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, or may feel that neither of the two parties adequately represents their viewpoint. The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. ... 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. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... A two-party system is a form of party system where two major political parties dominate the 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. ...

Examples of independent politicians

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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, three independents sit in the Australian House of Representatives: Peter Andren and Tony Windsor for New South Wales, and Bob Katter from Queensland. Andren has indicated his intention to run for the Senate at the 2007 general election. In the past, independent senators such as Brian Harradine have had considerable influence in the Australian Senate. The main entrance to Parliament House in Canberra, with the flag mast visible. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian conservative political party, which claims to represent rural voters. ... Australian House of Representatives chamber Entrance to the House of Representatives The Australian House of Representatives is one of the two houses (chambers) of the Parliament of Australia. ... Categories: People stubs | 1946 births | Independent Australian politicians ... 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. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... Hon Bob Katter The Hon Robert Carl Bob Katter MP (born 22 May 1945), is an Australian politician. ... Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd)  - Product per capita  $40,170/person (6th) Population (End of November 2006)  - Population  4,164,590 (3rd)  - Density  2. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... 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. ... Brian Harradine (born January 9, Australian politician, has been an independent member of the Australian Senate since 1975, representing the state of Tasmania. ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ...

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. The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Balance of power refers to the division, distribution, or separation of powers within a national political system. ...

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 Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... In the British Isles since Anglo-Saxon times, a riding is traditionally a sub-division (especially in three) of a county, in Australia analogous. ... Surrey North is a Canadian federal riding in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. ... The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party founded in 1987, originally as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. ... 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. ... Paul Edgar Philippe Martin (born August 28, 1938) was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada and a former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. ... This article is about the Canadian political party. ... The Bloc Québécois is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that is 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. ... Hon. ... 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. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Duchesne - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area  Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² (595... 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. ...

Ireland

There are at present five Independent Teachtaí Dála (MPs) in Dáil Éireann (the Irish parliament). 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. ...

In countries where multi-seat, Single Transferable Vote constituencies exist, independents are more common. The Republic of Ireland has fifteen independents (9% of the total) in its Dáil, although a number of these align themselves to Fianna Fáil on many issues. One independent created Independent Fianna Fáil. This STV ballot for the Australian Senate illustrates group voting tickets. ... Dáil Éireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party (Irish: ), commonly referred to as Fianna Fáil (IPA ; traditionally translated by the party into English as Soldiers of Destiny, though the actual meaning is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland[1]), is currently the largest political party in Ireland with 55,000 members. ... Independent Fianna Fáil was a splinter republican party created by Neil Blaney after his expulsion from Fianna Fáil following the Irish Arms Crisis (1969-1970). ...

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 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... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

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 06, 1971) - is a Philippine military and political figure. ... 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. ...

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.^[1] 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. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

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. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 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 November 26, 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. The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as the Lords. The Sovereign, the House of Commons (which is the lower house of Parliament and referred to as the Commons), and the Lords together comprise the Parliament. ... 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 Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone was originally elected as an independent having run against the official Labour candidate Frank Dobson. He has since been re-admitted to the Labour Party. This page is about Stoke-on-Trent in England. ... This article is about the town in North East England. ... Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, England. ... Hartlepool is a town and North Sea port in North East England. ... For other uses, see Mansfield (disambiguation). ... Ken Livingstone, the current Mayor of London The Mayor of London is an elected politician in London, United Kingdom. ... Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born June 17, 1945) is an English politician who became Mayor of London on the creation of the post in 2000. ... 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 has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in England, Scotland and Wales. ...

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 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 the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest 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 has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in England, Scotland and Wales. ... 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 and author 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. ...

United States

Recent independent candidates for President of the United States include John Anderson in 1980, Ross Perot in 1992 and Ralph Nader in 2004. 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. The presidential seal is a well-known symbol of the presidency. ... 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 The Boss Perot (born June 27, 1930) is a 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 three-way battle between Republican George Bush, the incumbent President; 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 and political activist, who has promoted a wide range of issues, including consumer rights, feminism, humanitarianism, environmentalism and democratic government. ... Presidential election results map. ... 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. ...

John Tyler was expelled from the Whig Party in September 1841, he remained effectively an independent for the remainder of Presidency later becoming a Democrat. He briefly sought re-election in 1844 as a National Democrat, but withdrew as he feared to split the Democrat 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... Presidential electoral votes by state. ...

Maine, Oregon and Texas are the only states in American history that have elected independents 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 a fifth independent governor, however Connecticut election law gives preferred placement on the ballot to candidates affiliated with parties so Weicker ran as A Connecticut Party candidate and won a three way race. Another former governor who is sometimes mentioned as an independent is Jesse Ventura who was actually part of 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. ... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... 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. ... Samuel Houston (March 2, 1793–July 26, 1863) was a 19th century American statesman, politician and soldier. ... 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 James George Janos on July 15, 1951), also known as The Body, The Star, The Mind, and Governor Body, is an American politician, former professional wrestler, Navy UDT veteran, actor, and former radio and television talk show host. ... 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. Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Politics Portal      The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the... David Davis David Davis (March 9, 1815 - June 26, 1886) was a United States Senator from Illinois and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... Harry Flood Byrd, Jr. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Wayne Lyman Morse (October 20, 1900 – July 22, 1974) was a United States Senator from Oregon from 1945 to 1969. ... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Official language(s) None Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Area  Ranked 45th  - Total 9,620 sq mi (24,923 km²)  - Width 80 miles (130 km)  - Length 160 miles (260 km)  - % water 3. ... James Merrill Jim Jeffords (born May 11, 1934 in Rutland, Vermont) is currently the junior U.S. Senator from Vermont and the only Independent in the United States Senate. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... 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 Senator Jim Jeffords winning 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 junior United States Senator from Vermont. ... The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. ... The U.S. state of Vermont is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a single at-large congressional district. ... James Merrill Jim Jeffords (born May 11, 1934 in Rutland, Vermont) is currently the junior U.S. Senator from Vermont and the only Independent in the United States Senate. ... Joseph Isadore Lieberman (born February 24, 1942) is an American politician 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 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 contains a trivia section. ... 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. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... 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. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... 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 (1) Louisiana, (2) Maine, (2) Vermont, (3) Virginia. April 2007 is the fourth month of the year. ... 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. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Vermont General Assembly. ... The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. ...

As of June 19th 2007 the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, is a registered Independent. 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, philanthropist, and the founder of Bloomberg L.P., currently serving as the Mayor of New York City. ...

In the United States, at least one state-level political party, the Independent Party of Oregon, has been formed in response to legal changes designed to keep independent candidates off of the ballot.^[2][3][4][5]

References

The term Unknown is used in a number of contexts: To indicate the lack of knowledge, such as the list of unsolved problems, unsolved problems in physics or the unknown unknown To refer to anonymity In mathematics, as a noun, the unknowns of an equation are the quantities (or variables... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Category:Independent politicians
• Independent (voter)