America’s two-party system is often the subject of frustration for voters who feel left out by the options on offer. Two-thirds of Americans say they don’t feel adequately represented by the two parties and want more options, and the portion of people who identify as independent has risen over the last decade, while affiliation with either party has slightly dipped.

Enter Michael Bloomberg, a former Republican (if in name only) turned former independent turned Democratic candidate for president, running on a pragmatic, quasi-moderate platform. He embraces the social views of liberals while positioning himself as fiscally more centrist than Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders. His theory of the case seems to be that as someone with an “independent” streak, he is going to be able to appeal to the sorts of swing voters that will be necessary to win the presidency.