Has Your “Independent” Label Become a Political Pawn? – You Can Stop It.
Arizona Independents: this isn’t what you signed up for. You registered as Independent (or No Party Preference) to stay free to pick candidates on a case-by-case basis, and to focus on water, borders, schools, and costs.
Now a small group has rebranded a nearly dead No Labels chapter as the “Arizona Independent Party” and has partnered with Andrew Yang’s national Forward Party, which pushes ranked-choice voting, “approval voting”, alternative public safety models, more aggressive climate spending, among other hot button issues.
Yet right now a small group of political insiders is trying to blur the line between real independents like you and an actual political party that just changed its name to cash in on the word “independent.”
Known by critics and supporters alike as “Andrew Yang’s Wishlist” (progressive not conservative wish list):
- Key facts: October 2025: Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson’s team takes over and renames the No Labels party, now calling it the Arizona Independent Party.
- December 1, 2025: ~42,000 old No Labels registrations auto-switched to the new party—without asking these registered voters.
- Secretary of State Adrian Fontes approved it despite warnings from election officials and the Clean Elections Commission about widespread voter confusion.
The resulting current lawsuits in play, challenging the name change and Fontes’ approval:
- Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission (filed early December 2025).
- Arizona Democratic Party. (filed December 2025)
- Arizona Republican Party / RNC (filed mid-December 2025).
These center on claims of voter confusion, lack of authority for the change, and risks to voter rights in primaries. Outcomes are ongoing or unresolved as of early 2026.
The issue: “Independent” is now the official name of a party tied to a national group with specific policy goals most Arizonans don’t agree with. This risks confusing hundreds of thousands of true independents at the polls.
Real-world impact: You say “I’m independent” → poll workers or voters might assume you mean the Arizona Independent Party.
Unaffiliated voters currently pick ANY primary ballot.
Get mislabeled → you’re locked into the AIP primary ONLY.
In Arizona’s razor-thin races, confusion = real votes shifted.
Good news: You’re still in control.
If you’re currently “No Party Preference” / unaffiliated / independent (and never registered with No Labels), do nothing—you stay fully independent.
If you were ever No Labels and don’t want this switch, update your registration in ~60 seconds online.
Check your status right now – here.
Unaffiliated voters currently pick ANY primary ballot.
Arizona independents are the state’s largest voting bloc.
Protect that power.
Demand clear labels, no surprise switches.
Respect what “independent” actually means.
Check today. Tell a friend. Keep your vote yours.