John --

It’s hard to believe we’re now entering the fifth week of the government shutdown – a stark reminder of why Forward exists. As Washington grinds to a halt, our movement is proving that cooperation and competition can coexist and that Americans are ready for a better way.

Tuesday’s results sent a clear message: when voters are given a real choice, they take it. Forward Party candidates won offices across the country — from mayors to sheriffs to school boards — proving that communities are ready to elect leaders who put people over party.

These aren’t symbolic campaigns. These are real wins, real seats, and real groundwork for 2026.

Historic Wins

Jay Doyle — Mayor-elect of Georgetown, South Carolina

• Elected on the Forward Party ballot line with 56% of the vote. First Forward Party ballot line candidate elected in SC
  
  
• Possibly the first third-party candidate to win a partisan election in South Carolina since 1894 (As far as we can tell).
  
  
• A breakthrough moment showing that Forward candidates can win outright, not just compete.
  
  

Danny Ceisler — Bucks County Sheriff-elect, Pennsylvania

• Forward-endorsed and elected with 55.28% of the vote.
  
  
• Defeated the incumbent in one of Pennsylvania’s most closely watched local races.
  
  
• Demonstrates that Forward candidates can win in competitive, suburban counties that will matter in 2026.
  
  

More Forward Victories Nationwide

On To 2026

These wins aren’t the finish line — they’re the launchpad. Here's why they matter for the 2026 midterms:

• Proof of concept: Forward candidates are winning outright — not as protest votes, but with majorities.
  
  
• Ballot lines are real and growing: South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and more states now have Forward-elected officials, making full party status and ballot access easier for 2026 congressional and state legislative races. 
  
  • Jessica Forsell, Eva McGowen, and Zach Thompson in PA all ran and won on the FWD ballot line
    
    
• Candidate pipeline for 2026: The mayors, council members, sheriffs, judges, and finance board members elected this week are the people who can recruit, train, and endorse the next wave of Forward candidates — including for statehouse and congressional seats.
  
  
• Credibility with donors and media: Success turns curiosity into investment. These wins make it easier to raise funds, attract talent, and be taken seriously as a national political contender.
  
  
• Model for victory: Local-focused, community-first candidates + coalition voters (independents, moderate Rs and Ds) = a roadmap for 2026 swing districts.

Forward + Arizona Independent Party Partnership

We’re thrilled to share that Forward has entered into a formal cooperation agreement with the newly formed Arizona Independent Party (AIP):  a partnership that creates a powerful pathway for independent candidates to run and win in 2026 and beyond.

The AIP, founded and chaired by former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, is a renaming of the Arizona No Labels Party and provides an existing ballot line and the infrastructure independents have long lacked. Together, we are preserving and expanding that access by ensuring independent voices can compete in local, state, and federal races.

As Lindsey said in today’s press release: “Independent voters are the fastest-growing force in Arizona, and they deserve more than a broken two-party system that doesn’t speak for them. What’s happening here is part of a national movement to empower independents across the country and reshape American politics for the better.”

You can read the full announcement here.

Forward on Prop 50

We developed our statement on California's Proposition 50 after weighing multiple perspectives within the Forward movement and acknowledging the real dilemma voters faced. We wanted to recognize both the anti-democratic gerrymandering happening in states like Texas and North Carolina and the fact that many California voters supported Prop 50 as a defensive move, not because they opposed independent redistricting. Ultimately, we crafted language that is honest about the partisan escalation while staying true to Forward’s core belief that voters—not politicians—should draw the lines and choose their leaders.

Georgetown elects Forward Party mayor in city first | News2

Doyle called his win “A victory for the people,” saying it reflects residents’ desire for bold change and a renewed focus on community needs.

Democrat Danny Ceisler ousts Fred Harran in Bucks County sheriff's race | WHYY

Ceisler, 33, a U.S. Army veteran, moved to Bristol Borough in Bucks County in 2020. He told WHYY News that as sheriff, he plans to “take politics out of law enforcement, focus on nuts and bolts public safety, and end the extreme and ridiculous partnership with” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

If you’re tired of waiting for the system to fix itself — this is your moment.
👥 Volunteer | 🗳️ Run for Office | 💸 Donate | 🌐 forwardparty.com

California voters OK new congressional lines, boosting Democrats ahead of midterms | NPR

California voters have easily approved a ballot measure to redraw the state's congressional map to favor Democrats, according to a race call by The Associated Press, marking the party's biggest victory to date in a national battle over redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms.

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