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Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
How the Know-Nothings, Free Soilers and other third parties shaped US politics
Elon Musk's plan to create a new political party puts him in the company of a long line of business and political titans looking to upend the two-party system that has dominated U.S. politics since almost the beginning. From the Anti-Masonic Party in the early 1800s to last year's ill-fated No Labels, nascent political parties have been a near-constant feature of U.S. politics. Some are impactful, others ephemeral, but few endure for long. Though the Republican and Democratic parties have had a lock on political power since the Civil War, they have remade themselves over and over, often when faced with the prospect of losing voters to third parties. The name Musk chose, the America Party, is bland compared to some of history's more memorable movements — the Know-Nothing Party, the Bull Moose Party, the Dixiecrats. Musk's plans remain murky, but some of his public comments suggest he's eying a limited goal, focusing on a handful of House races to gain influence without trying to win a majority. 'One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts,' Musk wrote on X. 'Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people. Here's a look at how third parties have made their mark through American history, even without winning the White House or congressional majorities. Anti-Masonic Party The first third party, the Anti-Masons emerged in 1828 in opposition to the Freemasons, a secret society. The disappearance of William Morgan, a former Mason who had threatened to expose secrets, fueled widespread paranoia about the shadowy group, which many believed was covertly controlling the government. The Anti-Masons evolved into a broadly anti-elite party. They were the first party to hold a convention to nominate a presidential candidate and to adopt a party platform, pioneering enduring staples of American democracy. They held seats in the House for a decade, peaking at 25 after the 1832 election. That year, Anti-Mason presidential nominee William Wirt won Vermont, becoming the first third-party candidate to get electoral college votes, though his seven electoral votes did not affect Andrew Jackson's decisive victory over Henry Clay. The Anti-Masons were largely absorbed into the Whig Party. Free Soil Party 'Barnburner Democrats' and 'conscience Whigs,' anti-slavery factions, joined with remnants of the short-lived abolitionist Liberty Party to form the Free Soil Party after the Mexican American War. Free Soilers won a handful of House seats between 1848 and 1854. Former President Martin Van Buren, who had served one term as a Democrat a decade earlier, was the Free Soil presidential nominee in 1848 but didn't win any electoral votes. As the U.S. expanded westward, the Free Soil Party advocated banning slavery in the new territories but not abolishing it in the places it already existed. The party described its principles with the slogan 'free soil, free speech, free labor and free men.' Free Soilers pitched opposition to slavery on economic rather than moral grounds, arguing that expanding slavery would take jobs from Northern whites. The party dissolved after the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 thrust slavery further into the political fray, upending the political coalitions. Despite its short life, however, the Free Soil Party laid the groundwork for the Republican Party. 'Know-Nothings' The outgrowth of a secretive nativist movement, the anti-Catholic American Party opposed immigration, especially of Catholics. If asked about the party, members would say they 'know nothing,' leading to the nickname. Know-Nothing nominee Millard Fillmore, a former Whig Party president, won Maryland and its eight electoral votes in the 1856 election. Though they won only a handful of House seats, the Know-Nothings showed there was a deep interest in anti-immigration policies and the political salience of ethnic and religious divisions. Populists Agricultural distress late in the 19th century catalyzed the rise of the Populists, who advocated aggressive economic and political reforms. Known formally as the People's Party, Populists wanted to nationalize railroads, enact a graduated income tax and directly elect senators. They supported the free coinage of silver in opposition to the gold standard's fixed monetary supply. In the 1896 presidential election, the Populists cross-nominated Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan, remembered for his 'Cross of Gold' speech calling for free silver. The movement was largely absorbed into the Democratic Party after that. The party was a force in only two presidential elections, but many of its reforms — including a graduated income tax and the direct election of senators — were adopted during the later progressive era. Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party) The Bull Moose Party formed to back Teddy Roosevelt's 1912 campaign to return to the White House, which he ceded after losing the Republican nomination to William Howard Taft in 1908. Roosevelt came in second in the electoral college, finishing ahead of Taft, by then the incumbent. Roosevelt's 88 electoral votes were the most ever won by a third-party presidential candidate. By splitting the Republican vote with Taft, he allowed Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win. The Bull Moose platform included women's suffrage, an eight-hour workday and a crackdown on big business. Roosevelt's strong showing showed the popularity of such reforms, and many were later embraced by both major parties. Dixiecrats Southern Democrats opposed to civil rights legislation formed the segregationist States' Rights Democratic Party. Better known as the Dixiecrats, the party lasted for just one presidential election, nominating South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond, who won four Southern states in 1948. The success of the Dixiecrats broke decades of Democratic dominance in the South and made clear that civil rights was a potent wedge issue, an insight that Richard Nixon would later exploit in his 'southern strategy' to win over white voters in the South. Reform Party Billionaire Ross Perot put fiscal conservatism at the center of his largely self-funded presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996. Perot won 19% of the popular vote in 1992, enough to help tilt the election to Bill Clinton. Perot's campaigns put a spotlight on the federal budget deficit and the growing national debt, a major force in 1990s policymaking.
Fox News
06-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Trump dismisses Musk's political ambitions as 'ridiculous' in sharp rebuke
President Donald Trump slammed former first buddy Elon Musk for starting a third political party, saying such parties have "never worked" while also calling the move "ridiculous." Trump spoke with reporters before boarding Air Force 1 in Bedminster, New Jersey, when he was asked about Musk's move to start a third party. "I think it's ridiculous to start a third party," Trump said from the tarmac. "We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it's always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. "It really seems to have been developed for two parties," the president continued. "Third parties have never worked. So, he can have fun with it, but I think it's ridiculous." Musk announced the launching of a new political party called the "America Party" on his social media platform X on Saturday. The entrepreneur called the formation of the party a direct response to a corrupt political establishment that no longer represents the American people. The announcement followed a viral July 4 poll on X, where Musk asked whether voters wanted independence from what he called the "two-party (some would say uniparty) system." Over 1.2 million votes were cast, with 65.4% saying "yes." "By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it," Musk posted Saturday. "When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom." The move came just after Trump signed the "big, beautiful bill" into law Friday at the White House. The sweeping $3.3 trillion legislation includes tax cuts, infrastructure spending and stimulus measures and has drawn criticism from fiscal conservatives and libertarians. Though Musk did not reference the bill directly in his America Party posts, the timing suggests rising friction between the billionaire and the president. Musk has previously warned that unchecked spending by both parties threatens the long-term health of the economy. The new party, according to Musk's posts, will target a few key seats in Congress. The goal is to create a swing bloc powerful enough to hold the balance of power and block what Musk sees as the worst excesses of both Republicans and Democrats. Third parties have traditionally had a difficult time gaining ground in American politics as the system is built for two dominant parties. With the Electoral College, winner-take-all elections and strict ballot access laws, outsiders cannot meaningfully compete. Even when a third-party candidate catches fire, it rarely lasts beyond a single election cycle. One of the biggest third-party efforts in recent history was Ross Perot's 1992 run. He earned nearly 19% of the popular vote as an independent but didn't win a single Electoral College vote. It was the closest a third-party candidate got to the White House after President Teddy Roosevelt's famed Bull Moose Party run in 1912 against his onetime protégé, William Howard Taft. Others, like Ralph Nader, have tried with the Green Party, and Gary Johnson with the Libertarian Party, but no third-party candidate has come close to winning the presidency.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Elon Musk launches ‘America Party' after Trump signs historic spending bill: 'Waste & graft'
Elon Musk says the two-party system is broken, and he just launched a new political party to prove it. On Saturday, Musk announced on X, the social media platform he owns, the formation of the "America Party," calling it a direct response to what he described as a corrupt political establishment that no longer represents the American people. The announcement followed a viral July 4 poll on X, where Musk asked whether voters wanted independence from what he called the "two-party (some would say uniparty) system." Elon Musk Indicates He'll Donate To Rep. Thomas Massie, A Republican Who Has Been Excoriated By Trump Over 1.2 million votes were cast, with 65.4% saying "yes." "By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it," Musk posted Saturday. "When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom." Read On The Fox News App The move came just after President Donald Trump signed the "big, beautiful bill" into law Friday at the White House. The sweeping $3.3 trillion legislation includes tax cuts, infrastructure spending and stimulus measures and has drawn criticism from fiscal conservatives and libertarians. Though Musk did not reference the bill directly in his America Party posts, the timing suggests rising friction between the billionaire and the president. Musk has previously warned that unchecked spending by both parties threatens the long-term health of the economy. The new party, according to Musk's posts, will target a few key seats in Congress. The goal is to create a swing bloc powerful enough to hold the balance of power and block what Musk sees as the worst excesses of both Republicans and Democrats. Elon Musk Says Us Is Ruled By 'Porky Pig Party' As Trump Defends His Vision Against Former Ally's Criticism Some on the right voiced concern in the comments section that a third party could split the conservative vote and help Democrats win more easily. "Your third party will disproportionately take votes from the right vs the left and give the left an easier path to power," conservative commentator Shawn Farash posted. Others, like Joey Mannarino, urged Musk to focus instead on reforming the GOP from within. Critics also pointed out that the X poll was informal, not limited to American voters and vulnerable to bots. Third parties have traditionally had a difficult time gaining ground in American politics as the system is built for two dominant parties. With the Electoral College, winner-take-all elections and strict ballot access laws, outsiders cannot meaningfully compete. Even when a third-party candidate catches fire, it rarely lasts beyond a single election cycle. One of the biggest third-party efforts in recent history was Ross Perot's 1992 run. He earned nearly 19% of the popular vote as an independent but didn't win a single Electoral College vote. It was the closest a third-party candidate got to the White House after President Teddy Roosevelt's famed Bull Moose Party run in 1912 against his onetime protégé, William Howard article source: Elon Musk launches 'America Party' after Trump signs historic spending bill: 'Waste & graft'
Fox News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Elon Musk launches ‘America Party' after Trump signs historic spending bill: 'Waste & graft'
Elon Musk says the two-party system is broken, and he just launched a new political party to prove it. On Saturday, Musk announced on X, the social media platform he owns, the formation of the "America Party," calling it a direct response to what he described as a corrupt political establishment that no longer represents the American people. The announcement followed a viral July 4 poll on X, where Musk asked whether voters wanted independence from what he called the "two-party (some would say uniparty) system." Over 1.2 million votes were cast, with 65.4% saying "yes." "By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it," Musk posted Saturday. "When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom." The move came just after President Donald Trump signed the "big, beautiful bill" into law Friday at the White House. The sweeping $3.3 trillion legislation includes tax cuts, infrastructure spending and stimulus measures and has drawn criticism from fiscal conservatives and libertarians. Though Musk did not reference the bill directly in his America Party posts, the timing suggests rising friction between the billionaire and the president. Musk has previously warned that unchecked spending by both parties threatens the long-term health of the economy. The new party, according to Musk's posts, will target a few key seats in Congress. The goal is to create a swing bloc powerful enough to hold the balance of power and block what Musk sees as the worst excesses of both Republicans and Democrats. Some on the right voiced concern in the comments section that a third party could split the conservative vote and help Democrats win more easily. "Your third party will disproportionately take votes from the right vs the left and give the left an easier path to power," conservative commentator Shawn Farash posted. Others, like Joey Mannarino, urged Musk to focus instead on reforming the GOP from within. Critics also pointed out that the X poll was informal, not limited to American voters and vulnerable to bots. Third parties have traditionally had a difficult time gaining ground in American politics as the system is built for two dominant parties. With the Electoral College, winner-take-all elections and strict ballot access laws, outsiders cannot meaningfully compete. Even when a third-party candidate catches fire, it rarely lasts beyond a single election cycle. One of the biggest third-party efforts in recent history was Ross Perot's 1992 run. He earned nearly 19% of the popular vote as an independent but didn't win a single Electoral College vote. It was the closest a third-party candidate got to the White House after President Teddy Roosevelt's famed Bull Moose Party run in 1912 against his onetime protégé, William Howard Taft. Others, like Ralph Nader, have tried with the Green Party, and Gary Johnson with the Libertarian Party, but no third-party candidate has come close to winning national HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Elon Musk says he's created new America Party, in challenge to Trump's Republicans
Elon Musk, an ex-ally of US President Donald Trump, said on Saturday he had launched a new political party in the United States to challenge what the tech billionaire described as the country's 'one-party system'. Advertisement Musk, the world's richest person and Trump's biggest political donor in the 2024 election, had a bitter falling out with the president after leading the Republican's effort to slash spending and cut federal jobs as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). 'When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,' the SpaceX and Tesla boss posted social media. 'Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.' Musk cited a poll – posted on X, the social media platform he owns – on Friday, US Independence Day – in which he asked whether respondents 'want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system' that has dominated US politics for some two centuries. 03:02 US House passes Trump's bill, sending it to White House for president to sign US House passes Trump's bill, sending it to White House for president to sign The yes-or-no survey received more than 1.2 million responses.
