Headliners Newsmaker examines how to elect more independents in 2018, July 12

A panel of elected officials from across the country who were elected as independent candidates without the support of a political party plan to appear at a National Press Club Headliners Newsmakers event Wednesday, July 12, at 10 a.m. in the Club’s Bloomberg Room to examine whether electing more independents could break the current political gridlock.

This Newsmaker event is open to credentialed media and Club members free of charge but advance registration is required. Click here to register.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker is expected to be joined by Iowa State Sen. David Johnson, Alaska State Rep. Jason Grenn and Maine State Rep. Owen Casas. Other panelists may also appear.

Across the nation, 40 percent of the electorate identify as independent voters.

In Alaska, two independent state representatives helped flip control of the state house from the GOP to a new “bipartisan governing majority” –– comprised of several moderate Republicans and the House Democratic Caucus.

In Maine, since two independent state representatives were elected in 2016, three incumbent state representatives –– one Republican and two Democrats –– dropped their party affiliation, now neither party controls an outright majority in the statehouse.

In Iowa, Johnson became the first serving independent legislator in 45 years after he left the Republican Party in June of 2016, during his fourth term, as an objection to now-President Donald Trump’s campaign.