Third Party Candidates- Upcoming US Election

[OceanSpray]

Does anyone know much about any of the third party candidates? The good, and the bad?

Is there even a remote possibility that any one of them could win?

 

[Charbella]

Does anyone know much about any of the third party candidates? The good, and the bad?

Is there even a remote possibility that any one of them could win?

I wish but I’ve never even seen one win a state, have you?

My aunt and I are praying Trump gets jail time and Biden has a stroke (recoverable just not in time). There were so many alternative choices. How’d we end up with these two AGAIN? I mean I know. It also I don’t get it.

 

[Sideways]

Mod Note:
I’m going to temporarily lock this thread till Admin has a chance to confirm whether we’ll be opening up a new thread on US politics or not.

 

[anthony]

Open, but be cautious in your statements. DO NOT attack another for their view.

 

[OceanSpray]

I wish but I’ve never even seen one win a state, have you?

Unfortunately no I haven’t but I was hoping someone older might remember.

praying Trump gets jail time and Biden has a stroke

The problem is Harris isn’t any better, and frankly no one is any good.

Which is why I’m hoping people who have paid more attention will have more insight on the third party process/candidates/chances. I’m trying to keep up from the local level and up but it’s honestly overwhelming and really hard to flesh out who is actually genuine and who is just a good talker.

Thank you admins for opening this. I’m not looking for any arguments or fighting. I just feel at a loss as to what to even do in November, but I don’t want to do nothing. Even if the small vote won’t ultimately matter.

 

[Charbella]

Unfortunately no I haven’t but I was hoping someone older might remember.




The problem is Harris isn’t any better, and frankly no one is any good.

Which is why I’m hoping people who have paid more attention will have more insight on the third party process/candidates/chances. I’m trying to keep up from the local level and up but it’s honestly overwhelming and really hard to flesh out who is actually genuine and who is just a good talker.

Thank you admins for opening this. I’m not looking for any arguments or fighting. I just feel at a loss as to what to even do in November, but I don’t want to do nothing. Even if the small vote won’t ultimately matter.

Generally if you’re looking for someone who could potentially win, it varies by state. So even though they’re an independent candidate, the likelihood of their winning your state is dependent on how their views align with your state. For bonus, some independents are not even on the ballot in some states . Ugh our system!

Also I agree with you about there are no good prospects. I was so mad last time because there were so many great choices for Democrat last time and somehow Biden won. I wish more Republicans would’ve stepped up to the plate this time but really the choices sucked, and we didn’t even get to vote before MAGA fever took over.

 

[OceanSpray]

For bonus, some independents are not even on the ballot in some states

How does this even happen? Do they just not attempt to convince a particular state or the state just decides for its people to not even give them (the people) a choice?

 

[Charbella]

How does this even happen? Do they just not attempt to convince a particular state or the state just decides for its people to not even give them (the people) a choice?

My understanding is that sometimes they don’t meet deadlines or other requirements and sometimes they don’t attempt because there is zero chance they will win the state.

 

[OceanSpray]

My understanding is that sometimes they don’t meet deadlines or other requirements and sometimes they don’t attempt because there is zero chance they will win the state.

Thank you for explaining this all to me!

 

[somerandomguy]

So the last time a third party candidate won anything meaningful was George Wallace in 1968, when he won four Southern states. Third party candidates can sometimes be spoilers - Ralph Nader's candidacy was largely seen as one reason Al Gore lost in 2000 - or they can pull fairly evenly from both parties, like Ross Perot in 1992.

Kennedy is effectively running as a spoiler. He's accepted a lot of money from donors that in the past have given heavily to Republicans. This doesn't mean he's running specifically to help Trump unseat Biden, probably; his wish to be president and Republicans' wish for Biden to not be president just happen to match up. Can he win? Not a chance. Can he win a single state? Not a chance. Will he pull voters that would otherwise vote for Biden? Maybe as a protest vote, but often people who vote for third-party candidates are people who wouldn't have voted at all. 1968 was the big exception, but that was a pretty special case and couldn't happen today.

I know a lot about this, so I could answer any other questions you have about it if you want.

 

[OceanSpray]

1968 was the big exception, but that was a pretty special case and couldn't happen today.

I’d love to hear more! Can you explain more about why the 1968 exception couldn’t happen today?

 

[scout86]

I wish but I’ve never even seen one win a state, have you?

Jesse Ventura, former third party governor of MN said that the only wasted vote was one for someone you didn't really want to see win. I voted for him and he was a pretty good governor. The biggest problem he had was that BOTH the Democrats and the Republicans refused to cooperate with him. Which would be a problem at a national level too.

Actually, Abraham Lincoln was kind of a third party candidate. The Republican Party was new at the time. I believe the 2 major parties of the day were the Democrats and the Whigs. It would be harder for a third party now. It costs WAY more to run for president that it did, or than it should. I can't help but notice how much the values claimed by the political parties have changed over time. I don't think Lincoln would recognize his old party now.