There’s been one (count ’em, one) successful 3rd party in the entire history of the United States. That was when the Republicans finally survived the death-of-the-Whigs sweepstakes in the 1850s, prevailing over half a dozen other wannabes. Ever since then, virtually every 3rd-party effort has been a vanity project of some self-indulgent narcissist. And their primary effect has been to undercut someone whom they probably agreed with on 60-70% of the issues of the day, throwing the election to somebody they probably disagreed with 60-70% of the time.
There’s been one (count ’em, one) successful 3rd party in the entire history of the United States. That was when the Republicans finally survived the death-of-the-Whigs sweepstakes in the 1850s, prevailing over half a dozen other wannabes. Ever since then, virtually every 3rd-party effort has been a vanity project of some self-indulgent narcissist. And their primary effect has been to undercut someone whom they probably agreed with on 60-70% of the issues of the day, throwing the election to somebody they probably disagreed with 60-70% of the time.