TEXAS – A new political party is launched in Texas.

It’s called the “Serve America Movement,” or SAM, and its leaders say their goal is to mend the country’s broken political system.

The group filed its documents with the Secretary of State on Monday afternoon.

“What SAM Texas is creating is a coalition that is a true coalition of big tents,” said David Jolly, SAM executive chairman and former congressman from Florida. “Bring your ideology. We want to welcome it. We want to work together as Texans to resolve issues in a way that meets the greatest consensus among voters. “

Jolly said about 40% of Americans identify as independent, and in Texas it’s in their 30s.

Jeff Harper identifies as independent and is interested in the SAM party, especially when it comes to money in politics.

“If I’m a wealthy donor or special interest group and just have a limited interest, or want to make my own nest, I can just donate money into these primaries, and I control who goes in. through the door, ”he said. “SAM hopes to break this and get to where we have a multi-party system. We are decreasing the influence of money, and we have more choices at the ballot box and candidates who are not bought and paid before they get to the elections. general. “

Political analysts say many of the people who might gravitate towards SAM are mostly just anti-Trump, which could be problematic if the party is to gain traction in Texas.

“The problem is, of course, that Donald Trump among many Republicans is still very popular in Texas. When we are currently looking at many races statewide, candidates are actively seeking Trump’s endorsement,” he said. said Brian Smith, professor of political science at St. Edward’s University in Austin.

Smith added that it takes three main things for a third party to be successful.

“To do it right, you need the money, you need the message and you need the messenger. And at the moment, this party doesn’t seem to have any of those three things here in Texas,” he said. declared.

Jolly, who divorced from the Republican Party in a public split over his loyalty to Trump, says their message is not anti-Trump.

“SAM doesn’t very intentionally try to be a light Republican party or an anti-Trump party. Parties that try to do this will not be successful, ”Jolly said.

One Texas-specific problem SAM is focusing on is power grid issues, after widespread blackouts during the February winter storm left millions in the dark for days.

“We want an independent commission to study what happened during the storm,” said Bill King, president of SAM Texas. “It is clear that the adopted legislation did not do this, did not fail to do so. What SAM stands for is transparency, honest fact-finding and pragmatism.

“There was a bunch of generators that didn’t start and didn’t run,” King added. “I don’t care if they were made by a Democrat or a Republican. I want to know why the generator didn’t start, and that’s what SAM governance would be.