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Third Parties

Alyse Galvin Could Become 1st Woman to Serve As An Independent US Representative

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | October 12, 2018 | 2
Photo of Alaska independent Alyse Galvin

One woman has previously been elected to the chamber as an independent, but never served under that designation.

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Is the Footprint Fading for Minnesota 3rd Party US House Candidates?

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | September 24, 2018 | 2
Minnesota Independence Party logo

The frequency of non-major party candidates has declined over the last two decades, although nearly half who run continue to win 5+ percent of the vote.

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Rhode Island On the Verge of Impressive Non-Major Party Gubernatorial Streak

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | July 11, 2018 | 4
Photo of Rhode Island independent Joe Trillo

Independent Joe Trillo could make Rhode Island the first state in 75+ years to have non-major party gubernatorial candidates win 20+ percent in three consecutive cycles.

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Jon Tester Eyes Record-Tying Plurality Win in 2018 US Senate Bid

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | July 3, 2018 | 1
Photo of Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester

Only one previous senator in history has been elected to the chamber without a majority of the vote three times.

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How Low Will Bruce Rauner Go?

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | June 25, 2018 | 3
Photo of Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner

Illinois governors have failed to win a majority of the vote in more than half of their reelection bids.

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Don Blankenship’s 3rd Party US Senate Campaign Would Shatter West Virginia Record

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | May 21, 2018 | 0
Photo of West Virginia Republican Don Blankenship

Non-major party candidates have left the faintest of footprints in Mountain State U.S. Senate races over the decades.

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How Big of a Footprint Will Sam McCann Leave in Illinois’ 2018 Gubernatorial Race?

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | April 20, 2018 | 2
Photo of Illinois Republican State Senator Sam McCann

Less than 1 in 10 third party or independent candidates for governor in Illinois history have won five percent of the vote.

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Craig O’Dear Launches Improbable Independent Bid in Missouri’s 2018 US Senate Race

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | February 20, 2018 | 2
Photo of Missouri independent Craig O'Dear

Only one non-major party U.S. Senate candidate in Missouri history has won five percent of the vote.

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Jill Stein and the 2016 Popular Vote Revisited

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | February 19, 2018 | 4
Photo of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein

The numbers do not add up to support the claim that Russian efforts to sour voters on Hillary Clinton and vote for Stein flipped three key states to Trump.

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Number of Plurality-Winning US Senators Nears Century-Long High

By Dr. Eric Ostermeier | January 17, 2018 | 4
Photo of Alabama U.S. Senator Doug Jones

Doug Jones’ victory last month brings the total of senators elected to the chamber with a plurality of the vote to 14 – tied for the most in 95+ years.

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