Most 3rd party/independent state

[Rev. Matthew]

Hi, I was just wondering what you think is the most 3rd party friendly state.

For example, I was wondering which states have voted the most 3rd party (or independent)  in the past 25 years or so. Who are the highest elected officials who are independent or members of a 3rd party...

...and where to they live? When were they elected?

I heard Maine was 3rd party friendly but I'm not sure.

[elcorazon]

Minnesota elected a 3rd party governor & Vermont has an independent Senator.

[opebo]

Minnesota or Vermont.  Serious states have no time for third parties.

[Rev. Matthew]

Minnesota or Vermont.  Serious states have no time for third parties.

Unless you can give me a good reason why, I strongly disagree with your opinion.

[ilikeverin]

Minnesota or Vermont.  Serious states have no time for third parties.

*clears throat*

[Gustaf]

Maine. Alaska. Generally, New England and the West...ans the Mid-West. The South is the least friendly towards 3rd parties. (Unless they're racist parties in the old days, of course)

[© Tweed the Younger]

Minnesota elected a 3rd party governor & Vermont has an independent Senator.

Also an independent (socialist) congressman

[bgwah]

Just by looking at election data on this site I would say

1. Maine
2. Alaska
3. Minnesota?

[Sibboleth]

The West and New England. Neither the Rustbelt or the South are keen on third parties (usually).

[ilikeverin]

Minnesota also elected 3 3rd party governors and 4 senators for the Farmer-Labor party back in the day...

Hence, the DFL in Minnesota.

[Gustaf]

The West and New England. Neither the Rustbelt or the South are keen on third parties (usually).

Michigan? And the progressive traditions of the upper Mid-West could be argued...Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc.

[Sibboleth]

The Upper Midwest as well of course

[© Tweed the Younger]

The West and New England. Neither the Rustbelt or the South are keen on third parties (usually).

Unless a rebel comes along and grabs 90% of the vote.

[zachman]

Vermont. It is almost a challenge there to have a seat occupied by a major party.

[nclib]

Vermont. It is almost a challenge there to have a seat occupied by a major party.

There are only two independents in Congress--both of them are in Vermont even though Vt. has only 3 congresspeople.

[© Tweed the Younger]

I'm gonna go with Maine after some thought.

[Kevinstat]

I don't know what's going on with Independents and 3rd parties in Minnesota and Vermont right now, which I would see as the leading contenders to Maine as the most 3rd party/Independent state of recent, but I'd go with Maine becuase I didn't hear much (or anything) about the Progressive Party of Vermont in 2004 (although I didn't follow politics in that state at all last year).  While Maine's one Green Independent state Representative was re-elected by 10+% last November against another incumbent (although this district did favor the Green Independent who had moved from the district he was drawn into in 2003) and several other Green Independent candidates for state Representative in Portland had strong showings (coming in second in every other district besides the two where they didn't field a candidate), only one Independent (not counting the Green) state Representative (an incumbent with only one opponent who seems to have an understanding with the Democratic Party) and no Independent or Green Independent state Senators were elected.  Only five Independent or 3rd party candidates ran for the Maine Senate, with the best performing candidate receiving 14% of the vote.  And President Bush and John Kerry combined to receive 98.1% of the vote for President in Maine.  Unless the law is changed, the Green Independent Party will have to field a candidate for Governor who receives 5% of the vote in order to remain a party with official ballot status (otherwise all their enrolled voters will be reclassified as Unenrolled voters).  They should be able to clear that hurdle, but it may be a tough enough hurdle to clear that they're not able to put much effort into their candidates' campaigns for the Legislature.  I think the Maine Green Independent Party will survive as an official party for the time being, but I think they have reached their peak and will eventually decline.  And while Maine still has the ingredients to elect an Independent Governor, I don't think it will happen in 2006.  It's tough to tell what will happen in legislative races.  Just 2 Independent/3rd party legislators seems low for Maine; I wouldn't find it unreasonable for 5 state Representatives and a state Senator or two to be elected in 2006, but I also wouldn't find it unreasonable for just 1 Independent/3rd party state Representative to be elected.

Sincerely,

Kevin Lamoreau

[Redefeatbush04]

Either one of the New England states, or Alaska. Alaska will vote for a candidate based on an issue unique to Alaskans, like roads in the Tongass Forest or oil drilling in the Artic WILDLIFE REFUGE.

[Max Power]

Maine elected Angus King as their governor, and nearly went for Perot in '92. Vermont has elected the only independents currently in Congress. Colorado automatically puts Third Parties on it's ballot. One of those three.

[Rob]

Alaska. It had a governor once from the kooky Alaskan Independence Party, and it gave Ed Clark 12 percent in 1980- by far the best showing a Libertarian has ever made. Ross Perot got some of his best showings there, and Nader got his best percentage there in 2000- 10 percent.