Former K-12 educator Will Staton announced his independent run for New York’s 22nd Congressional District on Oct. 7, a decision he said is 15 years in the making. Originally from Mississippi, he now lives in Syracuse and is running as an independent.⁠ ⁠ Staton wants to change the current two-party system, which he said has “reached the end of its utility” and contributes to the divisive nature of current politics.⁠ ⁠ “I thought that if I didn’t try now, I might regret it,” Staton said. “I believe that we are in a place where if we don’t try something different, we’re not going to be able to fix our problems.”⁠ ⁠ Click the link in our bio to read more. Photograph by @Lj.Lenns.