WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fifty-eight percent of U.S. adults agree that a third major party is needed in the U.S. because the Republican and Democratic parties “do such a poor job” of representing the American people, marking the 12th consecutive majority-level reading in Â鶹´«Ã½AV’s trend that stretches back more than two decades. While down five percentage points from last year’s record high, it is still on par with the average 56% support level over the course of the trend since 2003.
Only once -- in the initial 2003 reading -- have a clear majority of Americans believed a third party is not needed, with 56% saying the two major U.S. parties "do an adequate job of representing the American people.”
Majorities of Independents, Democrats, Less Than Half of Republicans in Favor
Political independents are the most likely party subgroup to favor a third party, as they have been in the past, with 69% expressing support in Â鶹´«Ã½AV’s Sept. 3-15, 2024, Governance poll. Democrats’ support has increased from 46% last year to 53% now, while Republicans’ support has dropped from 58% to 48%.
This shift among Republicans comes after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ended his independent presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump.
Over the years, majorities of independents, ranging from 56% to 78%, have consistently backed a third party. In contrast, majority-level support from Democrats has been recorded only five out of 21 times Â鶹´«Ã½AV has asked the question, with no more than 54% in favor. For their part, majorities of Republicans have backed the concept of another political party on six occasions, with the broadest support, 63%, registered immediately after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
During Â鶹´«Ã½AV’s trend, partisans have typically been more supportive of third parties when the sitting president is from the opposing party, and less supportive when their own party is in the White House.
Bottom Line
The U.S. has maintained a two-party system through most of its history, with the Democratic and Republican parties serving as the primary rivals since the Republican Party became the second major party in 1854.
Third parties that have been established were either short lived or, like the Libertarian and Green Parties, have had little impact on federal and state elections other than bringing more attention to issues for voters or siphoning votes from major-party candidates, sometimes serving a spoiler role in elections.
With support for a third party reaching a new high last year, low favorable ratings of the two parties, and widespread dissatisfaction with the major-party candidates, 2024 seemed as good a year as any for a significant third-party presidential candidacy to emerge. However, as has been the case for prior third-party candidates, Kennedy’s initially higher levels of support eventually faded. Kennedy also struggled to gain ballot access in many states, with his efforts landing him on the ballot in 21 states, and 13 additional states pending before he suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.
While 58% of Americans today think a major third party is needed, it is unclear whether they are genuinely expressing a desire for a third option or are simply frustrated with the two existing parties. Kennedy’s struggle to get on state ballots in spite of ample resources, and Americans’ apparent unwillingness to vote for candidates with little chance of winning, underscore why third parties have failed to be a factor in U.S. politics despite the public’s apparent desire for them.
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