FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Press@IndependentVeteransOfAmerica.org
Independent Veterans of America Announces Second Round
of 2024 Candidate Endorsements
Marine Corps and Air Force vets Aguilar and Shaffer in California join Navy Vet Dan Osborn and inaugural group
NEW YORK, October 29, 2024: Today, as the nation’s eyes are focused on the most partisan presidential election of our lifetime’s, Independent Veterans of America (IVA) announced two new additions to 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 (Independents) Day and generating strong membership growth and national media coverage (including a feature piece in The Military Times), IVA’s 50-state outreach plan has succeeded in identifying an outstanding inaugural group of independent veteran candidates 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.
In September, IVA announced our first round of independent candidates including Navy Veteran Dan Osborn for US Senate in Nebraska, Army Veteran Shelane Etchison for Congress in North Carolina, and Marine Corps Veteran Tyrell Hicks for State House in Florida and six others. Osborn is now making history, leading in many polls, and could be America’s first independent veteran in the US Senate.
The independent veteran leaders that have earned IVA’s 2024 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 two additional independent leaders are joining the other endorsed 2024 IVA candidates:
Luciano Aguilar. Air Force Veteran. Independent Candidate for Mayor of Hawthorne, California.
Aguilar is running against a 10-year incumbent Republican hardliner Alex Vargas, Democrat L. David Patterson and Democrat Leithelle Williams. None of them are veterans.
Aguilar grew up in Hawthorne, met his wife in Hawthorne and only left Hawthorne to serve in the Air Force for 10 years. During his military service, he held roles ranging from translator in the jungles of Latin America to Security Response leader safeguarding vital national resources. His distinguished military tenure culminated as a member of the Presidential K9 team, where he was entrusted with the security of U.S. Presidents and international dignitaries including kings, queens, and heads of state. He is now running to be the independent Mayor of the same town he grew up in.
Aguilar has said, “Due to the oath I took upon entering the military, I chose and continue to choose to be non-partisan. This decision stems from my duty to follow the orders of those appointed over me, regardless of who is elected. Currently, I do not adhere strictly to party lines because I believe my primary obligation is to serve the people who elected me. Often, party affiliation requires setting aside personal beliefs to conform to the party’s stance, but I believe in standing on my own two feet for the betterment of our community.”
“I am running for office because I deeply love Hawthorne, the city where I grew up, raised my kids, and built my business. I want to bring positive change to the community I care about by addressing key issues like homelessness, affordable housing, and attracting businesses. My goal is to fight for what residents and business owners want and need, walking the line rather than leaning toward one political side.”
Luke Shaffer. Marine Corps Veteran. Independent Candidate for Encinitas, California City Council, District 1.
Shaffer is running against Democrat Allison Blackwell–who is not a veteran.
Shaffer is running a strong and dynamic campaign to bring the discipline and values he learned while in the military to help to improve his community.
Shaffer served as an F/A-18 pilot in the US Marine Corps’ highly regarded “Black Knights” squadron based in Miramar. In the USMC, Shaffer was recognized for his leadership in combat and training situations, both overseas in the air and on the ground. He led a deployment in Iraq, training local police officers to combat terrorism, and was known for making critical decisions, prioritizing safety, and uniting his team for successful outcomes. Shaffer left the USMC honorably, with many decorations, to spend more time with his family and raise his kids in the same coastal beach town he grew up in. He is a coach at LCC High School and now running to represent the community he was raised in.
Recently, Shaffer shared, “I am running for city council because, as a life-long resident, former military officer, and pilot, I have witnessed the value of leadership, accountability, and dedication to service. Our city deserves leaders who embody these principles. My military experience taught me how to navigate complex challenges and make critical decisions under pressure. I want to bring that same focus and determination to our local government, ensuring our city is prepared not only for today’s challenges but also for those we all face in the future.
I am an Independent because I believe in prioritizing the people over partisan politics. During my military career, my decisions were always mission-driven, focused on the welfare of my team rather than party lines. As an Independent, I am committed to bringing that same mindset to city governance — focused on practical, common-sense solutions rather than rigid party ideology. My loyalty is to the community and its best interests, not to any political faction.”
IVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff said, “These two additional independent candidates represent hope for all Americans. They also represent a threat to our country’s badly broken, hyper-partisan political system. They are both hometown heroes who have returned to the places they love to serve again. They represent strong, dynamic and independent leaders that their communities can count on. And all Americans can be inspired by.
“Anyone who has met Luciano can feel his deep dedication to his community and his country. From the Air Force to his community service to starting his own business, Luciano is a role model and an inspiration. He is exactly the kind of independent veteran leader that Hawthorne needs now and Independent Veterans of America is very proud to endorse him.”
“Luke is a strong, dedicated and independent leader. From his fellow Marines in combat to the young men he’s coached at LCC High School on the football fields, everyone who’s met Luke knows that he’s a leader who can handle tough times. He is the clear choice for Encinitas City Council District 2 and Independent Veterans of America is very proud to endorse him.”
Aguilar and Shaffer now join Travis Endicott, candidate for Mayor of Ridgecrest and Eric Faulkner, candidate for Temecula City Council among IVA’s list of endorsed candidates from California.
Rieckhoff added, “California is a state with one of the highest populations of veterans and active duty military in the nation. It’s also now a hotbed for the rise of the independent veterans movement. Luciano, Luke, Travis and Eric are leading the way for California, for the independent veterans movement, and for all Americans.”
They now join the most impressive, most committed and most serious group of independent candidates ever fielded. IVA’s 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 truly independent leaders that all Americans can support, root for and believe in. IVA looks forward to continuing to introduce these bold leaders to more Americas and to galvanizing support to help them win next week. If you’re frustrated, demoralized or outraged by American politics, IVA is offering an inspiring and independent alternative. 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,” Rieckhoff concluded.
IVA’s full list of 2024 endorsed independent veteran candidates can be found here.
They are led most prominently by Dan Osborn–who is making national headlines and in position to shock the political world next week. And they are the tip of the spear for a much larger independent movement.
- 51% of all Americans now 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 all 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 troops and post-9/11 veterans.
IVA’s 501 (c) (4) and PAC are raising and deploying resources aggressively to help our endorsed candidates win. On the airwaves, online and on the ground, IVA is adding powerful reinforcements to help them to victory on Election Day. We are deploying a full-spectrum of political tactics ranging from direct mail to digital ads to text and phone messages to guerilla marketing at local football games.
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.
Admiral Mike Mullen, Mayor Yemi Mobolade, Sebastian Junger, Michael Smerconish, Ken Burns, Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, Bonnie Carroll, Eric Bronner, Yinka Faleti, John Opdycke, Andrew Yang and others comprise a diverse and dynamic group of independent leaders and veterans serve on the IVA advisory committee.
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.
Learn more at www.IndependentVeteransOfAmerica.org
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