Why are 40% of new grassroots candidates ditching the Democratic Party to run as Independents?

How does a tiny group of billionaires control the US economy and what can we do to stop them?

Beyond the duopoly: Why 40% of 7,000 new candidates are running as Independents. See how grassroots power is finally bypassing the billionaire class in 2025.

Key Takeaways

What: A grassroots movement challenging the billionaire class’s control over American economic and political institutions.
Why: Concentrated wealth (top 1% owning more than the bottom 93%) allows oligarchs to dictate national policy and stagnate worker wages.
How: By building independent political infrastructure and organizing for universal reforms like Medicare for All.

The Rise of the Independent Candidate: Beyond the Two-Party Duopoly

Most political analysts look at massive protest turnouts and assume they are simply fuel for the next Democratic primary. They are wrong. In early 2025, the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour did not just draw 280,000 people across 14 states. It sparked a structural break from the two-party system: of the 7,000 people who signed up to run for office following these rallies, over 40 percent intended to run as Independents. This data point suggests that the movement is moving beyond traditional party loyalty to build its own self-sustaining political infrastructure.

The Mechanics of Modern Oligarchy

This move toward independent power is a direct response to a system where a tiny number of people control the nation’s economic and political life. In late 2024, for example, Congress was prepared to pass a bill expanding senior nutrition and mental health care. With a few social media posts and threats to fund political challengers, Elon Musk forced lawmakers to abandon the deal. Musk currently possesses more wealth than 52 percent of all American households combined. This level of influence is the hallmark of an oligarchy, where the many are governed by the few.

The concentration of power extends far beyond a few famous names. Three Wall Street firms—Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street—are now major shareholders in 95 percent of large corporations. These firms own the companies that provide our transportation, energy, and medicine. At the same time, six international corporations control 90 percent of what Americans see and read, while billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg own the platforms that distribute that information.

The 2025 Policy Pivot: Tax Cuts and Social Contraction

The 2010 Citizens United decision accelerated this trend by allowing unlimited campaign spending, which has since increased by 1,600 percent. By the January 2025 inauguration, the shift was complete: the three wealthiest Americans sat directly behind the president as he prepared to staff federal agencies with 13 different billionaires. The administration’s first major legislative move, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” handed over $1 trillion in tax cuts to the top one percent. To pay for this, the government initiated massive cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs while individual oligarchs received retroactive tax breaks worth billions.

Historical Precedents for Impossible Victories

History shows that these odds are not impossible to overcome. In 1886, workers in Chicago organized to demand an eight-hour workday despite facing violent suppression at Haymarket Square. They were told their goals were radical and unattainable, yet the eight-hour day eventually became the law of the land. From the abolitionists who ended slavery to the suffragists who won the right to vote, every major step forward in America has come from ordinary people organizing against entrenched power.

The Legislative Agenda for Reclaiming Democracy

Reclaiming democracy requires a clear legislative agenda and mass participation. This includes overturning Citizens United, implementing a wealth tax, and ensuring health care is a right through Medicare for All. As technology advances, the productivity gains from AI and robotics should lead to shorter workweeks without a loss in pay rather than just increasing corporate profits. The goal is to ensure that the economy works for the majority, providing a $17 minimum wage and protected union rights through the PRO Act.

Winning this fight depends on the realization that these views are not fringe; they are held by the majority. When 34,000 people pack a venue in Denver, they see that they are not alone. Solidarity is the only way to defeat the divisions of race and religion that oligarchs use to maintain control. True power rests with people who understand their collective strength and are willing to use it.