Changes

An '''independent candidate''', sometimes simply referred to as an '''independent''', is a political candidate who runs for office without the nomination of any [[political party]].  Sometimes an independent candidate may in fact be a member of a political party but run as an independent for one reason or another, most frequently to siphon votes from a political rival.

An '''independent candidate''', sometimes simply referred to as an '''independent''', is a political candidate who runs for office without the nomination of any [[political party]].  Sometimes an independent candidate may, in fact, be a member of a political party but run as an independent for one reason or another, most frequently to siphon votes from a political rival.

In some cases because of state [[ballot access]] laws, an independent candidate will form a one-time "political party" solely for the purpose of their campaign, for example the "Connecticut for [[Joe Lieberman|Lieberman]] Party" in 2006.  In some other cases, the independent candidacy is a precursor to the formation of a new political party, such as with [[Ross Perot]]'s 1992 independent campaign for President which later led to the founding of the [[Reform Party]].  There also exist numerous cases where a disaffected Democrat or Republican, believing their own party has gone in the wrong direction, will run as an independent seeking to be a "spoiler" against their own party.  In yet some other cases the independent candidate is neither a disaffected member of an existing party nor seeking to form a new party, but simply somebody running as an independent candidate.

In some cases because of state [[ballot access]] laws, an independent candidate will form a one-time "political party" solely for the purpose of their campaign, for example, the "Connecticut for [[Joe Lieberman|Lieberman]] Party" in 2006.  In some other cases, the independent candidacy is a precursor to the formation of a new political party, such as with [[Ross Perot]]'s 1992 independent campaign for President which later led to the founding of the [[Reform Party]].  There also exist numerous cases where a disaffected Democrat or Republican, believing their own party has gone in the wrong direction, will run as an independent seeking to be a "spoiler" against their own party.  In yet some other cases the independent candidate is neither a disaffected member of an existing party nor seeking to form a new party, but simply somebody running as an independent candidate.

Independent candidates usually do not win general elections; a notable example of an independent candidate winning was Jesse Ventura, the former Navy Seal and professional wrestler who became Minnesota governor.

Independent candidates usually do not win general elections; a notable example of an independent candidate winning was [[Jesse Ventura]], the former Navy Seal and professional wrestler who became [[Minnesota]]'s governor.

[[Category:Election Terms]]

[[Category:Election Terms]]