Des Moines, IA –
The Forward Party today announced its endorsement of two independent candidates running for Congress in Iowa: Michael Bridgford in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District and Dave Bushaw in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. The endorsements reflect the party’s commitment to supporting candidates who prioritize practical solutions, accountability, and responsive leadership over partisan politics.
As voters across Iowa continue to express frustration with political gridlock and rising polarization, both candidates are offering independent alternatives focused on addressing the issues that most directly impact Iowan communities.
“Dave Bushaw and Michael Bridgford represent the kind of leadership that voters are increasingly seeking: leaders who are focused on solving problems rather than advancing partisan agendas. Both candidates have deep roots in their communities, understand the challenges facing everyday Iowans, and are committed to delivering practical solutions. Their campaigns embody the Forward Party’s belief that government works best when elected officials are accountable to the people they serve rather than political parties.”
-Lindsey Drath, Forward Party CEO
Michael Bridgford — Iowa’s 1st Congressional District
Bridgford is running in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, where voters are preparing for another high-profile rematch between the Republican and Democratic nominees. As an independent candidate, Bridgford is offering a different approach centered on bridging political divides and focusing on issues that directly affect Iowa families.
Raised on a family farm outside the Quad Cities that his family has operated since the 1830s, Bridgford experienced firsthand the challenges facing rural communities and agricultural families. The farm crisis forced his family out of hog farming and nearly cost them their land, experiences that continue to shape his perspective on economic opportunity and public policy.
His campaign focuses on:
- Bridging political divides and restoring respect and civility in public life
- Addressing “kitchen table” issues such as cost of living, economic opportunity, and rural healthcare access
- Supporting Iowa’s agricultural communities and rural economies
- Providing voters with an alternative to partisan gridlock and recurring political rematches
- Demonstrating that independent candidates can successfully compete and govern outside the two-party system
Unaffiliated voters now represent the largest share of registered voters in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, showing that many residents are looking for an alternative to traditional partisan politics and the negative campaigning that has characterized recent election cycles – and Bridgford is prepared to serve as a solution.
“Iowa’s 1st District has watched the same two candidates face off three elections in a row. Voters deserve a third option, not as a protest, but as a genuine alternative,” says Michael Bridgford. “I believe an independent member of Congress, accountable to no party, can be the most effective representative this district has ever had. The people of Iowa’s 1st District sent me a message when I filed those petitions: they’re ready for something different.”
Dave Bushaw – Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
A lifelong northeast Iowan, one of the youngest first-generation farmland owners in the U.S., and the eldest son of a working-class family, Bushaw is the only independent candidate in this race. From detasseling corn and working in a chicken hatchery and meat-processing facility while in high school to becoming a self-made farmland owner at age 19, Bushaw’s experiences have shaped his campaign’s focus on the challenges facing working-class families and rural communities. A longtime labor advocate, folk musician, and community organizer, he has spent years working alongside workers, farmers, and rural residents across the country while building his own squash farm and organizing in communities throughout Iowa.
His campaign emphasizes:
- Addressing the economic and quality-of-life concerns affecting working-class Iowans
- Advancing practical, solutions-oriented policies rather than partisan talking points
- Increasing accountability and accessibility in government
- Building a roadmap for effective independent leadership outside the traditional two-party system
- Ensuring rural communities have a stronger voice in Washington
Bushaw has spent fourteen years organizing in communities across Iowa, building a grassroots network of supporters and working with people from different political backgrounds to advance shared goals. That community-centered approach helped him become the first No Party congressional candidate in Iowa to qualify for the ballot in decades, collecting more than 150% of the signatures required for ballot access, and reflects the kind of leadership the Forward Party supports. He argues that many Americans feel overlooked by both major parties and is running on the belief that leaders should focus on real, actionable solutions over ideological posturing and serving special interests disconnected from working-class families.
“The numbers are crystal clear: ‘No Party’ independent voters are the largest voting bloc in Iowa’s 2nd District,” says Dave Bushaw. “Northeast Iowa voters will have an option on the November 3rd ballot that isn’t beholden to the corrupt two parties and their billionaire owners. That’s non-negotiable.”
The Forward Party’s endorsement of Dave Bushaw and Michael Bridgford reflects its broader effort to support candidates who prioritize true civic engagement and effective representation through problem solving over pandering.
Both candidates have pledged to establish an independent caucus if elected. Forward believes that a bloc of independent lawmakers, large enough to deny either major party an outright majority, can help reshape congressional incentives and create greater opportunities for coalition-building and results-oriented governance. The party works to advance a more responsive political system by backing leaders who are committed to delivering results and rebuilding trust in government.
The elections for Iowa’s 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts will take place on November 3, 2026. More information is available at forwardparty.com/candidates.
