California Endorsement and a Warm Embrace of Independence 09/29/2026

Forward Party Endorses Independent Congressional Candidate Rep. Kevin Kiley in California’s Newly Drawn 6th DistrictWashington D.C. – September 29, 2026 – The Forward Party recently announced its endorsement of Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley, who is seeking reelection to represent California’s newly drawn 6th Congressional District in the November general election, continuing the party’s support for candidates who put constituents ahead of party loyalty. Kiley currently serves as the sole Independent member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a distinction that reflects his consistent record of working across party lines rather than toward any single party’s agenda.

Kiley left the Republican party earlier this year after denouncing the partisan redistricting efforts that took place both in his home state of California and other states across the country. He has become the only sitting independent in Congress and is now looking to prove that success outside the two-party system is viable. Kiley is a rare voice in the House who has consistently called out dysfunction in both parties, pushing for independent representation that breaks institutional gridlock. After being impacted by mid-decade redistricting, Kiley introduced legislation to ban the practice earlier this year.

Read the full press announcement.

And that’s not all…

California’s 24th Congressional District Candidate, Bob Smith, Changes Political Status to Independent

Bob Smith, a Forward Party-backed congressional candidate running in California’s 24th District for a U.S. House seat recently changed his party status from Republican to Independent.

Bob explained the move to a local news crew stating:

“I’ve realized the diverse interests that we have here on the Central Coast from the fishing communities in Morro Bay to the ag communities in North County, down to our cities down here,” said Smith. “We need somebody who’s going to represent the Central Coast first and not political party affiliation.”

Watch Smith sign for his political independence.

Meet the Forward Candidates 2026 – Round 3

Round 3 of Meet the Forwardists focuses on our independent Gubernatorial and Senate candidates, with special guest host Gov. Christine Todd Whitman! Join us to meet:

-Brian Bengs, South Dakota, US Senate

-Todd Achilles, Idaho, US Senate

-Ken Block, Rhode Island, Governor

-Lauren Pinkston, Tennessee, Governor

Without a prescriptive policy platform, Forward Party relies on its candidates to demonstrate our values and ideas on how democracy should run. Don’t miss this opportunity to Meet the Forwardists!

If you’re tired of waiting for the system to fix itself — this is your moment.
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