Press Release: Independent Veterans of America Announces First 2024 Candidate Endorsements

Independent Veterans of America Announces First 2024 Candidate Endorsements
Ahead of the Presidential Debate and Inaugural 9/11 Celebration of Service in NYC

9 Candidates Named From 6 States Running in Elections from US Senate to County Attorney

Osborn, Etchison, Hicks visit NYC and 9/11 Memorial & Museum

NEW YORK, September 10, 2024: Today, as the nation’s eyes are focused on the most partisan presidential debate in our lifetime, and in advance of the anniversary of 9/11, Independent Veterans of America (IVA) announced their 2024 independent veteran candidate endorsements.

IVA is the first and only organization focused specifically on recruiting and electing independent and unaffiliated veteran candidates and incumbents. After launching on Independence Day (July 4th) and generating strong membership growth and national media coverage (including a recent feature piece in The Military Times), IVA’s 50-state outreach plan has succeeded in identifying an outstanding group of independent veterans who are leading at the local, state and federal level, supporting independent reform, and inspiring communities nationwide to come together and put country over party.

IVA reviewed independent veteran candidates at all levels from local school boards to the US Senate. IVA did not review and is not supporting any candidate for President or Vice President this year.

The independent veteran leaders that have earned IVA’s inaugural endorsement represent a diverse group in age, military branch, background, gender and geography. They come from 6 different states and are running to serve in offices as high as the United States Senate and as local as County Attorney.

IVA is proud to share that this dynamic group of independent leaders includes:

Dan Osborn. Navy Veteran. Independent Candidate for US Senate from Nebraska. Osborn is running neck and neck with Republican incumbent Deb Fischer. Fischer is not a veteran and there is no Democrat in the race.

Shelane Etchison. Army Veteran. Independent Candidate for Congress from North Carolina’s 9th District (which includes Fort Liberty/formerly Fort Bragg). Etchison is running against incumbent Republican Richard Hudson and Democrat Nigel Bristow. Neither are veterans.

Travis Endicott. Navy Veteran. Independent Candidate for Mayor of Ridgecrest, California. (Population 27,959, adjacent to Naval Weapons Air Station China Lake). Endicott is running against incumbent Republican Eric Bruen who is not a veteran. There is no Democrat in the race.

Nick Batter. Army Veteran. Independent Candidate for Nebraska State Legislature, District #13. Omaha, Nebraska. Batter is running against Democrat Ashlei Spivey who is not a veteran. There is no Republican in the race.

Tyrell Hicks. Marine Corps Veteran. Independent Candidate for Florida State House, District #68. Plant City, Florida. Hicks is running against incumbent Republican Lawrence McClure and Democrat Lisa Carpus. Neither are veterans.

James Bledsoe. Army Veteran. Independent Candidate for Raleigh City Council, At-Large. Raleigh, North Carolina. Bledsoe is running for one of two At-large seats against Incumbent Democrat Jonathan Melton, Incumbent Democrat Stormie Forte, Democrat Robert Steele, Socialist Joshua Bradley, Socialist Reeves Peeler Socialist Party, and Katherine Pate (party affiliation unknown). Among them, only Steele is a veteran.

Eric Faulkner. Navy Veteran. Independent Candidate for Temecula City Council, District #2. Temecula, California. Faulkner is running against incumbent Republican Jessica Alexander, who is a USMC veteran.

Craig Evenson. Army Veteran. Independent Candidate for Deuel County State’s Attorney. Clear Lake, South Dakota. Evenson is running unopposed.

Jason Taylor. Air Force Veteran. Independent Candidate for Learning Community Coordinating Council, District #6, Gretna, Nebraska. Taylor is running against incumbent Republican Tim Hall who is a Navy veteran and Republican Mike Elkins who is not a veteran.

“These independent candidates represent hope for all Americans. They also represent a threat to both the Democrat and Republican parties and our country’s badly broken, hyper-partisan political system. This is the most impressive, most committed and most serious group of independent candidates ever fielded. These strong, moderate and reasonable men and women represent the best of America, their communities and the independent movement. They are Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines–all united in their dedication to lead again now independently in elected office. From California to South Dakota to Florida and from the United States Senate to Learning Community Coordinating Council in Greta, Nebraska, these are leaders that all Americans can support, root for and believe in. IVA looks forward to introducing these bold leaders to America and to galvanizing support to help them win in November. These men and women are the groundbreaking first wave of a new and rising movement. They are the plank owners that will create the foundation for waves of independent veteran leaders to come,” IVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff stated.

“9/11 is always a unique day of national unity. These IVA candidates speak to and embody the true spirit of 9/11. They are demonstrating the same spirit of unity, patriotism and strong American leadership that we witnessed on that fateful day to meet this moment now. These independent veteran leaders uniquely appreciate and are stepping up to defend our core American values. These men and women live country over party. And they are uniquely powerful and appealing to voters of all backgrounds. From coast to coast, they are leaders that are ready now to step up to serve our country again in this time of need. If an IVA-endorsed veteran is running from your area, we encourage you to learn more about that candidate and support that leader in any way that you can.” Rieckhoff added.

IVA Founder Paul Rieckhoff and all IVA-endorsed candidates are available this week and on 9/11 to media nationally and locally in the New York City area.

On Wednesday evening in New York, IVA will introduce some of the candidates at a special 9/11 “IVA Celebration of Service” event at the historic Fraunces Tavern. Fraunces is the legendary bar and restaurant that George Washington (the original independent American veteran) called his own. Dan Osborn, Shelane Etchison and Tyrell Hicks will speak at the event hosted by filmmaker Ken Burns, author Sebastian Junger, Filmmaker Lauren Hale-Rieckhoff, Forward Party Founder Andrew Yang and others. The event is sponsored by Veterans for All Voters Action, Open Primaries and Righteous Media, tickets are still available, and press are invited to attend. The candidates will also meet with 9/11 First Responders and visit the 9/11 National Memorial.

IVA will continue to accept candidate applications for 2024 endorsements until Election Day via the IVA website endorsement page. Applications will also be accepted now for 2025, 2026 and beyond.

~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.

From now until Election Day, IVA will raise and deploy resources aggressively to help these endorsed candidates win. On the airwaves, online and on the ground, IVA will add powerful reinforcements to help them to victory on Election Day.

After Election Day, on Veterans Day (11/11), IVA will again unite 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.

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. 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 and join IVA.

Leave the herds. Run with the 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.

Meet all of the candidates and learn more at independentveteransofamerica.org/candidates/