|
For more than a century, the Democratic and Republican parties have dominated national politics. From time to time, so-called third parties (or minor parties) have made significant contributions to the national political debate and have influenced the outcome of elections. Unlike the role minority parties often play in parliamentary systems, American third parties have rarely attained the popular support needed to make them permanent and viable alternatives to the two major political parties. Minor Parties Even so, there are more than two-dozen minor parties currently active in the United States. For brief descriptions and links to their home pages, see Directory of U.S. Political Parties at Politics1.com. Several third-party candidates for president have received more than five percent of the popular vote or have won electoral votes since the modern two-party system of Democrats and Republicans emerged in the 1850s. Here is a list of those occasions: Minor Party Candidates for President, 1856-1996*
Popular Electoral 1856 American Millard Filmore 21.6% 8 1860
Southern
Democrat
John C. Breckinridge
18.1%
72 1892 People's James B. Weaver 8.5% 22 1912
Progressive
Theodore
Roosevelt
27.4% 88
1924 Progressive Robert LaFollette 16.6% 13 1948 State-Rights Democrat J. Strom Thurmond 2.4% 38 1968 American Independent George Wallace 13.5% 46 1980 Independent John B. Anderson 6.1% -- 1992 Independent H. Ross Perot 19.0% -- 1996 Reform H. Ross Perot 8.5% -- *At least 5% popular vote or at least 1 electoral vote to be listed. |