The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties (Democratic Party and Republican Party). The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.
The United States has had a two-party system for over a century. The winner take all system for presidential elections and the single-seat plurality...
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The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties (Democratic Party and Republican Party). The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.
The United States has had a two-party system for over a century. The winner take all system for presidential elections and the single-seat plurality voting system for Congressional elections have over time created the two-party system (see Duverger's law).
Third party candidates very rarely win any elections. For example, such a candidate only won a U.S. Senate election twice (0.6%) since 1990. Therefore, it is very rare to have a national officeholder not affiliated with and endorsed by one of the two major parties. Currently, there are only two U.S. Senators (Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders), who are neither Democrat nor Republican, while no U.S. Representative hails from outside the...
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