National Roundtable on the Independent Fulcrum Caucus (IFC)
Could a handful of Independents make Congress work again?
Congress is gridlocked, and most Americans say it isn't working for them. More Americans now identify as independents than as members of either major party — yet Independents hold almost no seats in the U.S. House or Senate. What if that changed in 2026?
Join Us the Week of September 14–18, 2026
We'll host a candid national discussion about a specific, structural idea for renewing Congress: the Independent Fulcrum Caucus (IFC) — a small bloc of Independent members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, elected in the 2026 midterms, large enough to deny either major party an outright majority and to require genuine coalition governance.
In small groups of 4–6, you'll watch a short 10-minute explainer, then talk directly with people from different backgrounds and political perspectives about whether this idea would help or hurt, what it would take to make it real, and what it would take to make it work.
What You'll Do
Watch
A 10-minute video, in the voices of everyday Americans, explaining what the Independent Fulcrum Caucus is and how it would operate.
Share
Say, in your own words, what you think of the idea — the promise and the pitfalls.
Listen
Hear how people from the left, right, and center react, including voters in the competitive districts where Independent candidates are running.
Be Heard
Everything you say is anonymized and analyzed for a national report shared with candidates, journalists, and the public — including at the Independent National Convention in Washington, DC, September 23–25, 2026.
Why It Matters
Roughly 25 competitive U.S. House districts now have more independent voters than either Republicans or Democrats. In 2026, a small number of Independent candidates — running in these districts and in key Senate races — could hold the balance of power in the 120th Congress. That balance point is the "fulcrum": a position from which a few members could insist on an accountable Speaker, anti-corruption reforms, and election reforms as the price of their votes.
Is that a fix for a broken system — or a recipe for new problems? That's what this Roundtable will find out. Insights from every conversation will be anonymized and compiled into a national report, with every finding linked to a real quote from a real participant, so that voters, candidates, and newsrooms can see what Americans actually think.
Be part of the conversation.
Our Partners
This National Roundtable is a partnership of Renew American Democracy (RAD) and Independent Voice, hosted on AllSides Roundtables, in partnership with organizations from across the independent movement, veteran-led, democracy-reform, dialogue-and-bridging, and media-and-research communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an AllSides Roundtable?
AllSides Roundtables are live online conversations where you'll join a small group of 4–6 people to discuss an important issue.
Better than a Zoom call but without any special software, you will meet with people from different perspectives and follow an integrated conversation guide to help everyone listen and be heard. Afterwards, you will get a report not only about what your group discussed, but also what the other groups discussed and discovered together — a report you can share widely.
How long does it take?
Plan for about 60–90 minutes total:
5–10 minutes: Welcome and instructions
45–75 minutes: Small group discussion
5 minutes: Quick closing survey
Do I need any special equipment or software?
Just a computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection, a camera, a microphone and speakers (or headphones), and an updated web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge).
No downloads or special software required. You'll join through a simple web link.
Is this a campaign event for particular candidates?
No. This is a nonpartisan deliberative conversation about a structural idea. You'll be encouraged to voice support, skepticism, or opposition — all perspectives strengthen the report.
Do I need to be an independent to join?
No. Republicans, Democrats, independents, and everyone in between are essential to this conversation.
Dialogue & Deliberation
AllSides helps people build mutual understanding by connecting them to a range of dialogue services.
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