Independent voters aren’t picking a political team, they just feel picked on

The article argues that independent voters are a decisive force in the 2026 US midterms, but a vote against the party in power should not be mistaken for support of the other party’s agenda. It says independents feel ignored and choose whichever side seems less likely to worsen problems, leaving either party at risk of losing them again.

The author cites polling that finds broad support for expanding energy supply (70%), maintaining or expanding legal immigration (77%), parental control over children’s social media use (83%), clearer accounting of government spending (73%) and congressional term limits (78%). Roughly two-thirds of independents reportedly say Washington does not hear them; the article links their frustration to unresolved border issues, energy costs and the lack of a plan for AI’s effects.