Third Parties
You Say You Want a Revolution? Third Party Gubernatorial Candidates Thriving in 2010
Third party gubernatorial candidates rivaling 1994 for their best showing since the Great Depression
Read MoreWill Minnesotans Elect a Plurality-Winning Governor for a 4th Straight Cycle?
Only one other state has elected plurality-winning governors into office four times in a row since World War II (Alaska); Minnesota has not done so in 114 years
Read MoreCharlie Crist and the Long Odds of an Independent U.S. Senate Candidacy
Only six men have been elected to a first term in the U.S. Senate without major party backing since popular vote elections in 1914
Read MoreMike Parry Fends Off Critics, Engbrecht, and Srp to Hold 26th Senate District for GOP
Tri-County District split support among the three candidates; Roy Srp turns in best State Senate performance for IP since 2002
Read MoreWill Roy Srp Help to Upend Mike Parry? The Independent Streak of MN Senate District 26
District has shown strong support for Independence Party candidates over the past decade
Read MoreBachmann vs Franken in 2014: A Dream Matchup?
Scenario could also be best chance for 3rd party revival in Gopher State
Read MorePutting a Bow on the 2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate Contest (A Historical Analysis)
With Governor Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie signing the election certificate for the U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday evening, the 2008 Election is, after a 238-day wait, at last in the books. The 2008 U.S. Senate Election…
Read MoreHutchinson (’06) Performance Strong Predictor of Barkley Countywide Support in Minnesota Senate Race
As documented by Smart Politics last week, Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley took a very different path to reach 15 percent in the 2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate race than did 2002 Independence Party gubernatorial nominee, Tim Penny (who reached 16…
Read MoreGetting to 15 Percent: Two Different Paths for Dean Barkley (’08) and Tim Penny (’02)
Independence Party nominee Dean Barkley’s U.S. Senate candidacy was of great interest to the media and political junkies leading up to the 2008 election. Could Barkley launch a Ventura-esque come-from-behind victory? Would his presence on the ballot hurt Al Franken…
Read MoreGreen Party Sets Personal Best in Minnesota’s HD 61B Contest
In Minnesota’s House District 61B election on Tuesday, Green Party candidate Farheen Hakeem received 30.3 percent of the vote – the highest mark ever reached by the Green Party in a House contest. The Green Party has run 29…
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