How Feasible Is a MAGA Third Party?The history of third parties shows no real template for Trump other than staying in the Republican Party or trying to replace it.
Bernie Gives Supporters Red Light on Green PartyAs polls show a significant number of former Sanders-backers planning to vote third party, the senator finally makes the case against Jill Stein.
ByEric Levitz
Can Jill Stein’s Greens Make It a 4-Candidate Race?Jill Stein is popping up in some polls as a fourth-party alternative to Trump, Clinton, and the Libertarians, and has a natural appeal to Sanders supporters. But she’s probably already peaked.
Some People Are Happy Ralph Nader Is BackIn 2000, Ralph Nader brought the Green Party its best presidential election ever — 2.7 percent of the nationwide vote. He also brought the Greens a lot of problems, after many Democrats alleged he cost Al Gore Florida and New Hampshire and thus the presidency. “For a couple of years after that, there were certainly a lot of negative feelings,” says Gloria Mattera, co-chair of the New York Green Party. But now that Nader has announced yet another presidential run — so far, without any party affiliation — New York’s top Greens are happy to see him back. “He’s a great presidential candidate,” Mattera says. “I say, ‘More voices, more choices.’” Mattera and her co-chair, Peter LaVenia, don’t buy the Nader-screwed-up-the-country argument. “I feel like in some ways the Democrats are the biggest obstacles to change in this country,” he says. “The Republicans are honest in what they stand for.” LaVenia still admires Nader. “A lot of people say he’s egotistical, but I think running for office at 74 is not something your ego would tell you to do,” he says. “I think he’s doing it because he has a sense of commitment to American democracy and doesn’t believe the two main parties are upholding their end of the bargain.” —Jennifer Chen
