[8] Positioned as a public-interest alternative for independent voters, the IPO has mostly cross-nominated candidates of different parties, in addition to nominating their own.

As opposed to an ideological stance, the party's platform has advocated campaign finance regulation and elections reforms while also prioritizing issues such as the environment and the economy.

[12] The party also cited the end of Ben Westlund's campaign for governor as being due to the legal barriers he faced as an independent candidate.

The IPO criticized former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury for refusing to print new voter registration cards that would include that party as a choice.

[15][16] A representative of Bradbury's stated the decision was based on the cost of printing new registration cards, rather than any intent to harm a party.

[9] Merkley was nominated by the party after John Frohnmayer, former Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, withdrew his Independent candidacy.

The Party asked the Secretary of State to enforce existing Oregon law (ORS 254.135)[18] and allow Haugen to appear on the ballot as a "Republican, Independent.

Other Independents to hold local office are Robert Brundage of Sublimity, Soso Nedjeljko of Butte Falls, and Wayne Rofinot of Warren.

IPO officials rejected the poll, with party secretary Sal Peralta claiming the Democrats and Republicans feeling threatened by their growth.

[42] However in September of 2023, Boquist would register as a Republican in his state senate race, leaving the Independent party without any state-level representation.

[55] To assemble a platform, the Independent Party surveys their members on their priorities for the state, using public opinion information and academic research.

It advocates reform in specific areas of government, wanting to reduce the advantage of incumbency and the influence of campaign contributions on politicians and policy decisions.

The party hopes to achieve this through fiscally sound transparent decisions that create a taxation system that benefits all Oregonians.

[57] The IPO has led multiple efforts for campaign finance reform in the state, including Measure 107 in 2020, which passed with 78% of the vote.

Previously, the IPO came out against a 2014 measure that would implement a top-two open primary in the state, arguing that it would destroy minor parties and reduce voter choices.

[60] The Independent Party endorsed the effort to turn over Portland's city commission government in favor of multi-member commissioner districts and ranked-choice voting.

The IPO also urges a greater investment in regional vocational Career Technical Education centers for essential jobs, as well as more funding in the STEM fields.

The party opposes the excessive use of water many livestock and animal rearing facilities extract, and their damaging effort on the surrounding area.

State legislative candidates Terry Rilling, Pete Belcastro, and Keith Wangle garnered 40%, 44%, and 30% of the vote respectively in their races for the Oregon House of Representatives.

[64] More than 2,000 Independent Party members voted in the election, which involved 77 candidates, including 39 Democrats, 32 Republicans, a Libertarian and Green.

This low turnout was possibly the result of members having to receive a mailed passcode from the party to enter on the internet in order to participate.

[34][65] Winners of the IPO Primary election included Governor John Kitzhaber and 30 people who served in the Oregon legislature in 2011.

[79] Marc Koller, a retired corporate executive and former president of a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned business, ran against Rep. Earl Blumenauer.

[80][81] In addition, investor and truck driver Mark Roberts was nominated as congressional candidate for District 2, running on a message of revitalizing the forest industry and raising wages.

[82] Roberts received attention and condemnation from U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for sexual comments he made about First Lady Melania Trump on Twitter.