Michael Ge
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Third party candidates have always been a part of American elections. In 1912, former President Theodore Roosevelt won 88 electoral votes and 27.4% of the popular vote running as a member of the Progressive Party. In 1992, Reform Party Candidate Ross Perot had one of the best third party performances of all time winning 18.9% of the popular vote. Perot would run again in 1996 and he received 8.4% of the popular vote. In 2000, consumer rights advocate Ralph Nader ran as the Green Party nominee and may have cost Vice-President Al Gore the crucial state of Florida which was decided in favor of George W. Bush by 537 votes after a controversial recount and decision by the Supreme Court. In 2016, many people claimed that third parties such as the Libertarian and Green Parties cost Hillary Clinton a victory. Third parties may once again play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the 2020 election.
Five-term U.S. Representative Justin Amash of Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Grand Rapids, formed an exploratory committee for president for the Libertarian Party on April 28th. Amash has also changed his party affiliation in the House of Representatives from Independent to Libertarian. Amash will become the first member of Congress to have their party affiliation officially be registered as a Libertarian, although some former members of Congress have also been registered as Libertarians after they left office such as former senator from Rhode Island and Governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee. Amash was formerly a Republican until 2019 when he became an Independent, citing his differences with both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Justin Amash had since decided against launching a campaign for President on May 16th.
This left the door open for Dr. Jo Jorgensen to become the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee at the online Libertarian National Convention, held over Memorial Day weekend. Dr. Jorgensen is the party’s first ever female nominee. Spike Cohen will be her vice presidential running mate.
Former Minnesota Governor, WWE Hall of Famer, and Navy SEAL Jesse Ventura will not be running for the Green Party nomination after he expressed interest in running and joined the Green Party. Ventura chose not to run, citing personal reasons. Ventura would be willing to accept the nomination if he was offered it. When he was governor, Ventura was a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota. Ventura has supported multiple progressive policies such as the Green New Deal after he has left office. Ventura now hosts a show on the television network RT. The Green Party now looks set to nominate Howie Hawkins as its nominee for president.
Third parties will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the 2020 elections and they may once again cost a candidate an election. Third parties may even reach the 15% polling average threshold to participate in presidential debates. Disaffected members of both the Democratic and Republican parties may vote for a third party if they are fed up with the actions of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
