Chris Crawford I’m sorry for not being clearer. Independent-supported candidates are indeed having much more success although this is essentially a feature of primary elections: where the Party supports one candidate and independent groups support someone else the independent wins 60% of the time now versus losing 90% before Citizens United.

As for examples of these candidates, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is probably the best known. There are many local and state seats all over the country that saw Party-backed incumbents tossed out in favor of someone with more conservative or progressive backing.

And you’re spot on that the same amount of money is being spent and that it is generally still just going to Democratic and Republican candidates. The only real difference is which candidates; the establishment choice is less likely to in primaries on both the left and the right now.

I hope this clears it up. Thanks for reading and liking my piece enough to comment.