The Pivotal Role Of Third-Parties In Presidential Elections

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Beyond the Red and Blue: The Pivotal Role of Third-Parties in American Presidential Elections Abby Tabachini Introduction & Thesis Statement Throughout the pages of American history, the presence of third-parties has often been perceived as a disruptive force in presidential elections. Third-party candidates are often looked at as dissenting voices who challenge the dominance of the American two-party system as their presence offers voters an alternative candidate to cast their vote for. While many Americans view a third-party candidate as a “wasted vote” in elections or simply overlook the candidate altogether as they are viewed as having no shot at winning, third-party candidates have been making undeniable marks in American presidential …show more content…

Understanding the historical influence of third-party candidates' presence in presidential elections is not only important in helping Americans better understand their country’s past, it is also significant for the future of American politics and elections. As the 2024 presidential election is quickly approaching, Americans find themselves “deeply dissatisfied” with the two party nominees: incumbent President Joe Biden for the Democrats and former President Donald Trump for the Republicans (NYT). Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has launched his hat into the third-party rink as an independent, in a bid for president that could potentially shift the tide of the election. With a pivotal election on the line for both parties, and American discontent towards the government only growing, it is critical to understand the historical influence of third-parties in order to better grasp the current and future trajectory of American politics. My thesis looks to explore the intersection of the historical …show more content…

Tentatively this includes the following presidential elections: 1912, 1948, 1968, 1992, 2000, 2016. As I continue to review various literature and scholarship related to third-parties in presidential elections, I will alter this list as necessary. My examination of these specific elections will include an analysis of the third-party candidate, their campaign, why the candidate entered the race, historical context of the election year, and political context of the election year. This first stage of research will primarily be concerned with secondary sources, some of which are included in the annotated bibliography below. These secondary sources will be focused on providing coverage of the third-party candidates in the presidential elections indicated above, how the candidates impacted the election results, as well as what factors drove the American people to vote for the third-party candidate. In order to ensure I have a source base that properly encompasses my topic, I plan to meet with my thesis director, Dr. Kent Germany, as well as the university’s research librarians to collect additional sources that are not currently in my annotated bibliography. Meeting with these individuals will not only allow me to expand my source base, but get a better understanding and idea of where to scope out relevant secondary

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