1. Are Minor Parties Important?
…Or are they simply on the “Lunatic Fringe”

2. “Every Reform Movement has a Lunatic Fringe”
--TR

3. Discussion:
Are you throwing your vote away with a vote for a third party candidate or independent?

4. 3rd Party vs. Independents
Just to clarify:
3rd Party vs. Independents

5. 3rd parties are more feasible at the local level…
Generally speaking:
3rd parties are more feasible at the local level…
…Nationally they tend to be more about exposure/notoriety , less about issues

6. Types of Minor Parties in American Politics

7. Ideological Parties
Based on a set of beliefs, they have been longest-lived
Libertarians: 3rd largest party in the U.S. today
Socialist most successful (6% in 1912)

8. Single-Issue Parties Just like their name says!
Usually fade as major party steals their issue

9. Economic Protest Parties
NOT based on a set of beliefs, they are short-lived
“Greenbacks”
“Tea Party”??
Rent is 2 Damn High!

10. Splinter Parties “Bolter” parties
Most important 3rd parties in history
Center around a strong personality
Fade away with that person
TR Bull Moose/Perot “Reform”

11. Not gonna win…… but 5% would be nice
Presidential Election Campaign Fund from the FEC --- SO confusing 5%
Perot got nothing and rec’d 19%
Buchannan got $$$ and rec’d .4%

12. Successful (?)Third Party Presidential Candidates
Teddy Roosevelt (1912) – Progressive “Bull Moose Party” 27% / 88 EV’s
John Breckinridge (1860)– Southern Dems % of vote and 72 EV’s
George Wallace (1968) American Indep % / 46 EV’s
Ross Perot (1992) – Reform 19% / 0 EV’s

13. On the 2016 OHIO Presidential Ballot
Trump (R) and Clinton (D)
Jill Stein (G), Gary Johnson (L),
Richard Duncan (Listed as "Nonparty Candidates")

14. “Successful” in Congress
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
2012 Election Senator Angus King (I-ME)
Recently Retired: Sen. Joe Liebermann (I-CT) [was Democrat]
2010 Senate Election:
Rand Paul (KY) – Republican / Tea Party “Constitutional Conservative” -Won Senate seat
31 historically - (a lot of “switches”)

15. Successful(?) 3rd Candidates (Cont)
House of Reps: None currently; How many total in history? 6 in the modern era
Currently No Governors; but… Lincoln Chafee (D-RI) Elected as an Independent in 2011

16. Last independent/3rd party elected governor: Jesse Ventura, Minnesota Reform Party…..and Angus

17. Successful(?) Non-Presidential
No OH General Assembly
Mayors? Recently Michael Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Numerous Independents, Constitution and Libertarians (as well as some other lesser third parties) nationwide as you go local

18. Importance of Minor Parties
Spoiler Role
1992 Bush Sr./Perot and Bill Clinton
Independent, Later the REFORM PARTY

20. Importance of Minor Parties
Most Importantly, innovator and critic (Janda says “safety valve”) (I disagree but who am I?)
Women Voters, Income Tax, etc
This actually hurts these parties occasionally (????)