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A recent Gallup poll revealed that self-described independents are the nations largest political demographic. Indeed a record-breaking 43 percent of Americans now say they are independents, compared to 30 percent who are Democrats and 26 percent who are Republican. Now comes some promising news for the tenacious Libertarian Party, which plans multiple state conventions in the coming months and offered its own response to President Obamas State of the Union address last week. The party enjoyed its best cycle ever in races for the nations upper legislative chamber, reports Eric Ostermeier, a University of Minnesota political professor and founder of Smart Politics, a research group on the campus.

Their analysis found that the Libertarian Party set records for the best showings in U.S. Senate races in 10 of the 20 states in which it fielded a candidate in 2014. These 20 candidates averaged 2.5 percent of the vote, with a high water mark of 4.3 percent by Randall Batson in Kansas in the high profile race between Republican incumbent Pat Roberts and independent Greg Orman, Mr. Ostermeier says.

His study also found that libertarians made history in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Libertarian candidates won from 1.3 percent to almost 4 percent of the vote, with particularly impressive performances in North Carolina, Colorado and Alaska.

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Although these states hosted three of the four most competitive U.S. Senate races in the country decided by 1.6, 1.9, and 2.1 percentage points respectively Libertarian nominees were still able to draw support from the electorate in record numbers, says Mr. Ostermeier. The Libertarian Party has good reason to be optimistic about its trajectory on the national political landscape.

Gary Johnson, who ran as the Libertarian candidate for president in 2012, is also mighty vocal these days, labeling the aforementioned address as wrong in too many ways too list, and serving as chairman of Our American Initiative, a national push to include third-party candidates in the 2016 presidential debates.

FURY IN ALASKA

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Interior Secretary Sally Jewells intent to designate 12.2 million acres of Alaskas public land as pristine wilderness sounds nice, but the vast parcel also happens to contain the states richest oil and natural gas prospects on the Arctic coastal plain.

Environmentalists are celebrating. Ms. Jewell calls the gorgeous land one of the nations crown jewels, and notes this will also be the largest protective designation in five decades. The states Republican lawmakers and governor, meanwhile, are not disguising their disgust about the decision, which they say will have long lasting impact on Alaskas economy and energy security.

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Inside the Beltway: Libertarians have 'good reason to be optimistic'