The current U.S. electoral system primarily revolves around two main parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. These two parties represent the principal political currents in American political life. As a result, the majority of financial contributions flow towards one of the two, and they serve as the primary channels for political activity. This dynamic has become a recognized American political custom, even though there are no legal barriers preventing the existence or competition of other parties, or even independent candidates, against the two major parties’ nominees.
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, growing dissatisfaction with the two-party system has sparked increased interest in third-party and independent candidates. Although these candidates have never won a presidential election, they still have a significant impact on political debates, election outcomes, and future discussions regarding policies.
Third-Party Candidates:
Here are some of the key independent candidates in the 2024 U.S. election:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent): A member of the famous Kennedy political family, Kennedy began his campaign as a challenger for the Democratic nomination against the current U.S. President, Joe Biden. However, due to his differences with the party’s direction and his focus on issues such as environmental health, anti-corporate activism, and skepticism of government intervention, he decided to run as an independent. Despite suspending his campaign and endorsing the Republican candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, Kennedy remains on the ballot in several states, including Wisconsin.
Cornel West (Independent/Unity Party): A renowned academic and social justice advocate, West is running as an independent in the 2024 election and is listed on the ballot in New Jersey under the Unity Party. His platform focuses on racial and economic justice, opposition to corporate-dominated governance, and ending U.S. military interventions abroad. West attracts progressive voters disillusioned with the Democratic Party’s centrist policies. One of his major achievements is being listed on the ballot in all fifty states, representing a total of 501 electoral votes, giving him an unusually broad national platform for an independent candidate. According to a Statistica poll conducted on August 26, 2024, 18% of voters aged 30-44 viewed him as their preferred candidate, while 29% had a negative opinion of him.
Jill Stein (Green Party): A physician and long-time Green Party candidate, Stein is running again in the 2024 election after her previous candidacy in 2016. Her platform centers on environmental issues, social justice, and universal healthcare, with a strong anti-corporate stance. She attracts voters who believe that neither of the major parties is adequately addressing climate change. As of August 27, Stein was running in 26 states, including key battlegrounds such as Texas, Florida, and California. Stein had an influence in previous elections, particularly in 2016, when she garnered over 31,000 votes in Wisconsin, a state Trump won by fewer than 23,000 votes.
Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party): The Libertarian Party’s candidate for 2024, Oliver advocates for a limited government role, deregulation of the economy, and the promotion of personal freedom. Oliver’s platform emphasizes reducing taxes, privatizing public services, and decriminalizing drugs. He follows in the footsteps of previous Libertarian candidates like Gary Johnson and Jo Jorgensen, upholding the party’s core values of personal liberty, limited government, and non-interventionist foreign policy.
Challenges Facing Third-Party Candidates:
Candidates from third parties and independents face significant obstacles in achieving tangible success in the presidential elections for three main reasons:
Efforts by Major Parties to Absorb Third-Party Influence:
In the American political system, both the Democratic and Republican parties typically seek to absorb or attract independent candidates and movements from so-called “third parties.” This strategy helps reduce what is known as the “spoiler effect,” which can divide the voter base and weaken their chances of winning the election. Both major parties strive to unify support and often seek to co-opt third-party candidates who share similar ideological beliefs, integrating them into their broader platform.
For example, take the case of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who began as a Democratic candidate before launching an independent campaign. His electoral program, which criticized government intervention and corporate influence, resonated with voters across the political spectrum, posing a potential threat to both major parties. However, his campaign was viewed as more likely to siphon votes from Democrats than Republicans due to his initial affiliation with the Democratic Party. Recognizing this, Donald Trump’s campaign made efforts to bring Kennedy under the Republican banner, which ultimately resulted in Kennedy endorsing Trump. This move helped neutralize Kennedy as a threat to the Republican voter base while attracting Democrats drawn to his anti-establishment rhetoric, thereby broadening Trump’s appeal.
The Role of Media in Supporting or Undermining Third-Party Candidates:
In the 2024 presidential election, third-party and independent candidates have increasingly turned to social media to counter the mainstream media’s tendency to marginalize them. Social media provides these candidates with a direct channel to communicate with their audience, expand their influence, and particularly engage younger and disillusioned voters, bypassing traditional media barriers.
Among the leading third-party candidates are Cornel West and Jill Stein, who have been the most successful in building strong followings on social media. Both have recognized the potential of these platforms as tools to amplify their messages and bypass the major media focus on the two main parties.
Cornel West leads in social media presence, with 823,000 followers on Facebook and a million followers on X (formerly Twitter). This has given him significant visibility on X and a growing presence on TikTok, where he has 22,300 followers, enabling him to connect with politically engaged young users. West has effectively used these platforms to promote his progressive agenda and engage with an audience beyond the scope of mainstream media.
Jill Stein has also established a strong social media presence, with 527,000 followers on Facebook and 367,200 followers on X. Stein focuses on environmental and social justice issues, which resonate with progressives and climate-conscious voters. Her TikTok account has 65,000 followers, demonstrating her ability to adapt to new platforms and connect with younger voters. While her follower count is slightly lower than West’s, her strong political history and loyal base make her a force to be reckoned with on social media. The Green Party itself has 102,500 followers on X and 161,000 on Facebook.
In contrast, Chase Oliver lags behind West and Stein in social media influence, with only 12,000 followers on Facebook and 27,100 followers on X. However, the Libertarian Party, which Oliver represents, compensates for this with a larger footprint, boasting 697,000 followers on Facebook and 368,700 on X. On TikTok, the party has garnered 430,900 likes, indicating a strong presence in digital engagement, even if Oliver’s personal following does not match his counterparts’.
Funding Difficulties:
One of the biggest obstacles facing independent and third-party candidates in the American political system is securing adequate funding for their campaigns. Unlike the two major parties, the Democrats and Republicans, which benefit from established donor networks, corporate backing, and access to political action committees (PACs), third-party candidates struggle to raise the necessary funds to run competitive campaigns. This lack of funding affects everything from campaign infrastructure and advertising to voter outreach and mobilization, severely limiting their ability to make progress on a national level.
Jill Stein has long relied on grassroots donations and public matching funds to finance her campaigns. The Green Party’s anti-corporate stance often deters major corporate donors, leaving the party dependent on small donations from environmentally conscious voters and progressive activists. In 2016, Stein’s campaign secured public matching funds, which helped bolster her presence in key states. In the 2024 election, Stein became the second candidate to qualify for public funding, a crucial source of support for smaller campaigns like hers. Public funding allows qualified candidates to receive government money for every dollar they raise, but it comes with strict spending caps that make it difficult to compete with the war chests of the two major parties.
Despite Stein’s ability to raise significant funds in past campaigns, the Green Party continues to face challenges in raising money on a larger scale to reach more voters. While Stein’s platform appeals to a certain segment of voters, the Green Party’s reliance on grassroots donations can be a double-edged sword, as these contributions are often far smaller than the resources available to the major party candidates.
Cornel West faces even greater financial challenges. As a newcomer to the presidential race, West lacks the extensive fundraising network of more established candidates. His campaign has struggled to raise large sums of money, limiting his ability to build a strong campaign infrastructure. Like Stein, West has relied on grassroots donations, but his independent status and the small base of the People’s Party add another hurdle in securing the resources needed to run a national campaign.
Moreover, West’s platform, which focuses on racial justice, economic reform, and anti-corporate messaging, makes it difficult to attract large corporate donations. This puts him in a similar position to Stein, relying on small individual donations from progressive voters who support his message. However, without the same level of name recognition or organizational structure as Stein or even some other third-party candidates, West faces an uphill battle in raising the funds necessary to compete effectively in the 2024 race.
On the other hand, Chase Oliver, the Libertarian Party’s 2024 candidate, benefits from a more established party structure when it comes to fundraising, but the Libertarian Party still struggles to compete with the financial power of the two major parties. The Libertarian Party tends to attract donations from wealthy individuals aligned with its platform of limited government and personal freedom. Unlike the Green Party or the People’s Party, the Libertarians have historically been more successful in attracting large donations from fiscally conservative voters who support their pro-business stance.
However, the Libertarian Party still faces challenges in expanding its fundraising efforts to compete with the Democrats and Republicans. While the party benefits from a steady base of support, including donations from individuals in the tech and finance sectors, these contributions are often insufficient to run a full-fledged national campaign. The party’s decentralized fundraising strategy, similar to the Green Party’s, limits its ability to invest heavily in advertising and outreach efforts across all states.
Long-term Impact:
In the long run, parties such as the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, the Forward Party, and the Unity Party contribute to pushing for electoral reforms such as ranked-choice voting and open primaries. These reforms could offer voters greater flexibility and reduce the fear of “wasting” their votes on non-major candidates. Here is a discussion of each party:
The Libertarian Party has the greatest long-term potential among third-party movements. Its ability to gain ballot access in all fifty states gives it a significant structural advantage over other third parties. This wide reach allows the party to participate in every election cycle, which strengthens its visibility and builds a solid electoral foundation. The Libertarian platform, advocating for limited government intervention, personal freedoms, and economic liberty, attracts a diverse group of voters, including fiscally conservative Republicans and socially liberal Democrats. This broad ideological flexibility makes it a viable long-term alternative to the two major parties.
In terms of performance, the Libertarian Party has shown steady growth. In 2016, Gary Johnson garnered nearly 4.5 million votes, a notable achievement for a third-party candidate. The party consistently performs well in elections, although it has yet to translate this success into tangible legislative influence.
The Green Party, founded in 1984, is an important progressive force with a platform focused on environmental issues, social justice, and democratic socialism. Its main proposal, the “Green New Deal,” calls for a transition to renewable energy to address both environmental degradation and economic inequality. However, the party struggles with ballot access, making it difficult to build a national presence. Despite this, the Green Party has had moments of significant influence, particularly in 2000 with Ralph Nader and in 2016 with Jill Stein, who garnered enough votes in swing states to potentially impact the election outcome.
The Green Party primarily appeals to progressives, environmentalists, and social justice activists. However, its radical proposals for economic and environmental reforms can alienate moderates and centrist voters. To enhance its competitiveness, the Green Party needs to broaden its platform and appeal beyond its core base. The party may also need to put more effort into achieving full ballot access and highlighting the economic benefits of a green economy to expand its popular support.
The Forward Party, founded by Andrew Yang, offers a fresh approach to American politics, advocating for electoral reforms like ranked-choice voting and open primaries. These reforms are designed to reduce political polarization and give moderate and independent candidates a greater chance in elections. Yang’s platform also includes promoting universal basic income (UBI), aimed at addressing the economic disruptions caused by automation and artificial intelligence, and climate action through investments in clean energy technologies.
Although the Forward Party is relatively new, its focus on systemic reforms and breaking down barriers in the current political system has resonated with voters tired of partisan gridlock. However, the party has yet to build a strong electoral presence outside of Andrew Yang’s personal brand. Its lack of national recognition and ballot access limits its immediate impact. The party needs to expand its electoral presence by fielding more candidates in local elections and broadening its platform to address other issues, such as healthcare.
The Unity Party takes a centrist approach, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, bipartisan cooperation, and healthcare reform. Unlike the Green or Libertarian parties, which take more extreme positions, the Unity Party seeks to unite voters who are frustrated with partisan extremism. However, the Unity Party struggles with ballot access and national recognition, making it difficult to compete in major races. The Unity Party focuses on local elections and aims to build its presence gradually.
In conclusion, the 2024 U.S. presidential election represents a pivotal moment for third-party and independent candidates, with figures such as Cornel West, Jill Stein, and Chase Oliver offering new perspectives that challenge the dominance of the two-party system. While these candidates face significant obstacles such as limited ballot access, media coverage, and funding, their platforms are growing in popularity among voters disillusioned with the current political landscape.
