The three minor parties that run the largest number of candidates across the nation are the Constitution, Green, and Libertarian Parties. In the November 2008 election, here is the best percentage in the nation for each of these party’s U.S. House nominees (excluding races in which one of the two major parties didn’t run anyone):
Constitution Party: Jim Noorlander, in Utah’s 3rd district, polled 6.11%.
Green Party: Carol Wolman, in California’s 1st district, polled 8.54%.
Libertarian Party: Ted Brown, in California’s 26th district, got 6.92%.
Posted to IPR by Paulie
Electoral mechanics are a big part of that picture as well.
Very true, Steven Linnabary. I think people in third parties tend to place too much of the blame on other people, like the media or major parties, particularly when their dysfunctional campaigns deserve much of the blame. However, much of what citizen1 is saying is true at the same time.
Most voters do not know what minor party candidates even stand for. They get ignored by the media. If they were cover equally by the media for a couple of election cycle the tide would start to turn.
OTOH, most opposition party candidates fail to send news releases, ignore opportunities to meet with editorial boards, and neglect to PAY for advertisements on the respective outlets.
If YOU were an editor, would you cover a candidate that was so smug they would not take part in the process?
PEACE
CT,
Most voters do not know what minor party candidates even stand for. They get ignored by the media. If they were cover equally by the media for a couple of election cycle the tide would start to turn.
Yeah, that’s a separate post. Coming right up.
I guess this didn’t include independents, because Sheehan got 17% and Krikorian got 18%.
If you want to do better, there are certain things that need to be done. Note this article (which happens to be from the right wing) and note that soapblox is available for you in your state:
http://thenextright.com/patrick-ruffini/soapblox-shows-the-need-for-movement-infrastructure-vc
Wrong, the people elect who they want. Third parties don’t have the support of the people because most people don’t support their ideologies; that’s why they don’t win.
Most house and senate races have been stolen from the people not a party.
Interesting about California. I think that the best alternative party candidates with only one major party got around 20%. We must also not forget the ignominious Independence Party of Minnesota candidates, who stole 2 House races from the Democrats and almost stole the Senate race. And David Krikorian who stole a House race from the Democrats in Ohio, with getting almost 20% of the vote.