Trader consensus on the number of independents elected to Congress in the 2026 midterms centers on zero or one because the U.S. electoral system strongly favors major-party candidates through ballot access rules, fundraising disparities, and voter habits. Multiple independent Senate contenders, including Dan Osborn in Nebraska and Seth Bodnar in Montana, remain competitive in some recent polls but trail in prediction markets and face well-funded Republican opponents. House races feature over 170 independent filings, yet most occur in safely partisan districts with limited viability. Historical patterns show independent victories remain rare absent extraordinary circumstances, and no late-cycle developments have materially altered these structural headwinds ahead of the November 3 election.