Except that independent isn't a political party, but rather denotes the absence of a party.  I love the ongoing attempt on the part of outsiders to claim that the ticket consisted of Walker as an independent and Mallott as a Democrat, which is impossible under state election law.  Also, am I the only one who sees the candidacy of (use the force) Luke Hopkins as an attempt by Walker to pad the leftistlature with favorable votes, just like Murkowski tried to do in 2004?