With Both Parties Deeply Unpopular, New AI Operation Aims to Break Their Grip on Congress

The centrist nonprofit Independent Center is deploying artificial intelligence to try to knock open the long-timed lock of partisan control in the U.S. House of Representatives. According to a December 1, 2025 report from New Hampshire Public Radio, the group is using AI to analyze voter data and other signals to pinpoint roughly 40 congressional districts where independent candidates might stand a realistic chance in 2026. Senior adviser Adam Brandon told NHPR: “Without AI, what we’re trying to do would be impossible.”

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The plan calls for recruiting about 10 candidates by next spring, supported by the research team at The Bullfinch Group — a data firm overseeing the polling and analytics for Independent Center. The broader aim: to elect “a handful of independents” to Congress in 2026. That would mark the first time in decades a significant number of non-party-affiliated members reach the House — potentially reshaping how the chamber operates.

Timing may be on their side: polling from 2024 shows a record high for voters identifying as independents — 43 percent, according to Gallup. As more Americans express distrust in the traditional two-party setup, the Independent Center argues there may be enough demand for alternatives.

Still, the challenge is steep. The U.S. system is deeply structured around Democrats and Republicans, making independent wins rare. While AI may help identify favorable districts and potential candidate-profiles, success depends on a complex mix of fundraising, campaign infrastructure, name recognition, and voter outreach. What happens next is whether any of the identified candidates file for 2026 and if they can translate data-driven optimism into real electoral wins.