In the United States, the two major political parties are the Republican and Democratic parties. However, third-party candidates have been present in presidential elections since 1972, and in recent years, they have had an impact on elections involving central Colorado political parties. Third-party candidates can bring attention to certain issues that may not be addressed by the two major parties. If an issue is accepted by voters, one or more of the major parties may adopt it into their own party platform.
It is difficult for third-party candidates to gain access to ballots in all fifty states due to registration fees and other criteria. It is unclear how the new Forward party could affect the electoral prospects of either party in such a deeply polarized country.
Theodore Roosevelt: A Successful Third-Party Candidate
The most successful third-party candidate in recent years was Theodore Roosevelt, who held the office of president from 1901 to 1909. He initially took office after the assassination of William McKinley and then won the 1904 general elections as a member of the Republican Party. In 1912, he left the Republican Party to run again and promote a more progressive platform through his Bull Moose Party.Third-Party Candidates in Presidential Elections
The Libertarian Party has been present in every presidential election since 1972 and the Green Party since 1996. However, third-party candidates such as John Anderson in 1980 and Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996 have failed to build a true third party that would become a factor in national politics. For a third party to rise to the top and restructure the system, a major cultural and political schism is needed.The Seneca Party: An Example of Tribal Nationalism
An example of a particularly powerful tribal nationalist party is the Seneca Party, which operates on the Seneca Nation reservations in New York.Third parties often exist to promote a specific topic or personality, but they face difficulties obtaining representation.
