IVA Announces Endorsement in the Tennessee 7th Congressional District Special Election

Veteran Jon Thorp is the Truly Independent Alternative to the Partisan Extremes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Press@IndependentVeteransOfAmerica.org

NEW YORK, November 28, 2025: Today, in advance of the upcoming special elections in Tennessee next week, Independent Veterans of America (IVA) is proud to announce our endorsement of an outstanding independent veteran candidate who is stepping up and leading the charge.

This latest endorsed candidate is an outstanding independent leader that will serve his community with honor, stand strong as a political independent, unify voters, and bring hope to his home area and to all Americans.

IVA is proud to endorse Jon Thorp.

Jon Thorp, Independent Candidate for TN-7

Jon Thorp is an Independent candidate for the U.S. Congress in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election, scheduled for December 2, 2025. He is a combat Army veteran, air ambulance pilot, and holds a master’s degree in economics.

Core Platform:

Thorp positions himself as an anti-partisan reformer against the entrenched two-party system. His main priorities include:

Restoring Accountability: Calls for term limits, election reform, strict lobbying transparency, and campaign finance reform.
Economic Prosperity: Advocates for balancing the federal budget, lowering and simplifying taxes, and reducing red tape for small businesses.
Individual Liberty: Emphasizes protecting constitutional rights, including strong support for the Second Amendment, limiting government overreach, and defending privacy.

“In this time of division, turmoil, corruption and partisan failure, independent candidates represent hope for all Americans. IVA is proud to endorse John Thorp for this critical special election race. Jon represents a nationwide movement, rising to challenge both the Democrat and Republican parties and our country’s badly broken, hyper-partisan political system. Jon joins an impressive, committed and serious group of independent candidates we’ve endorsed over the last two years. They are all strong, moderate and reasonable men and women representing the best of America, their communities and the independent movement. IVA candidates like Jon come from different service branches, but are all united in their dedication to lead again now independently in elected office. 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.” IVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff stated.

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 (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. Now after multiple victories in the 2025 cycle, IVA is proud to endorse in this final election of 2025.

IVA conducted a rigorous review and interview process and is proud to announce that this dynamic leader has been selected for 2025 endorsement.

He joins our growing cadre of independent veteran leaders that have earned IVA’s endorsement and represent a diverse group in age, military branch, background, gender and geography. They come from different states and are running to serve in offices as high as Governor and as local as the school board.

Independents are the future of American politics. And independent veterans are leading that future.

~49% 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.

IVA is now accepting applications for endorsement for the pivotal 2026 elections on the IVA website endorsement page.

We expect this to be our largest and most powerful cohort of independent veteran leaders yet and will announce our first round of 2026 endorsements soon.

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 Mayor Yemi Mobolade 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.

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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