Third Parties: “They Ain’t Got a
Chance”
Third Parties: “They Ain’t Got a
Chance”
Ross Perot: 1992, 1996 Ralph Nader: 2000, 2004
Third PartyThird Party
Any political partyAny political party
organized in atorganized in at
least a few states,least a few states,
other than the twoother than the two
current leadingcurrent leading
partiesparties
Any political partyAny political party
organized in atorganized in at
least a few states,least a few states,
other than the twoother than the two
current leadingcurrent leading
partiespartiesJesse Ventura, Independent Governor of Minnesota, 1999-2003
History of American Third Parties
History of American Third Parties
Third Parties in the U.S. receive great attention, but in fact “have not assumed the importance that all the academic attention on them suggests.”
Third Parties in the U.S. receive great attention, but in fact “have not assumed the importance that all the academic attention on them suggests.”
History of American Third Parties
History of American Third Parties
No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency
Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes
Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote
No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency
Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes
Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote
Sectional Parties
Example: Strom Thurmond
and the Dixiecrat Party ran on a segregationist platform in 1948
Economic Protest Parties
Example: James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892
Ideology Parties
Examples: Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties
Libertarian Party 2000 campaign ad
Charismatic Personality Parties
Example: Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Bull Moose Party in 1912
Combination Parties
Example: George Wallace in 1968 (American Independent Party)
o Dynamic leader with a Southern base
o Anti-civil rightso Won 13% popular vote &
46 electoral votes
Purpose of Third Parties
Purpose of Third Parties
“The electoral progress of third parties is in direct proportion to the failure of the two
major parties to incorporate new ideas.”
“The electoral progress of third parties is in direct proportion to the failure of the two
major parties to incorporate new ideas.”
Ralph Nader and the Green Party in 2000
Purpose of Third Parties
Purpose of Third Parties
Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties 1856, the Republican Party replaces the Whig Party
Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties 1856, the Republican Party replaces the Whig Party
Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
Purpose of Third Parties
Purpose of Third Parties
Third Parties have influenceMajor parties often take
on the ideas of third parties
In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit
Third Parties have influenceMajor parties often take
on the ideas of third parties
In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit
George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot (Reform), & Bill Clinton (Democrat) during
1992 Presidential debate
Purpose of Third Parties:
Purpose of Third Parties:
William Jennings Bryan, Democratic candidate for President, 1896
Once the major parties Once the major parties incorporate their ideas, incorporate their ideas, third parties burn outthird parties burn out
Populist Party platform Populist Party platform was assimilated into the was assimilated into the Democratic Party in Democratic Party in 18961896