FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Press@IndependentVeteransOfAmerica.org
Three West Melbourne Council seats, one shared ballot, top three win — no primary to clear and no machine to beat.
NEW YORK, August 18, 2026: Most independents spend the year fighting for ballot access. Lacey Villareal qualified on July 31 and went straight to the November ballot. Today, Independent Veterans of America (IVA) is proud to announce the endorsement of independent veteran candidate Lacey Villareal, running for the office of West Melbourne City Council.
Lacey Villareal is part of our new 2026 round of endorsed candidates for offices of all levels nationwide.
All IVA-endorsed candidates are outstanding independent leaders that will serve their communities with honor, stand strong as political independents, unify all voters, and bring hope to their home areas and to all Americans.
IVA is the first and only organization focused specifically on recruiting, supporting and electing independent and unaffiliated veteran candidates and incumbents. After launching on Independence Day (July 4th) 2024, generating strong membership growth and national media coverage, and historically endorsing 11 candidates last election cycle (including 4 winners), IVA’s 50-state outreach plan has succeeded in galvanizing an outstanding movement of independent veterans who are stepping up to serve at the local, state and federal level, driving independent reform and inspiring communities nationwide to come together and put country over party.
Lacey Villareal is part of an IVA plan to recruit, support, train and elect 100 independent veterans nationwide in 2026.
From the US Senate to local school board, we’ve found an incredible cohort of leaders who want to continue to serve, unite all Americans, reject both broken parties and make history.
IVA conducted a rigorous review process and is proud to announce that Lacey Villareal is part of a dynamic wave of leaders who represents the values and spirit of IVA — and the best of America.
About Lacey Villareal
Lacey Villareal is an 8-year Air Force veteran and military spouse running for West Melbourne City Council in Brevard County, Florida. After a lifetime in and around military service — 20 years as part of a military family — she is bringing service-first leadership to local government.
She is running for the city she lives in: for responsible growth that fits the community, stronger environmental stewardship, protected waterways, and a city hall where every resident has a voice — not just the ones with connections.
Her priorities are local and concrete: protecting the parks, trails, and green space that make West Melbourne a place families want to live; ensuring growth comes with real protection for the waterways this coast depends on; and investing in disaster and storm readiness so families and first responders are prepared before hurricane season, not scrambling after it.
Lacey qualified for the ballot on July 31, 2026. Three Council seats — Seats 4, 5, and 6 — are up on November 3. West Melbourne does not run them one-on-one: every candidate shares the ballot, and the top three vote-getters win. That is a real opening for an independent — no party primary to clear, no machine to beat, just residents deciding.
“I’ll serve our community the same way I served our Country. Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do — a motto I have lived by my entire life.”
— Lacey Villareal
“Independent Veterans of America is very proud to endorse independent Air Force veteran Lacey Villareal for West Melbourne City Council. In this time of war, division, turmoil, corruption and partisan failure, independent veteran Lacey Villareal represents hope for West Melbourne residents, for veterans, and for all Americans. Lacey Villareal also represents a game changing threat to both the Democrat and Republican parties and our country’s badly broken, hyper-partisan political system. She is an impressive, committed and serious leader that is uniting people of all backgrounds across Florida. She is an Air Force veteran and military spouse who is bringing service-first leadership to local government — answerable to the residents of West Melbourne, not to party bosses.”
— IVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff
About the Independent Movement
Independents are the future of American politics. And independent veterans are leading that future.
- 45% of all Americans consider themselves independents. They are the largest, fastest-growing and most-influential group of voters in the United States. And they are starving for leaders with integrity to support.
- There are more than 18 million veterans in America. And 49% of veterans self-identify as independent or unaffiliated voters. And that number is rising by the day.
- A majority of veterans are clear in their desire for less partisanship and more integrity in our leaders.
- Veterans vote. 98% of post-9/11 veterans recently surveyed said they planned to vote in 2024.
- A supermajority (65%) of young people (age 16-39) consider themselves independent and unaffiliated with either major party. This group includes millions of active duty and post-9/11 veterans.
Rieckhoff added, “Our endorsed independent veteran leaders come from different service branches, but are all united in their dedication to lead again now independently in elected office. These are leaders that all Americans can support, root for and believe in. IVA looks forward to continuing to introduce these bold leaders to America and to galvanizing support to help them win in November and make history. These leaders are the groundbreaking next wave of a new and rising movement. They are the plank owners that are building the foundation for waves of independent veteran leaders to come. A wave that will crest powerfully in 2026.”
From now until Election Day, IVA will organize and deploy resources aggressively to help Lacey Villareal and at least 99 other independent veterans win. On the airwaves, online and on the ground, IVA will add powerful reinforcements to help carry these candidates to victory on Election Day.
After Election Day, on Veterans Day (11/11), IVA will again unite these leaders, our community, and all Americans to offer non-partisan hope for the future and continue to build the independent veterans movement for decades to come.
IVA is also still accepting applications for endorsement for the pivotal 2026 elections on the IVA website endorsement page now.
About IVA
Independent Veterans of America (IVA) is the first organization in America to identify and empower the millions of politically independent/unaffiliated American veterans to defend and strengthen our democracy. IVA has support from a renowned group of advisors including Admiral Mike Mullen, historian Ken Burns, author Sebastian Junger, advocate Paul Rieckhoff, Medal of Freedom Recipient Bonnie Carroll, Independent Mayor of Colorado Springs Yemi Mobolade, Independent Mayor of Chattanooga Tim Kelly, and others. Led by and built around the unique power and potential of veterans, IVA is growing, deploying and electing a new generation of leaders who will protect the soul of the country we love, defend the values we hold dear, and improve our nation for generations to come.
This is the moment to answer the call. If you’re an independent veteran, or you’re an independent-curious Democrat or Republican, we invite you to declare your independence from the broken parties and join IVA.
Leave the partisan herds. Run with the independent pack.
Independent Veterans of America’s mission is to organize and elect independent veterans to support and defend our democracy and lead America to a stronger future. Learn more at www.IndependentVeteransOfAmerica.org
Every dollar goes straight into the fight — helping independent vets be seen, get traction, and win.
Donate to IVA