FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2016

Independent Parties Seeking National Coalition, Possible Presidential Candidate

Saint Paul - Leaders of the Independent Party of Oregon and the Independence Party of Minnesota have reached a "broad strokes" agreement on joining together to form a national coalition of moderate and centrist third parties. The parties will convene a national teleconference this summer to discuss joint nomination of a candidate for President. The group has identified potential third-party partners in multiple states.

“The Democratic and Republican parties are poised to nominate candidates with the highest negative poll ratings in history,” said Rob Harris, a Washington County attorney and member of the Oregon Independent Party State Council, who was central to the talks between the two parties. "With the two parties nominating historically unpopular candidates, this is a conversation that is long overdue. We believe voters are ready for a change"

"We have been in a long decline in the civility of the nation's politics with a matching rise in negative partisanship," echoed State Chair Phil Fuehrer of the Independence Party of Minnesota. "This year's Presidential spectacles have clearly shown it is time to discuss creating a better way."

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Independence Party of Minnesota
Independent Party of Oregon