March 3rd, 2026
During the Independence Party’s monthly meeting, held on February 24th, 2026; Rich Whitney, the Party Chair, made an announcement to the Steering Committee and general party membership. He announced that the Steering Committee had made the official decision to nominate and endorse Andrew Cottingham as the Independence Party’s candidate for Illinois State Representative in the 112th District.
“We in the Independence Party heartily support Andrew Cottingham’s campaign to become our next State Representative in the 112th District. His innovative approach toward solving our state’s fiscal problems, while prioritizing the interests of working people struggling to get by, and protecting our environment, shows that he is the best qualified candidate for the office. He is exactly the kind of genuine representative of the people that we need in our General Assembly.” – Rich Whitney, Chair, Independence Party.
Upon hearing the endorsement, Andrew gladly accepted the party’s nomination to be their candidate for the 112th District. Andrew will be the fourth person to run under the new party’s label; in fact, he will be the first person to run under the new party’s label for the office of State Representative. Previous candidates include Calvin Coleman, who was the first Independence Party candidate to run for U.S. House in Illinois CD 2. Current candidates, besides Andrew, that are running under the Independency Party label in 2026 are Gary Pierce and Alejandro Cabrera, who are running for Governor and Lt. Governor of Illinois.
The focus of the Independence Party, a project of the Illinois Committee for Independent Political Action (ICIPA), for 2026 is to get Gary and Alex on the ballot with the goal of obtaining 5% of the vote, which would establish the Independence Party as a new political party in the state of Illinois. Success in this project would open the ballot line for Independent candidates for local, state, and federal offices across the State of Illinois, which currently has some of the most difficult ballot access requirements in the United States.
Illinois Ballot Access Hurdles:
- Higher petition signature count.
– Governor: 5,000 for Democrats & Republicans / 25,000 for Independent & Third-Parties.
– State Representative: 500 for Democrats & Republicans / 1,000-3,000 for Independent & Third-Parties. - Short petition window.
– Independent & Third-Parties have 90-days despite having significantly more signatures. - Different seasons for petition window.
– Summer and Fall for Democrats & Republicans. (Nice, warm weather with lots of events)
– Winter and Spring for Independent & Third-Parties. (Harsh, cold weather with few events) - Threat of legal challenges by the Democratic and Republican Party.
– Legal challenges cost time, labor, money, and resources that are already limited for Independents & Third-Parties. - Restrictions on petition circulators.
– Once a person circulates petitions for a candidate in one party, specifically an established party, they are barred from circulating petitions for Independent/Third-Party candidates. (Even if they are for different offices*)
– Example: A person who circulates a petition for a Democrat or Republican for U.S. Congress cannot circulate a petition for an Independent for State House/Senate.
As third-party candidates, Gary and Alex will have to gather a minimum of 25,000 valid signatures to get on the ballot in 2026; meanwhile, Andrew will have to collect a minimum of 2,600 signatures from District 112 to get on the ballot. As a result, both campaigns have agreed to assist one another through joint-petition efforts.
“I am thrilled to have received the official nomination and endorsement of the Independence Party, a party that I actively helped launch in April of 2025. Part of my decision to run for office solely relied on whether or not the party would actively support candidates down the ballot in addition to their gubernatorial campaign this year. I had ruled out running as a “pure Independent” early on because I did not want this campaign to become a “one-man-show” or a vanity project for myself. My priority in this campaign is to both advance policy and grow the third-party movement, and I know that it will take more than one candidate or race to do so, which is why I am so eager to make connections, build coalitions, and work together with other candidates and organizations. I am thankful to have the support of the Independence Party in these efforts, and I am look forward to the support I will receive from my friends, family, and community as I make this announcement.”
– Andrew Cottingham (IP Candidate for State Rep.)
The petitioning period for Independent/Third-Party candidates in Illinois officially started on February 25th, 2026, and will run until May 18th-26th, 2026. Team Cottingham, the Pierce/Cabrera Campaign, the Independence Party, and other nonpartisan candidates across the State of Illinois are actively gathering signatures to get on the ballot right now. With your help, and with your signature, you too can break free from the system!
Head over to our Ballot Access Page to learn more, or download the circulator’s guidebook and petition below to get started!
Gary Pierce for Governor
“I’ve spent a lifetime believing in the promise of America – the idea that everyone’s voice matters, that we can build a better nation through honest work and a commitment to our shared values. But lately, I’ve seen a system that is rigged against the ordinary citizen, a system that prioritizes power over people. It’s a concern that’s rooted in my faith – a belief that justice and fairness are God’s will.”
– Gary Pierce (IP Candidate for Governor)
Alex Cabrera for Lt. Governor
“I believe in the fundamental right to have your voice heard. But lately, it feels like that right is under attack – with confusing rules, hidden processes, and a lack of transparency. As a candidate, I’m not interested in partisan games. I’m interested in building an election system that actually works for the people – one that’s fair, verifiable, and truly reflects the will of the people.”
– Alejandro Cabrera (IP Candidate for Lt. Governor)
Disclaimer: These campaigns and organizations are ones I personally support. Links are provided for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by my campaign committee or solicitation of contributions
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