Independent Voters
IVP just conducted the largest ever survey of California independent voters! Cara and Chad break down what NPP voters are really demanding, why insiders fight to keep them sidelined, and how battles over ballot language, gerrymandering, and open primaries in states like Missouri, Nevada, West Virginia, and Alaska could change
Commentary
Verizon Wireless customers across the United States were hit by a major outage on January 14, leaving tens of thousands of phones in “SOS” mode and users unable to make calls, send texts, or access mobile data.
2026 Midterms
Calling for “systemic change,” former Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola announced on January 12 that she will run for the U.S. Senate in 2026, setting up one of the most closely watched races in the country. Peltola will challenge incumbent Dan Sullivan in a contest likely to be shaped as much by Al
Gerrymandering
Missouri state officials have pulled out all the stops to prevent a veto referendum from getting on the ballot that would overturn a mid-cycle gerrymander. This includes writing a ballot summary that makes it sound like the veto referendum is trying to protect gerrymandering in the state.
California
Good intentions often make for compelling policy. But in practice, consequences rarely fall in line as neatly as the ideas that inspired them.
California 2026
A new statewide poll conducted by the Independent Voter Project finds California’s independent voters overwhelmingly support the state’s nonpartisan primary system and express broad dissatisfaction with the direction of state politics.
Independent Voters
Gallup released findings Monday that show independent voters make up a new record-high percentage of the U.S. electorate. Its data shows 45% of American voters self-identified as independent in 2025, breaking the 43% record in 2014, 2023 and 2024.
California
In California, the birthplace of much of the world’s technology innovation, virtual reality is being used in an unexpected setting: inside prisons.
Reform Roundup
While the media has kept people’s focus on the Epstein files, Venezuela, or a potential invasion of Greenland, the United States Postal Service adopted a new rule that will have a broad impact on Americans – especially in an election year in which millions of people will vote by mail.
Independent Voter Podcast
Wondering how a major political figure walks away from power, and what that says about the system behind the scenes? This episode unpacks Tim Walz’s decision to step aside in Minnesota and how allegations around daycare funding brought to light by YouTuber Nick Shirley have cracked open a wide-open
Corrections
Job vacancies in prison and state hospital health care have grown even as California has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to fill medical and mental health positions, according to a new state audit.
California 2026
The American River connects the cities of Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Citrus Heights, forming the core of California’s 7th Assembly District, which also includes the unincorporated communities of McClellan Park, North Highlands, Foothill Farms, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Gold River, Rosemont, Mather, an