In the U.S., it’s hard to get elected if you don’t have an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ after your name. There are only two members of Congress who aren’t Republicans or Democrats. Both are senators from New England, Angus King from Maine and Bernie Sanders from Vermont. Both call themselves independents, even though Sanders ran for president as a Democrat.
Eric Agnew from Liberty Lake, Washington has decided to go the independent route. He’s running against Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers for her eastern Washington seat in the U-S House. Lisa Brown and Matthew Sutherland are the Democrats in the race.
Agnew’s mantra is “country over party.” He’s a business manager for Itron and an adjunct professor in Gonzaga’s graduate school for business.