Topline
An increasing number of Republican voters say a third major political party is needed in the United States, with a smaller share of Democrats agreeing with the sentiment, according to new polling from Gallup, which comes the same week Republicans in the House face deepening disagreements over their party’s leadership.
Key Facts
In January and February 2021, after a series of events including the Capitol riot, former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment and President Joe Biden’s inauguration, the percentage of Republicans supporting the idea of a third major political party skyrocketed to 63% and, although it declined to 51% by September 2021, and 45% by September 2022, according to Gallup, most recent polling shows an increase in favor of the idea.
As of September, a record 63% of Americans believe the Republican and Democratic parties are doing “such a poor job that a third party is needed,” with only 34% believing the parties are doing an adequate job.
While 75% of self-identified independents support the creation of a third party, 58% of Republicans endorsed the idea, and 46% of Democrats.
The findings represent a 13-point increase for Republican voters, and a high-water mark for the group aside from immediately following the Capitol riot.
This is the third time at least 60% of Americans expressed wanting a third party; the number reached 62% in 2021 and 61% in 2017, according to Gallup.
News Peg
Though conducted in September, the release of this polling follows the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calf.) as speaker of the House on Tuesday, making him the first ever to be removed from the position. In a 216-210 vote, eight Republicans sided with all Democrats to push out the former House speaker. The motion to vacate was filed on Monday evening by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a far-right Republican and early critic of McCarthy’s leadership who once said, “There are definitely more than five members of Congress who would rather be waterboarded by Liz Cheney than vote Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House, and I’m one of them.” McCarthy only served nine months in his leadership post—one that was obtained after the House underwent a historic 15 rounds of votes in January—and McCarthy does not plan to run again for speaker.
Key Background
There are at least 50 third parties or minor parties that already exist in the U.S., the most prominent of which are the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, the Reform Party and Constitution Party. When Gallup first started polling Americans’ views on having a major third party alternative in 2003, only 40% backed the idea. That number has steadily increased over the last decade. The only federal lawmakers today who do not affiliate with either of the major parties are Sens. Angus King (Maine), Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), who all caucus with Democrats. Left-wing academic Cornel West is running a campaign as a Green Party candidate in the upcoming election, though Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rumored to be considering a third-party run for president.
Further Reading
McCarthy Ousted: First House Speaker Ever Booted From The Job (Forbes)
‘Bring It On’: McCarthy Fires Back After Motion To Vacate Filed By Gaetz (Forbes)
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