<[link removed]>Hi John --



ICYMI: As we reported last week, Gallup found <[link removed]> that a record 45% of Americans consider themselves political independents. Those numbers are causing traditional pundits and media politicos a lot of agita and they’re working overtime to try and put the genie back in the bottle.

In a new oped out last week <[link removed]>, OP President John Opdycke and Independent Veterans of America Founder Paul Rieckhoff joined forces to break down what’s really going on. As they declare:



What’s really driving the backlash? Opdycke and Rieckhoff <[link removed]> have an idea. Hint - when is the last time an independent candidate for president got 20% of the vote…?

Join the two of them TOMORROW for our first Primary Buzz Discussion of 2026: Independents are Surging…and Independent Veterans are Spoiling for a Fight which will feature two Independent veteran candidates running for US Senate: Ty Pinkins (Mississippi) & Todd Achilles (Idaho). 

Ty Pinkinsis a decorated U.S. Army veteran, attorney, and community advocate running as an Independent for United States Senate in 2026 because he believes Mississippi’s working families deserve more than politics as usual.

Todd Achilles served as an Idaho State Representative and minority caucus chair. He teaches innovation, strategy, antimonopoly, and policy analysis at GSPP, and technology policy at Boise State University’s School of Public Service. Todd served in the U.S. Army as a tank commander and then spent his civilian career in the tech, media and telecom sectors, holding executive roles at T-Mobile, Hewlett-Packard, and a few start-ups. 

While the DC ecosphere downplay the rise of independent voters across the country, a new generation of serious, viable independent candidates is working to give voice to the growing number of voters who are out of sorts with the status quo. It’s hard!  American politics is not designed for voters and candidates who don’t fit neatly into the two-party playbook. Independents get called “ spoilers” by journalists, partisans…even reformers!  

But America’s veterans still command much credibility across divides. Can independent veterans help lead the way to something new?

Join us TOMORROW February 3rd at 3:00PM ET

2026 is the year of the Independent. Join the conversation—and be part of what comes next.

<[link removed]>RSVP <[link removed]>See you tomorrow

The Open Primaries Team

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