Everything you need to know about Elon Musk's ‘America Party'
It is, in some ways, a stunning reversal from just a month and a half ago, when Musk was still 'First Buddy' to Trump and wearing hats that read 'Trump was right about everything.' Now, the world's richest man has declared himself a political opponent of the Republican Party and attracted some notable backers.
Starting a political party and effecting real change, however, are two very different things. While the America Party will presumably have plenty of funding, convincing voters en masse to support a candidate who isn't Republican or Democrat may be easier said than done.
Here's a look at Musk's America Party and some of the hurdles it faces.
Who is supporting Musk's America Party?
Musk says an online poll he ran on whether he should start a third political party showed a two-to-one preference in favor. The poll, though hardly scientific, was conducted on X.com. Still, the passage of the budget bill made it virtually certain that this was happening.
Since then, a few notable figures have shown what appears to be support for the America Party. Mark Cuban has offered advice on how to get candidates on ballots, and former Trump communications director Anthony Scaramucci said he would 'like to meet to discuss' the party with Musk.
What seats will the America Party target?
Musk hasn't offered specifics yet but said the party could be 'laser-focus[ed] on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts. Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws.'
He has not said whether the party will run a presidential candidate in 2028.
Will the America Party be able to get on ballots?
Cuban referred Musk to the Center for Competitive Democracy, whose mission is 'to strengthen American democracy by increasing electoral competition.' That may help, but both state and federal requirements must be met before a party or candidate can appear on a ballot. This will likely require gathering a large number of petition signatures—though Musk could potentially achieve that by hosting rallies and repeating the financial giveaways he used in the 2024 election and Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
It's worth noting that no third-party candidate managed to appear on every state ballot during the 2024 presidential race.
When is the last time a third party won electoral votes?
It's been a while. George Wallace of the American Independent Party was the last third-party presidential candidate to win electoral votes, in 1968. Other notable third-party candidates since then, such as Ross Perot and Ralph Nader, won significant portions of the popular vote but failed to secure any electoral votes.
Does Musk have the political strength to make the America Party a threat?
That's the big question—and one without a clear answer. Musk's endorsement certainly helped Trump win in 2024, but his involvement with DOGE, along with blunt remarks about politicians and federal employees, alienated many who once idolized him. He also tried to influence voters in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race earlier this year, but the election went firmly to Democrats—a result many political observers saw as a sign of Musk's waning influence.
Musk certainly has the financial means to support the America Party. The bigger question is whether his involvement will prove beneficial or a liability.
Who will run for office as an America Party candidate?
So far, no potential candidates have publicly aligned themselves with Musk's new party.
Does the formation of the America Party benefit Republicans or Democrats more?
Right now, the odds are fairly low that America Party candidates will outperform both Republican and Democratic opponents, mainly because the party is so new and lacks a clearly defined platform (aside from Musk's opposition to the budget bill and national debt).
Given Musk's previous alignment with conservatives, the America Party is likely to siphon votes from MAGA-aligned candidates and Republicans. While nothing is certain, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to benefit from having an America Party candidate on the ballot.
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