The political landscape of the United States has for a long time been divided between Republicans and Democrats. There are those whom these two parties fail to represent, however, and it is giving way for third party candidates to take the spotlight.
The landscape of third party candidates has been rapidly increasing in popularity in recent years. This is due to many factors, such as people wanting other options on the ballot than the two main contenders, the surge of interest in libertarian candidates, and the emergence of new and innovative ideas within third parties.
The Libertarian Party in particular has seen an uptick in interest in recent years. The party is based on ideas of personal liberty and responsibility, as well as a strong belief in freedom of speech, the free market, and limited government. With a platform that appeals to many voters, they have been slowly gaining in popularity and prominence.
There are also a few other major third parties in the United States. The Green Party is most well-known for their focus on environmentalism and social justice and has been around for decades. The Constitution Party is a right-wing organization that stands on principles of fiscal responsibility and moral values. And the Reform Party is a center-right party that is focused on smaller government and fiscal responsibility.
Though it is often unlikely that third party candidates can win an election due to the power of the two-party system, the market for these candidates is still hot. There are some potential contenders out there that have a real chance of making an impact in the 2020 election.
In the presidential race, one name to watch out for is former Rep. Justin Amash, a Libertarian who is running as an independent. Amash is a top-tier candidate due to his years in Congress and his adherence to Libertarian principles. This makes him a more viable option for third partyers than some of his Libertarian rivals.
Another high-profile name to watch out for is Brock Pierce, a businessman and philanthropist who is running as a Libertarian. He gained notoriety as a child actor before becoming an entrepreneur and philanthropist, and he’s already made a name for himself in the party. He’s been vocal about his views on the economy and technology and has a business acumen that could help the party carry its message to a broader audience.
Though the field is crowded by major candidates, there is still ample room for others to make a name for themselves. In the end, the true impact of third party candidates may end up being in the spotlight they bring to issues that often get overlooked in larger elections.
No matter who gets chosen, third party candidates are changing the way we look at politics in the United States, and that is a change that is worth celebrating.
