Independents

/ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənts/ noun

Definition

People or groups who don't rely on others and make their own decisions without being controlled by larger organizations or parties.

Etymology

From Latin 'independens'—combining 'in-' (not) and 'dependens' (hanging from, relying on). Gained political meaning in the 1600s describing those outside established party structures.

Kelly Says

In politics, independents are the wild cards—they're not beholden to any party's playbook, which means they can vote however they think is best, but also that they rarely have the resources that party candidates do.

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