The Two Party Domination

Question 1

How is the US 2 party dominant in terms of third party presence?

Answer 1

-no tradition of third parties or independents having sustained a presence in Congress or state legislatures

Question 2

What is an example of this?

Answer 2

-e.g. independent senators King + Sanders 2021
-sanders 2 unsuccessful bids for Democrat presidential nomination

Question 3

2 party dominance regarding electoral college votes?

Answer 3

-no third party or independent directly won any electoral college votes since Wallace 1968
-last signif independent 1992 Ross Perot with 19% of vote but 2020 2 party share of vote 98%

Question 4

How does the lack of lengthy pedigree if third parties highlight 2 party dominance?

Answer 4

-most have shirt existence
-Hoftstader ‘role of third parties is to sting like a bee and die’

Question 5

2 party dominance in terms of independent candidates affiliations with the main parties?

Answer 5

-most high profile independents have had close affiliations with one of major parties
-Michael Bloomberg elected as Repub mayor of NY + won 2009 with no facing a Repub candidate

Question 6

What is the counter argument to this?

Answer 6

-greater decentralisation of parties leading to over 100 state parties
-prevalence of primaries encourages independents run, finance + organise own campaigns