AI Seen as Key to Breaking Two-Party Grip in the House, Says Independent Group

An upstart political group is betting that artificial intelligence can crack the two-party lock on Congress. The Independent Center, advised by former FreedomWorks president Adam Brandon and relying on polling veteran Brett Loyd’s Bullfinch Group, is using a proprietary AI system to scan social media, turnout patterns and demographic signals to pinpoint House districts where independents could win in 2026—and to identify potential “diamond in the rough” candidates, even via LinkedIn footprints. The group says it has flagged roughly 40 target seats and aims to field about 10 candidates by spring, hoping to capture at least half and potentially deny either party a majority if the House remains closely divided. Their pitch leans on a surge in self-identified independents—Gallup measured a record 43% in 2024—and the growing clout of younger voters. Critics warn of “spoiler” risks, but organizers say disrupting a binary system is the point. The effort draws on real-time sentiment tracking beyond traditional polls and could nudge moderates to switch affiliation if independents post early wins, the group argues.

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