The Myth of the Third Party: Why Mavericks Reject the Fantasy
Real change comes from working within the system we have—not the system we wish we had. A warning against chasing the false hope of a third party.
Every few years, disillusioned voters start dreaming of a third-party savior—an alternative to the dysfunction and division of America’s two-party system. The idea is intoxicating: a new party that sweeps aside the old guard, rises above the partisan fray, and restores sanity to our politics.
It’s a beautiful dream. But it’s also a dangerous distraction.
Here’s the hard truth: America’s political system is not designed to support third parties. In fact, it actively works against them. If you’re serious about fixing our politics, then you have to confront this reality—not with cynicism, but with determination to make change from within.
As Mavericks, we reject the fantasy of a third party—not because we don’t want alternatives, but because we know there’s a better way to fight for democracy.
Why Third Parties Fail
The barriers to third-party success in America are not a matter of opinion—they’re structural.
1. Winner-Take-All Elections
In most U.S. elections, the candidate with the most votes wins everything. This “first-past-the-post” system makes it nearly impossible for third parties to gain traction. Even if a third-party candidate garners a significant share of the vote, they often end up splitting the vote with one of the major parties, handing victory to the opposition.
2. Duverger’s Law
Political scientists call it Duverger’s Law: in systems like ours, two dominant parties are inevitable. Voters tend to abandon third parties because they don’t want to “waste” their vote on a candidate with no chance of winning.
3. Lack of Infrastructure
Major parties have built massive ecosystems to support their candidates, from fundraising networks to volunteer bases. Third parties simply can’t match this level of organization, especially at the national scale.
4. The Perils of Geography
For third parties to succeed, they need geographically concentrated support. Without it, even a strong showing in the popular vote doesn’t translate into seats in Congress or state legislatures.
The result? Third-party candidates may inspire passionate supporters, but they rarely win—and when they do, it’s often in symbolic or isolated victories, not systemic change.
The False Hope of Third Parties
Despite these obstacles, the allure of a third party persists. But the truth is, third parties often do more harm than good:
They Split the Vote: Third parties typically pull votes from one of the major parties, often handing victory to the side they oppose.
They Dilute Momentum: Resources that could strengthen pro-democracy efforts within the two-party system are instead siphoned off into third-party campaigns.
They Fail to Build Coalitions: Third parties often cater to niche interests, making it harder to unite diverse groups around common goals.
Instead of challenging the status quo, third parties often reinforce it by fragmenting the opposition to extremism.
Why Mavericks Choose a Different Path
Mavericks don’t waste time chasing the mirage of a third party. We know that real change happens within the system we have—not the system we wish we had.
1. We Work Within the Two-Party System
America’s two-party structure is deeply entrenched. Instead of fighting it, we use it to our advantage. By organizing factions within the Democratic and Republican parties, Mavericks can influence their platforms, push for pro-democracy reforms, and amplify moderate voices.
2. We Build Coalitions
The two-party system isn’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean it’s monolithic. Mavericks unite center-right and center-left Americans to form coalitions that transcend party lines. These coalitions have the power to shape policy and restore balance to our politics.
3. We Play the Long Game
Change doesn’t happen overnight. Mavericks focus on the slow, steady work of building grassroots infrastructure, electing pro-democracy candidates, and creating space for collaboration within the existing system.
What About Reforming the System?
Some argue that we should fix the system itself—by introducing ranked-choice voting, multi-member districts, or proportional representation. These reforms could indeed create more room for third parties and reduce the toxicity of polarization.
But here’s the reality: these changes are a long way off. Achieving them requires working through the very two-party system they’re meant to disrupt.
Mavericks support reforms that strengthen democracy, but we don’t wait for the perfect system to take action. We fight for progress here and now, using the tools we have.
What Mavericks Stand For
The dream of a third party is rooted in frustration, and we get it. The two-party system often feels broken. But abandoning it won’t fix the problem.
Mavericks believe in a different approach:
Work Smarter: Use the existing system to push for change from within.
Unite Broadly: Build coalitions that reflect the true diversity of American values.
Act Boldly: Don’t wait for perfect conditions—organize, mobilize, and lead.
The fight for democracy isn’t about starting over. It’s about reclaiming the system and making it work for the people.
Join the Fight
If you’re tired of the extremes, if you’re done with the chaos, and if you’re ready to fight for real change, then it’s time to join the Mavericks.
Together, we can reject the fantasy of a third party and embrace the hard, necessary work of reclaiming democracy. Let’s get to it.
Thank you for this clear-eyed view of third parties. Certainly, history and the structures in place make a third party v. challenging climb with a probability of failure. But in fairness, the "Maverick" approach faces many obstacles as well, some acknowledged -the need to "play the long game" and "build coalitions". Some of the reforms needed are seeing successes because nascent third parties are able to engage voters and help push these along (open primaries and RCV) and in doing so have helped elect moderates . Third parties are also not a reaction to the Republican Party, they also are seeing interest because of dissatisfaction of the Democratic Party. Both parties are not serving democracy. Can they be redeemed from within? Who really knows. Do we put all eggs in the basket that they can be saved? Not convinced. At the very least active third parties can also influence change. So, a v. good topic with much more nuance/much more to discuss. Despite real challenges, don't count third parties out.
Thank you for this breakdown of third parties. Third parties, as of late, have made it easier for foreign rogue actors to manipulate American voters. Jill Stein is a good example of this.