by Serwan Zangana
The two political Parties in the U.S, Democrat and Republican, have rooted deep down in the American society and became the most influential parties to a degree that no third Party is able to establish a solid foundation and change the political scale. Also, the voters’ mindset perceive these two Parties as the power of America, and their ideologies and propaganda have effectively impacted the voters, which is obvious in every post election that the high percentage of votes gained by Democrats and Republicans.
Indeed, the Third Party is unable to become an alternative to Democrat or Republican and play a role in the political system to influence the voters and gain the support of giant corporations and political groups. The interests of the millionaires and billionaires with Democrat and Republican do not allow the third party to rise and survive in the political arena.
Regardless of the voters favoring a third political party, according to GALLUP 2024, 58% of Americans favor a creation of a third party, but neither a third party is able to stand to the two major political parties, Democrat and Republican, and grab a strong position in America’s political system nor the voters are ready to actively separate themselves from the two parties.
Furthermore, the voters’ sense of obligation to cast their votes for the major Party’s candidates with applying the term, “Lesser of two evils” can be another issue. That means even there is a third party’s candidate, but the voters are more appealing to Democrat or Republican candidates. Although voting should not be based on such a term, rationality is not always the case among the voters in the voting process. The voters are often under the emotional impact as they place their hopes in one candidate of the political party they support without imagining defeat. Obviously in recent years, elections and candidates’ defeat have caused psychological impact for the voters.
Evidently, there has not been a third political Party in America to draw an effective policy and form a strategy to change American society economically and socially. However, according to Hans Noel, an associate professor in the college of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Government, the electoral system is the biggest factor of the difficulty of establishing a third political party in the U.S, and also the candidates realize that the chance of winning is with these two political parties, Democrat and Republican.
The Democrat and Republican Party are constantly changing their strategy to appeal to the voters, which also diminishes the chance of third parties to build a bridge and reach the majority of people to establish a strong base. Launching a rhetoric that connects the party to the voters and amplifying the exited issues and promising to solve them, regardless of fulfilling the promises, have always been a strategy of the Democratic and Republican Party. Such a strategy has often been successful.
However, a third political party can only be a distraction to the Democratic and Republican Party in the political marathon without reaching the finish line successfully.
Obviously, the increase of people’s frustration with the major political parties has not generated an influential third party. And the existing third party that is referred to as a minor party, such as the Green Party, Reform Party, Libertarians, Constitution Party, and Natural Law Party, has not been able to lay a concrete foundation for the voters and be trusted to lead in America’s political system.
The recent third political party, “America Party” that was established by Elon Musk in July is another temporary wave of a billionaire who cannot understand the needs of the middle and lower middle class Americans. Musk’s feud with President Trump was a main factor for the “America Party” to be established. But, most likely “ America Party” will not become a landmark in the U.S history. Indeed, “ America Party” is based on a conflict between two billionaires, Musk and President Trump.
Again, this third political Party, “America Party,” will not affect the two major political Parties. As the Georgia Democratic Party Chair, Charlie Bailey, said, “I think if something has Elon Musk’s branding on it, that you’re not going to attract Democrats, and you’re not going to attract many independents.”
On the other hand, the Republican Party should not be stressed about Musk’s third party. The conservative voters will keep their loyalty to the GOP and still vote for its candidates. And generally, the MAGA supporters will not disband Trump.
Regardless of the number of the votes that a third political party and its candidate have received in the past elections, it has not been a threat to the Democratic and Republican Parties. That means, Americans in general are embracing the two major political Parties and circling around their ideology with no desire for a change.
However, since the Democratic and Republican parties are in control of the system, it is unlikely to have a candidate rising outside these two powerful political parties.
After all, to free one’s mind from being under the pressure of blue or red, considering a candidate to vote for can be based on his/her policy and characters.
