination in practice does not allow single persons to run. There always are tickets composing multiples person, as every district is representing by multiple Sejm Members. Ordination is strictly proportional. Nearly all tickets are partisans. The Sejm building in Warsaw. ...

Home tickets just like Civic Platform during 2001 election, were formally non-partisan (just citizens committee), CP was widely viewed as de facto political party, as it's now. However during Sejm term many Sejm Members switched parties or became independents. Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska, PO), is a Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative Polish political party. ... This article is about the year. ...

In Senate elections there is different situation, as ordination allowed single candidates to run and some of them are elected as independents in their own.

Three Presidents since 1990 are technically independents. Lech Wałęsa was not a member of any party, but chairman of the Solidarity and he was elected without full support of this union (Solidarity votes splits between him and Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki). Aleksander Kwaśniewski was a leader of the Social Democratic of the Republic, but formally resigned from party after he was elected (however he was still close to party), as Lech Kaczyński, who was first leader of Law and Justice, did after get elected. He is also viewed as de facto member of his party. Following are the successive heads of state of Poland. ... This article is about the year. ... WaÅ‚Ä™sa redirects here. ... Solidarity (Polish: ; full name: Independent Self-governing Trade Union Solidarity — Niezależny SamorzÄ…dny ZwiÄ…zek Zawodowy Solidarność) is a Polish trade union federation founded in September 1980 at the then Lenin Shipyards, and originally led by Lech WaÅ‚Ä™sa. ... Tadeusz Mazowiecki (born April 18, 1927 in PÅ‚ock) is a Polish author, journalist, social worker and politician, formerly one of the leaders of the Solidarity movement, and the first non-communist prime minister in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II. Tadeusz Mazowiecki as Prime Minister of Poland... Aleksander KwaÅ›niewski ( ; born November 15, 1954) is a Polish politician who served as the President of Poland from 1995 to 2005. ...  , IPA: [] (born June 18, 1949) is the President of the Republic of Poland and a politician of the conservative party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (Law and Justice, PiS.) KaczyÅ„ski served as President of Warsaw from 2002 until December 22, 2005, the day before his presidential inauguration. ... Law and Justice (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS) is a Polish political party. ...

[edit] Philippines

Noli de Castro, the Philippines' current Vice President ran as senator in 2001 with no political party affiliation. He was an adopted candidate of the opposition Pwersa ng Masa coalition but he never joined their campaign rallies. He won in the senate race with the highest votes (then) in Philippine history. Manuel Noli Leuterio De Castro, Jr. ... Seal of the Vice President of the Philippines The Vice President of the Philippines is the second highest executive official of the Philippine government. ... Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno Court of Appeals · Sandiganbayan Court of Tax Appeals · Ombudsman Elections Commission on Elections 2007 | 2004 | 2001 | 1998 1995 | 1992 | 1987 | 1986 | All Foreign relations Human rights Political clans Other countries Politics Portal      Legislative elections and local elections were held in the Philippines on...

In most recent history, popular independent Philippine politicians include Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (former Oakwood mutiny leader) and Pampanga Governor Eddie "Among Ed" Panlilio. The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines. ... Antonio Fuentes Trillanes IV, (born August 6, 1971 in Manila, Philippines), is a detained Philippine Senator. ... The Oakwood Mutiny was a mutiny that occurred in the Philippines on July 27, 2003. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Pampanga Region: Central Luzon (Region III) Capital: City of San Fernando Founded: December 11, 1571 Population: 2000 census—1,882,730 (10th largest) Density—863 per km² (4th highest) Area: 2,180. ... Eduardo Among ED Tongol Panlilio is a Filipino Roman Catholic priest who was elected as the 26th governor of Pampanga province. ...

[edit] United Kingdom

Independent Members of Parliament were once frequently elected in Britain (List of UK minor party and independent MPs elected), but they have been much rarer in the last half-century. This is a list of members of the United Kingdom House of Commons, from 1919 onwards, who were elected as an independent or as a member of a minor political party. ...

Clare Short was elected as a Labour MP in 2005 UK general election but on 20 October 2006 resigned the Labour Whip although she is intending to attempt to remain a member of the Labour Party.^[2] Clare Short (born 15 February 1946) is a British politician and a member of the British Labour Party. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 and won by the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair. ... is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Two independent MPs were elected in the 2005 UK general election: Peter Law (MP for Blaenau Gwent), who died on April 25, 2006, and Richard Taylor, sole MP of the Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern party (for the Wyre Forest constituency). Dr Richard Taylor's election to Parliament is most notable for the fact that he is the only independent in recent times to have been re-elected for a second term. Since Peter Law's death, the by-election has yielded another independent MP - Dai Davies. News reporter Martin Bell was elected as an Independent MP for Tatton from 1997 to 2001 having stood on an anti-corruption platform. The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 and won by the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair. ... Peter John Law (1 April 1948 – 25 April 2006) was a Welsh politician. ... Blaenau Gwent is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dr Richard Thomas Taylor (born July 7, 1934) is an English medical doctor turned politician, and an independent Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest, having run as the Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern candidate. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Wyre Forest is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... David Clifford Davies, some times known as Dai Davies, (born 26 November 1959) is the Independent MP for Blaenau Gwent. ... For the British skier of the same name, please see Martin Bell (skier). ... Tatton is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

The UK House of Lords includes a large number of independent peers, who are usually known as crossbenchers. This article is about the British House of Lords. ... A cross-bencher is a member of the British House of Lords who is not aligned to any particular party. ...

The introduction of directly elected mayors in several parts of the UK saw the election of independent candidates to run councils in Stoke-on-Trent, Middlesbrough, Bedford, Hartlepool and Mansfield. The first Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, was originally elected as an independent having run against the official Labour candidate Frank Dobson. He was subsequently re-admitted to the Labour Party before his first re-election campaign. This page is about Stoke-on-Trent in England. ... This article is about the town in North East England. ... This article is about the English county town. ... , Hartlepool (IPA: ) is a North Sea port in North East England. ... , For other uses, see Mansfield (disambiguation). ... This article is about the elected mayor of Greater London. ... Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born 17 June 1945) is the outgoing Mayor of London, a post he has held from its creation in 2000 until 2008. ... The Right Honourable Frank Gordon Dobson (born March 15, 1940) is a British politician and member of Parliament for Holborn and St. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ...

Independent candidates frequently stand and are elected to local councils. There is a special Independent group of the Local Government Association to cater for them. The Local Government Assocation is a body for advancing the interests of local authorities in the England and Wales. ...

Independent candidates frequently stand in parliamentary elections, often with platforms about specific local issues, but usually with little success. A typical example from the 2001 general election was when Aston Villa supporter Ian Robinson stood as an independent candidate in the Sutton Coldfield constituency, in protest at the way chairman Doug Ellis ran the club. Another example, in the Aldershot constituency, of an independent candidate is King Arthur Pendragon - a notorious local who walks around town in long white robes with a long grey beard and a sword he claims to be Excalibur. Tony Blair William Hague Charles Kennedy The UK general election, 2001 was held on 7 June 2001 and was dubbed the quiet landslide by the media. ... Aston Villa Football Club play at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. ... Sutton Coldfield is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Herbert Douglas Ellis, OBE (born January 3, 1924 in Chester, Cheshire) is an entrepreneur, best known as the former chairman of Aston Villa Football Club. ... Aldershot is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

At the 2003 Scottish Parliamentary elections, three MSPs were elected as Independents: Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West), Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) and Margo MacDonald (Lothians). In 2004 Campbell Martin (West of Scotland region) left the Scottish National Party to become an independent and in 2005 Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) left the Conservative Party to become an independent. At the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary elections Margo MacDonald was again returned as an independent MSP. The polling date for the second Scottish Parliament election was held on May 1, 2003. ... Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament. ... Dennis Canavan (born 1942) is a Scottish politician, and an indepedent member of the Scottish Parliament. ... Falkirk West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood). ... Jean McGivern Turner (Born December 23, 1939) is an Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden. ... Strathkelvin and Bearsden is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood). ... Margo MacDonald was born in 1945 in Hamilton, Scotland and educated at Hamilton Academy, she trained as a teacher of physical education. ... The Lothians is one of the eight electoral areas for the Scottish Parliament that each return 7 members elected by the Additional Members System. ... Campbell Martin, born March 10, 1960 is a Scottish politician. ... West of Scotland is one of the eight electoral areas for the Scottish Parliament through which 7 of the 56 Additional Members System MSPs are elected. ... The Scottish National Party (SNP) (Scottish Gaelic: is a centre-left, Social democratic political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. ... Brian Monteith, born on January 8, 1958 is an Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament. ... Mid Scotland and Fife is one of the eight electoral areas for the Scottish Parliament through which 7 of the 56 Additional Members System MSPs are elected. ... The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... The composition of the Scottish Parliament following the 2007 election. ...

Other independent candidates are associated with a political party and may be former members of it, but are not able to stand under its label. For instance, after being expelled from the Labour Party but before joining the Respect Coalition, British Member of Parliament (MP) George Galloway described himself as "Independent Labour". The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... George Galloway (born 16 August 1954 in Dundee) is a Scottish politician, author and talkshow host noted for his left-wing views, confrontational style, and rhetorical skill. ...

A third category of independents are those who may belong to or support a political party but believe they should not formally represent it and thus be subject to its policies. This was common among members of most political parties for the purpose of British local government elections until the last quarter of the twentieth century. Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a state or province. ...

Some independents in the United Kingdom have registered locality-based political parties. UK examples include Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern, Epsom and Ewell Residents Association, Derwentside Independents and those local residents' or ratepayers' associations that contest elections. They are usually considered independent as they have no alignment in national politics. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Epsom and Ewell Residents Association control by majority the borough council in Epsom and Ewell in England. ... Derwentside Independents are a political party in the United Kingdom registered in 2001 whose leader, Councillor Watts Stelling, contested the 2005 general election in the constituency of North West Durham, obtaining 3,865 votes (9. ...

[edit] United States

Recent prominent independent candidates for President of the United States include John Anderson in 1980, Ross Perot in 1992 and Ralph Nader in 2004 and 2008. None of them were successful. Historically, George Washington was the first and only elected independent President, as he was not formally affiliated with any party during his two terms, though the Pro-Administration Party formed around supporters of his administration and quickly morphed into the Federalist Party. Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... John Bayard Anderson (born February 15, 1922) was a liberal Republican U.S. Representative from Illinois and presidential candidate in the 1980 election. ... Presidential electoral votes by state. ... Henry Ross Perot (born June 27, 1930) is an American businessman from Texas, who is best known for seeking the office of President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. ... The United States presidential elections of 1992 featured a battle between incumbent President, Republican George Bush; Democrat Bill Clinton, the governor of Arkansas; and independent candidate Ross Perot, a Texas businessman. ... Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American attorney, author, lecturer, political activist, and candidate for President of the United States in five elections. ... The United States presidential election of 2004 was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 to elect the president. ... The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled to be held on November 4, 2008, will be the 55th consecutive quadrennial president and vice president of the United States. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Pro-Administration Party is a term used by historians to describe the supporters of the policies of George Washingtons administration — especially Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamiltons financial policies — prior to the formation of the Federalist and Republican Parties; it is also sometimes used to describe the supporters of the... The Federalist Party (or Federal Party) was an American political party in the period 1792 to 1816, with remnants lasting into the 1830s. ...

John Tyler was expelled from the Whig Party in September 1841, and remained effectively an independent for the remainder of his presidency, later becoming a Democrat. He briefly sought re-election in 1844 as a National Democrat, but withdrew as he feared to split the Democratic vote. John Tyler, Jr. ... The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... The United States presidential election of 1844 saw Democrat James Knox Polk defeat Whig Henry Clay in a close contest that turned on foreign policy, with Polk favoring the annexation of Texas and Clay opposed. ...

Maine, Oregon and Texas are the only states in American history that have elected formally independent candidates as governor: James B. Longley in 1974 and Angus King in 1994 and 1998 from Maine, Julius Meier in 1930 from Oregon, and Sam Houston in 1859 from Texas. Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. is sometimes mentioned as an independent governor, though this is not technically correct; he ran as A Connecticut Party candidate (which gave him better ballot placement than an unaffiliated candidate would receive), defeating the Democratic and Republican party nominees. Another former governor who is sometimes mentioned as an independent is Jesse Ventura, who actually ran as a member of the Reform Party before later founding and switching to the Independence Party of Minnesota. Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... James Bernard Longley (April 22, 1924-August 16, 1980), U.S. politician, He served as Governor of Maine from 1975 to 1979, and was the first Independent to serve as the states Governor. ... Angus King Angus S. King, Jr. ... Julius L. Meier (December 31, 1874 - July 14, 1937) was a businessman in Portland, Oregon, and governor of Oregon. ... For other persons named Sam Houston, see Sam Houston (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The A Connecticut Party was a party formed by former Republican Senator and gubenatorial candidate Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. ... Jesse Ventura (born July 15, 1951 as James George Janos), also known as The Body, The Star, and The Governing Body, is an American politician, retired professional wrestler, Navy UDT veteran, actor, and former radio and television talk show host. ... The Reform Party of the United States of America (abbreviated Reform Party USA or RPUSA, generally known simply as the Reform Party) is a political party in the United States, founded by Ross Perot in 1995 who said Americans were disillusioned with the state of politics—as being corrupt and... The Independence Party of Minnesota (often abbreviated MNIP, IP or IPM), formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) and Republican Party. ...

There have been several independents elected to the United States Senate throughout history. Notable examples include David Davis of Illinois (a former Republican) in the nineteenth century, and Harry F. Byrd, Jr. of Virginia (who had been elected to his first term as a Democrat) in the twentieth century. Some officials have been elected as members of a party but became independent while in office (without being elected as such), such as Wayne Morse of Oregon or Virgil Goode of Virginia. Vermont senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an independent in 2001. Jeffords's change of party status was especially significant because it shifted the Senate composition from 50-50 between the Republicans and Democrats (with a Republican Vice President, Dick Cheney, who would break all ties in favor of the Republicans), to 49 Republicans, 50 Democrats, and one Independent. Jeffords agreed to vote for Democratic control of the Senate in exchange for being appointed chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Democrats held control of the Senate until the Congressional elections in 2002, when the Republicans regained their majority. Senator Jeffords retired at the end of his term in 2007. Wayne Morse after two years as an independent became Democrat, while Goode switched to Republican. Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... For other persons of the same name, see David Davis. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... GOP redirects here. ... Harry Flood Byrd, Jr. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Wayne Lyman Morse (October 20, 1900 – July 22, 1974) was a United States Senator from Oregon from 1945 to 1969. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other persons named Jim Jeffords, see Jim Jeffords (disambiguation). ... GOP redirects here. ... In politics, party switching is any change in party affiliation of a partisan public figure, usually one who is currently holding elected office. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... A vice president is an officer in government or business who is next in rank below a president. ... Richard Bruce Dick Cheney (born January 30, 1941), is the 46th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush. ... The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is responsible for dealing with matters related to the environment and infrastructure. ... Republican hold in light red, Republican pickup in dark red, Democratic hold in light blue, Democratic pickup in dark blue. ...

Representative Bernie Sanders was an independent member of the United States House of Representatives for Vermont-at-large from 1991 to 2006. Bernie later won the open Senate seat of Jim Jeffords, as an independent. Joe Lieberman a former Democrat who ran like Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. under a third party (Connecticut for Lieberman Party) in the 2006 election after losing the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont. Though both representatives are technically independent politicians, they caucus with the Democrats. Bernard Bernie Sanders (born September 8, 1941) is the current big willy floppah junior United States Senator from big blob of brown poo Vermont. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... The U.S. state of Vermont is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a single at-large congressional district. ... For other persons named Jim Jeffords, see Jim Jeffords (disambiguation). ... Joseph Isadore Joe Lieberman (born February 24, 1942) is a United States Senator from Connecticut. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... Connecticut for Lieberman is the Connecticut political party created by twenty-five supporters of Senator Joe Lieberman, its sole candidate for office. ... Edward Miner Ned Lamont, Jr. ...

In 1971, State Senator Henry Howell of Virginia, a former Democrat, was elected lieutenant governor as an independent. Two years later, he campaigned for Governor as an independent, losing the election by only 15,000 votes. Henry Evans Howell, Jr. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. ... Tim Kaine, the current Governor The Governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. ...

In 2006, there were 7 major independent candidates for statewide office including successful runs for the U.S. Senate by Bernie Sanders and Joseph Lieberman. In Maine, state legislator Barbara Merrill (formerly a Democrat) made the gubernatorial ballot, while retired college professor Bill Slavick ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. In Massachusetts, wealthy convenience store owner and former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board member Christy Mihos ran for Governor. Finally, in Texas, country music singer and mystery novelist Kinky Friedman and State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn both ran for Governor splitting the ballot four ways between themselves and the two major parties. Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... Barbara Merrill is an Cuban politician from the Ghetto state of Maine. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... View of the Turnpike from an overpass by Boston University, facing east (towards central Boston). ... Christy P. Mihos (born 1950 in Brockton, Massachusetts) is an American politician and businessman from the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. ... Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes Detective fiction is a branch of crime fiction that centers upon the investigation of a crime, usually murder, by a detective, either professional or amateur. ... Kinky Friedman contemplates a question from the audience at a campaign rally in Bastrop, Texas Richard S. Kinky Friedman (born October 31, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly. ... Look up comptroller in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Carole Stewart Keeton was born September 13, 1939 in Austin. ...

As of April 2007 at the state level, there were eleven people who held offices as independents in state legislatures. There were three state senators, one from Kentucky, one from Oregon, and one from Tennessee. The representatives came from the states of (2) Louisiana, (2) Maine, (2) Vermont, (2) Virginia. The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. ... The Oregon State Senate chamber in the State Capitol. ... The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the formal name of the Tennessee state legislature. ... The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... The debating chamber of the Maine House of Representatives inside the State House The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. ... Representatives Hall, where the Vermont House of Representatives convenes in the Vermont State House. ... The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. ...

On June 19, 2007 the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, switched his party affiliation from Republican to independent. is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For a list of the Dutch Director-Generals who governed New Amsterdam (as New York City was called when it was a Dutch-run settlement) between 1624 and 1664, see: Director-General of New Netherland. ... Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born 14 February 1942) is an American businessman, founder of Bloomberg L.P., and the current Mayor of New York City. ...

Some independents in the United States have registered locality-based political parties. A regional Independent Party was formed in Oregon in 2007 in response to changes in Oregon law that made it more difficult for independent candidates to get on the ballot.^[3]. There are several political parties called Independent Party: Uruguay Independent Party (Uruguay) United States Independent Party of Connecticut Independent Party of Delaware Independent Party of Oregon American Independent Party (California) United Kingdom United Kingdom Independence Party Defunct parties include: Independent Party (South Africa) Category: ...

[edit] References

... Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is the primary public broadcasting network for most of Oregon as well as southern Washington, with (as of 2006) over one million viewers throughout that region and an average of over 380,000 radio listeners each week. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

[edit] See also

• Independent (voter)