The Three-Party Problem

Alternatives to the two-party system struggle to gain a foothold, and voters might not be any happier with the candidates who emerge. Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. The smart money in American politics has always bet against the rise of third parties. The reasons are both obvious and numerous. The two-party system has been firmly entrenched for 200 years. America’s electoral system makes it very difficult for candidates who are neither Democrats nor Republicans to gain traction because voters are rightly worried about “wasting” their votes. Yascha Mounk is the founding editor of Persuasion, the host of The Good Fight podcast, and the author (most recently) of “The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time.” He writes a weekly column about big ideas at yaschamounk.substack.com. More We Think You’d Like