Independent Indiana is building on the momentum of its launch last week with a new statewide television ad campaign showcasing what it looks like when communities elect independent leaders.

“The response to our launch was even better than we anticipated,” said Independent Indiana executive director Nathan Gotsch. “It's clear that Hoosier voters across the state are looking for something different than the status quo, and we're excited for even more of them to learn about the benefits of voting for independent candidates through this new ad.”

The 30-second spot, which will begin airing next week, features residents in Huntington reflecting on their experiences under independent Mayor Richard Strick, who is currently in his second term leading the city.

“I just don’t feel like we fit into either political party,” says one woman featured in the ad. 

“It was a really empowering experience to vote for an independent in my community,” notes another. “Independent leaders are authentic to who they are.”

The commercial can be viewed at independentindiana.org/ad.

The campaign marks the latest push by Independent Indiana, a nonprofit initiative launched last week with the goal of spotlighting the growing number of nonpartisan candidates across the state. According to figures released at the launch, 244 independent candidates qualified for partisan races in 2023 and 2024, with 52 percent winning their contests. Nearly a third of those who lost still captured between 30 and 49 percent of the vote.

In addition to the television buy, Independent Indiana is introducing new billboards this week in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville and Merrillville. One features Strick, while another highlights former Bedford mayor Shawna Girgis, who served three terms as an independent beginning in 2008.

The effort comes as research shows Indiana voters are increasingly unaffiliated with either major party. An analysis by the Independent Voter Project found that nearly 44 percent of Hoosiers are independents, compared with about 31 percent Republican and 25 percent Democratic.

Gotsch said the organization sees the ads as a way to broaden awareness. “We want every Hoosier voter to know that independent candidates are already succeeding around the state, despite the structural barriers preventing them from competing on a level playing field with Republicans and Democrats,” he said.

The group is also organizing two upcoming events. On Sept. 18, it will host a virtual conversation with former Forward Party national organizing director Will Conway and ballot access expert Christopher Thrasher. 

Four days later, on Sept. 22, Strick and Girgis will join former state representative Tom Saunders—now an independent town council member in Lewisville—for a panel discussion at Tinker House in Indianapolis. Both events are free to attend with advance registration at independentindiana.org.