Spoiler Candidacies Revisited

H. Ross Perot, a successful businessman, mounted an interesting but unsuccessful bid for the Presidency of the United States in 1992 under the banner of the Reform Party. Perot garnered 19 percent of the popular vote but failed to carry the electoral votes from any state. The influence of the Reform party is atypical among American political parties though, with most having far less popular support.

Third parties or minority parties have historically been one of four types (Janda, Berry, & Goldman, 1995): (1) Bolter parties splitting from the Democratic or Republican parties; (2) Farmer-labor parties representing working class individuals who feel they are not getting their fair share; (3) Ideological protest parties criticizing the established system; (4) Single issue parties seeking to promote an issue rather than new government philosophy.

Most American voters are loyal to either the Republican or Democratic parties, making it virtually impossible for an third, minority party candidate to win. Notwithstanding, third party movements such as Perot’s Reform party provide a means of expression for potential voters who are disenchanted with either major party. Moreover, expression of alternate platforms and agenda for government policymaking is what third-parties do best.

The Reform Party, which was essentially an ideological protest party, affected the platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties by drawing attention to important, overlooked issues such as the need for a balanced budget and ending government waste. In the future, third party platforms such as the Reform party will continue to have populist influence on the two major parties. Other important third-party challenges can be found in the Constitution, Libertarian, and Green parties.

Reference

Janda, K., Berry, J.M., & Goldman, J. (1995) The challenge of democracy: Government in America, (4th Ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.