Indie Caucusing with Neither Party

[Free Bird]

What would happen if this was the case?

[CountryClassSF]

What would happen if this was the case?

It would probably represent a true refreshing change in politics. Both parties would likely offer this person a committee chairmanship or something to try to sway them over. Basically, it would take a politician who cannot be swayed by perks. Unfortunately, those types of politicians are few and far between.

If they were a top tier candidate, however, in a Senate race, it's likely the party opposite of the opposing candidate would support this person, as it would not allow the other party to expand or maintain its caucus numbers

[The Other Castro]

He'd lose reelection.

[publicunofficial]

They'd be given no committee assignments and would be a fairly ineffective Senator

[Indy Texas]

They'd be given no committee assignments and would be a fairly ineffective Senator

When the Democrats go into their caucus meetings and the Republicans go into their caucus meetings, this guy would be left sitting outside by himself. Both doors would be closed to him and he would not have anywhere near the connection with his 99 coworkers.

This would be a terrible idea and anyone who does this deserves to get voted out of office ASAP.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

In the past when independent Progs/Populists/whatever were elected, did they always caucus with people?

[publicunofficial]

In the past when independent Progs/Populists/whatever were elected, did they always caucus with people?

I want to say yes. There were a couple of Populists who were given Committee chairmanships under Democratic majorities. Progressives, I assume, caucused with the Republicans.

[Holmes]

They'd be given no committee assignments and would be a fairly ineffective Senator

Would they really be given no committee assignments? Not even one?

[MaxQue]

They'd be given no committee assignments and would be a fairly ineffective Senator

Would they really be given no committee assignments? Not even one?

Same thing in Canada, Holmes.

[publicunofficial]

They'd be given no committee assignments and would be a fairly ineffective Senator

Would they really be given no committee assignments? Not even one?

Committees aren't even mentioned in the Constitution, so it's not like Senators have the inherent right to be on them. The parties choose who goes on committees, and they have no incentive to give those precious committee seats to an Indie unless they join the caucus.

[angus]

What would happen if this was the case?

My guess is that he would be a hit with his constituents.  (she/her, it/its, as is the case, whatever.)  Of course, there would be no invitations to caucus meetings, and no committees, so in order to be effective outside his constituency, this person would have to be both persuasive and creative.  Still, even if from a small state, if the person was persuasive and creative enough to get himself elected to such an office without political machinery to begin with, then I suspect that the precedent would strike a note of reproach in both of the major parties.  Overall, it would, in my opinion, be a welcome development.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Senator Dean Barkley didn't caucus with either party. And from Nov. 5-25 2002, there were 49 Republicans, 50 Democrats, and him, which kept the Democrats in control even though they didn't have tie breaking abilities.

[TDAS04]

He'd lose reelection.