# Forward Independence Party

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The **Forward Independence Party**, a reverse merger of the **Forward Party of Minnesota** and the **Independence-Alliance Party of Minnesota**, formerly the **Independence Party**, and also formerly the **Reform Party of Minnesota** (1996–2000), is a [political party](/source/List_of_political_parties_in_the_United_States) in the [U.S. state](/source/U.S._state) of [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota). It was the party of former [Minnesota governor](/source/Governor_of_Minnesota) [Jesse Ventura](/source/Jesse_Ventura) when he left the [Reform Party](/source/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America).

Originally an affiliate of the [Reform Party](/source/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America), the IPM was later affiliated with the [Independence Party of America](/source/Independence_Party_of_America) and for a time had no national affiliation. But between 2019 and 2025, it was affiliated with the [Alliance Party](/source/Alliance_Party_(United_States)). The party has fielded candidates for most state-wide races and was considered a major party by the state from 1994 to 2014.[1][2] It lost that status when none of its state-wide candidates won 5% of the vote in the [2014 gubernatorial election](/source/2014_Minnesota_gubernatorial_election).

The party, which was represented in the [U.S. Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) by [Dean Barkley](/source/Dean_Barkley) in 2002–2003, nominated former [U.S. Representative](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) [Tim Penny](/source/Tim_Penny) as its candidate in the [2002 gubernatorial election](/source/2002_Minnesota_gubernatorial_election), [Peter Hutchinson](/source/Peter_Hutchinson_(politician)) in [2006](/source/2006_Minnesota_gubernatorial_election) and Tom Horner in [2010](/source/2010_Minnesota_gubernatorial_election).

## History

### Early Independence and Reform parties

Phil Madsen and other [Ross Perot](/source/Ross_Perot) supporters formed the Independence Party of Minnesota in [Bloomington, Minnesota](/source/Bloomington,_Minnesota), on July 22, 1992. [Dean Barkley](/source/Dean_Barkley) ran for a seat in the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) in the [1992 election](/source/1992_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections).[3]

Other supporters led by Don Dow, State Director, and Victoria Staten, Assistant State Director and Ross Perot's spokesperson on NAFTA, worked as part of [United We Stand America](/source/United_We_Stand_America), and some eventually found their way to the Independence Party after the elections. Over the following years, the party began to field candidates in other state races.

On June 22, 1996, the party affiliated with the [Reform Party of the United States of America](/source/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America) and became the Reform Party of Minnesota (RPMN).[3]

[Bob Lessard](/source/Bob_Lessard) of [International Falls](/source/International_Falls,_Minnesota) joined the party in 2001 after he was re-elected to the Senate as an independent with 54.3% of the vote.[4] [Sheila Kiscaden](/source/Sheila_Kiscaden), a incumbent Republican, was reelected to the [Minnesota Senate](/source/Minnesota_Senate) in 2002 with the party's nomination after she failed to win the Republican nomination.[5]

### Return to the Independence Party

The state party carried the Reform Party of Minnesota name until it disaffiliated from the national party in 2000 due to factional dissent and the increasing influence of [Pat Buchanan](/source/Pat_Buchanan) within the party. The party immediately changed its name back to Independence Party on March 4, 2000.[6][3] After his most influential opponents left the party, Buchanan went on to become the Reform Party's candidate for president.

On 2004's [Super Tuesday](/source/Super_Tuesday), March 2, the party held [caucuses](/source/Caucus) around the state along with Minnesota's other three parties. Since the organization had no national party affiliation, it merely ran a [straw poll](/source/Straw_poll) to gauge the opinions of members with regard to the available presidential candidates in the [2004 election](/source/U.S._presidential_election,_2004). For the poll, the group used [instant-runoff voting](/source/IRV_implementations_in_United_States#Independence_Party_of_Minnesota_.282004_Presidential_poll.29), a voting method that has been gaining interest in the state. Additionally, the party had several fairly progressive agenda items to vote on. For a bit of levity, there was also a vote on the [mascot](/source/Mascot) to use for the party. Three top possibilities were the [bison](/source/American_Bison), [hawk](/source/Hawk), and [white buffalo](/source/White_buffalo). Technology was also involved in the IPM's caucusing, as it used the Internet to conduct a two-day online "virtual caucus" for people who were unable to attend the evening of Super Tuesday. [citation needed]

On March 5, 2004, the party announced that the presidential winner was [John Edwards](/source/John_Edwards), who had privately circulated his decision to withdraw shortly before IP members voted. The Super Tuesday ballot was probably the first statewide experiment in instant-runoff voting. [citation needed] The Bison, to be named Indy, won the mascot vote, out-polling the nearest competitors by a 19% margin.[citation needed]

In May 2005, [Peter Hutchinson](/source/Peter_Hutchinson_(politician)), who was [Minnesota Finance Commissioner](/source/Minnesota_Department_of_Finance) in the [Rudy Perpich](/source/Rudy_Perpich) administration, announced that he was planning to seek the Independence Party's nomination for governor in the 2006 election. Hutchinson finished 3rd of 6 earning 141,735 votes for 6.4% of the total vote.[7]

In the 2006 elections, IP [5th district congressional candidate](/source/Minnesota's_5th_congressional_district_election,_2006) Tammy Lee received 51,456 votes for 21.01% of the total vote.[8] Lee's strong showing resulted in part from her unusually strong (for third parties) fundraising, Lee raised $228,938[9] for her run.

In May 2008, a "[Draft](/source/Draft_(politics)) Dean Barkley" movement started [on the web](https://web.archive.org/web/20130831231116/http://www.draftdeanbarkley.com/) to encourage the former senator to run again. He accepted, and [finished third](/source/United_States_Senate_election_in_Minnesota,_2008), winning a significant 15% of all votes cast. His candidacy had a significant impact on a race in which the eventual winner [Al Franken](/source/Al_Franken) and then-incumbent Senator [Norm Coleman](/source/Norm_Coleman) were separated by only 312 votes. Two other federal candidates, David Dillon in the 3rd congressional district and Bob Anderson in the 6th congressional district, received 10% of the vote in their races. 2008 is the high-water mark for the Minnesota Independence Party in both the number of federal candidates running and the percent of vote received—both key measures of the base of support.

In 2010, gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner, a former public relations executive and chief of staff to U.S. Senator [David Durenberger](/source/David_Durenberger) received 12% of the vote,[10] nearly doubling the total of previous IP gubernatorial candidate [Peter Hutchinson](/source/Peter_Hutchinson_(politician)). Horner polled as high as 18% in the weeks leading up to the election,[11] but was significantly outspent by the GOP and DFL candidates and the third-party expenditure groups supporting their candidacies. Horner did receive endorsement from three of the state's five living ex-governors: Republicans [Arne Carlson](/source/Arne_Carlson) and [Al Quie](/source/Al_Quie) as well as Ventura. Former U.S. Senate candidate and prominent Minnesota attorney [Mike Ciresi](/source/Michael_V._Ciresi) also endorsed Horner.[12] Most Minnesota newspapers including the *[Star Tribune](/source/Star_Tribune)*, *[St. Paul Pioneer Press](/source/St._Paul_Pioneer_Press)*, *[St. Cloud Times](/source/St._Cloud_Times)*, *[Duluth News Tribune](/source/Duluth_News_Tribune)*, and *[Rochester Post-Bulletin](/source/Rochester_Post-Bulletin)*, as well as North Dakota's *[Grand Forks Herald](/source/Grand_Forks_Herald)* endorsed the IP candidate.[13]

In 2014, the Independence Party endorsed several candidates for state and national office: Hannah Nicollet for [governor](/source/Minnesota_gubernatorial_election,_2014), Kevin Terrell for [U.S. Senate](/source/United_States_Senate_election_in_Minnesota,_2014), attorney Brandan Borgos for Minnesota Attorney General, whistleblower Pat Dean for state auditor, Bob Helland for secretary of state, John Denney for US congress CD-6, [Paula Overby](/source/Paula_Overby) for US congress CD-2 and Iraq War veteran Dave Thomas for US congress CD-4.[14]

In [2016](/source/Evan_McMullin_presidential_campaign,_2016), the party endorsed [Evan McMullin](/source/Evan_McMullin), a former [CIA](/source/CIA) agent and former chief policy director for the [House Republican Conference](/source/House_Republican_Conference), for [President](/source/President_of_the_United_States).[15]

### Forward Party merger

In 2025, the Independence Party merged with the Minnesota affiliate of the [Forward Party](/source/Forward_Party_(United_States)) and became the "Forward Independence Party of Minnesota"[16]

## Platform

Historically, the Independence Party of Minnesota tended to lean [conservative](/source/Conservatism_in_the_United_States) with regards to taxation and other fiscal matters. For example, "personal responsibility" is a core principle of the party as is a "[G]overnment that is fiscally responsible: equitable in its collection of taxes, careful in its spending, and honest in its financial reporting." Many IP candidates have campaigned for tax reform that produces more stable revenues for the state. The IP platform states, "We support government budgets that are structurally balanced and avoid shifting of expenses or borrowing to make them appear balanced."

In social policy the party tends to take more [liberal](/source/Modern_liberalism_in_the_United_States)-[libertarian](/source/Libertarianism_in_the_United_States) positions on issues such as [abortion](/source/Abortion), [gay marriage](/source/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States), and civil rights and liberties. One of its core principles is that "All citizens deserve equal rights, protection, and opportunity under the law. In our party and public affairs, we are ever vigilant to promote only those rules and laws which assure equity and freedom for all citizens."[17]

[Jesse Ventura](/source/Jesse_Ventura) described the party, as well as his own personal philosophy, as "[fiscally conservative](/source/Fiscal_conservatism) and [socially liberal](/source/Cultural_liberalism)."

At the party's state convention in 2012, delegates passed three new resolutions. One addressed the party's opposition to raiding dedicated state funds to balance general obligations. A second expressed frustration with the overuse of constitutional amendments. A third proposed eliminating legislative pay in the event of a state shutdown like the one that occurred in the summer of 2011.[18] Party delegates also adopted two standing resolutions against both the marriage amendment and the voter ID amendment on the state ballot in November 2012.[19]

During the 2013 IP convention, the body amended the party platform to support the legalization, taxation and regulation of [marijuana](/source/Marijuana).[20] Delegates also lifted the party's prohibition on receiving money from political action committees, citing the need to instead fight for transparency and accountability in Minnesota campaign spending in the aftermath of *[Citizens United](/source/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission)*.[21]

## Partners

The Independence Party of Minnesota joined the Minnesotans United for All Families coalition in 2011 after chair Mark Jenkins announced the party's official opposition to the marriage amendment, citing the party's own platform in its opposition.[22]

The IP is also a longtime supporter of ranked choice voting (RCV) and FairVote Minnesota, which seeks to expand RCV throughout Minnesota.[23] The party uses RCV to conduct intraparty endorsements including delegates' decision to "not endorse" for U.S. Senate in 2012.

Following the party's official vote to oppose the 2012 voter ID amendment, the campaign seeking to defeat the amendment, "Our Vote, Our Future", announced former IP gubernatorial candidate Tim Penny as one of its campaign co-chairs.[24] Another former IP gubernatorial candidate, Tom Horner, was named as a member of the group's advisory committee.[25]

On May 4, 2019, the Independence Party of Minnesota merged with [Alliance Party](/source/Alliance_Party_(United_States)), joining other third parties including the [Modern Whig Party](/source/Modern_Whig_Party), the [American Party of South Carolina](/source/American_Party_of_South_Carolina), and the American Moderates.[26]

The Independence-Alliance Party of Minnesota and Forward Party of Minnesota merged in conventions on July 26, 2025. The new name is Forward Independence.[27] There was some confusion, as the Independence-Alliance Party of Minnesota was affiliated with the [Alliance Party](/source/Alliance_Party_(United_States)) on the national level. State Independence-Alliance Party officials said they would continue a "dual national affiliation" until the 2027 party convention by which time they hope both national branches will merge.[28] In the end, they decided to have a "collaborative relationship" with the Alliance Party and encourage national merger talks. The parties agreed to merge in a reverse merger with the Forward name merging into the Independence party legal structure.

## Governor Tickets

Year Candidate Votes % Won 1998 Jesse Ventura 773,713 36.99 2002 Tim Penny 364,534 16.2 2006 Peter Hutchinson 141,735 6.43 2010 Tom Horner 251,487 11.94 2014 Hannah Nicollet 56,900 2.88 2018 No Candidate 2022 Hugh McTavish 18,156 0.72

## Presidential tickets

Year Presidential nominee National Affiliation Votes in Minnesota 1992 Endorsed Ross Perot Independent 23.96% 1996 Ross Perot Reform Party 11.75% 2000 Pat Buchanan Reform Party 0.91% 2004 No Endorsement 2008 2012 2016 Evan McMullin Independent 1.80% 2020 Rockey De La Fuente Alliance Party 0.17% 2024 No Endorsement

## Notable members

- [Dean Barkley](/source/Dean_Barkley) – U.S. Senator from Minnesota: 2002–2003 (Appointed by Ventura to fill a vacancy due to [Paul Wellstone](/source/Paul_Wellstone)'s death).
- [Tim Penny](/source/Tim_Penny) – Former Democratic Congressman and 2002 Independence Party candidate for governor.
- [Mae Schunk](/source/Mae_Schunk) – Lt. Governor of Minnesota: 1999–2003.
- [Jesse Ventura](/source/Jesse_Ventura) – Governor of Minnesota: 1999–2003.

## Officers

- Philip Fuehrer, State Chair [29]
- Ben Thome, state director
- Sally Paulsen, state treasurer
- Jan Beliveau, state secretary

## See also

- [Politics of Minnesota](/source/Politics_of_Minnesota)
- [List of political parties in Minnesota](/source/List_of_political_parties_in_Minnesota)

## References

1. ["Minnesota's Major & Minor Political Parties"](http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=237). Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved 2010-05-08.

1. ["Minnesota Independence Party loses major-party status"](https://www.twincities.com/2014/11/04/minnesota-independence-party-loses-major-party-status/). *Pioneer Press*. Associated Press. October 25, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2024.

1. Freeze 2020, p. 182.

1. Winger, Richard (2001-04-01), ["Independents Elected"](http://ballot-access.org/2001/0401.html#17), *Ballot Access News*. **17** (1), [archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20020127021545/http://ballot-access.org/2001/0401.html#17) 2002-01-27 at the Wayback Machine

1. Freeze 2020, p. 184.

1. ["Reform Party votes to leave national group"](http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73982168C3FAA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D). Saint Paul Pioneer Press. 2000-03-05. Retrieved 2010-05-26.

1. ["Official Results General Election – Nov. 7, 2006:Statewide Results for Governor"](http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&Races=0331). Minnesota Secretary of Stat. 2006-12-16. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100514000330/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&Races=0331) 2010-05-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-05-08.

1. ["Official Results General Election – Nov. 7, 2006:Results from Congressional District 05"](http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=CG&CD=05). Minnesota Secretary of Stat. 2006-12-16. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100513235856/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=CG&CD=05) May 13, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-05-08.

1. Federal Election Commission (2006-12-31). ["Candidate (H6MN05282) Summary Reports – 2005–2006 Cycle"](http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_06+H6MN05282). Retrieved 2010-05-08.

1. ["Election results: Minnesota: Governor"](http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2010/campaign/results/mn/governor.php). Minnesota Public Radio. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2012-06-29.

1. ["Dayton slumps, Horner surges in KSTP-TV poll"](http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2010/09/dayton-slumps-horner-surges-kstp-tv-poll). MinnPost. 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2012-06-29.

1. ["Surprising poll results -- and a Ventura endorsement -- latest developments in governor's race"](http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2010/10/surprising-poll-results-and-ventura-endorsement-latest-developments-governor). MinnPost. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2012-06-29.

1. ["Horner picks up flurry of newspaper endorsements"](http://politicsinminnesota.com/2010/10/horner-picks-up-a-spate-of-newspaper-endorsements/). Politics in Minnesota. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2012-06-29.

1. ["Ventura saddened over Independence Party's loss of major party status in Minnesota"](http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/34e7ddc145ce42b4a8aaced9a202abc8/MN--Ventura-Independence-Party). *The Republic*. Associated Press. January 28, 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150205221416/http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/34e7ddc145ce42b4a8aaced9a202abc8/MN--Ventura-Independence-Party) February 5, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 5, 2015.

1. Hellmann, Jessie (August 14, 2016). ["Minnesota party picks McMullin as presidential nominee"](https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/291398-minnesota-independence-party-picks-mcmullin-as/). *[The Hill](/source/The_Hill_(newspaper))*. Retrieved September 5, 2016.

1. ["Our Story"](https://www.forwardindependencemn.org/about). *Forward Independence Party of Minnesota*. Retrieved March 30, 2026.

1. ["The Independence Party of Minnesota Platform"](http://www.independenceminnesota.org/about-the-ip/platformprinciples). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130127065202/http://www.independenceminnesota.org/about-the-ip/platformprinciples) 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["Opposition to amendments among IP convention highlights"](http://www.independenceminnesota.org/blog/posts/628-opposition-to-amendments-among-ip-convention-highlights). July 29, 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120729122805/http://www.independenceminnesota.org/blog/posts/628-opposition-to-amendments-among-ip-convention-highlights) 2012-07-29 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["Independence Party says no to voter ID and marriage amendments"](http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_20925595/independence-party-says-no-voter-id-and-marriage/). Pioneer Press. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2012-06-29.

1. ["IP to push for the legalization of marijuana in Minnesota"](http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2013/06/ip_to_push_for.shtml). Minnesota Public Radio. 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2013-06-02.

1. ["Independence Party elects leaders, amends platform at state convention"](http://www.mnip.org/news/independence-party-elects-leader-amends-platform-at-state-convention). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130621072652/http://www.mnip.org/news/independence-party-elects-leader-amends-platform-at-state-convention) 2013-06-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-06-02.

1. ["Independence Party joining statewide coalition opposing state marriage amendment"](http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2011/08/independence-party-joining-statewide-coalition-opposing-state-marriage-amen/). MinnPost. 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2012-06-29.

1. ["FairVote Minnesota | Working for more inclusive, representative democracy – More Choice. More Power"](http://fairvotemn.org/supporters_parties). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120807113057/http://fairvotemn.org/supporters_parties) 2012-08-07 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["Voter ID factions gather supporters, devise strategies"](http://m.startribune.com/politics/?id=160473995&c=y/). Star Tribune. 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2012-06-29.

1. ["Mondale, Carlson will lead anti-voter ID campaign"](http://politicsinminnesota.com/2012/06/mondale-carlson-will-lead-anti-voter-id-campaign//). Politics in Minnesota. 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-06-29.

1. ["The @AlliancePTY welcomes @IndyMN! We are on track for #50states by #2020!"](https://twitter.com/alliancepty/status/1125413303377899520). *Twitter*. Retrieved 2020-07-26.

1. Jordan Willow Evans (July 28, 2025). ["Independence-Alliance Party and Forward Party of Minnesota Merge to Form Forward Independence"](https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2025/07/minnesota-forward-and-independence-alliance-parties-approve-merger-to-form-forward-independence/). *Independent Political Report*. Retrieved September 18, 2025.

1. Evans, Jordan (May 30, 2025). ["Minnesota Forward and Independence-Alliance Parties to Vote on Merger at July Special Convention"](https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2025/05/minnesota-forward-and-independence-alliance-parties-to-vote-on-merger-at-july-special-convention/)

1. ["Chairman of Minnesota Independence Party resigns"](http://www.inforum.com/news/3870253-chairman-minnesota-independence-party-resigns). *InForum News*. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.

## Works cited

- Freeze, Melanie (2020). *Beyond Donkeys and Elephants: Minor Political Parties in Contemporary American Politics*. [University Press of Kansas](/source/University_Press_of_Kansas). [doi:10.2307/j.ctv15tt76n](https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv15tt76n). ISBN 978-0-7006-2929-9.

## External links

- [Independence Party of Minnesota](http://www.mnip.org/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Forward Independence Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_Independence_Party) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_Independence_Party?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.