Should Bernie create a 3rd party?

[Progressive Pessimist]

I voted no, in spite of the obnoxious editorializing.

Calling on Sanders to start a third party reeks of misunderstanding his "not me. Us" motto. I always go back to that because Sanders' movement is supposed to be about his goals and ideals, isn't it? Politics should be about policy (hence the name) over personality! Sanders forming a third party hands re-election to Trump and compromises most, if not all, of the goals that Sanders holds dear even if they don't come to fruition as purely as he might desire under a Biden presidency. I think he knows better.

[Gary J]

To give a foreign perspective, it is far too late to try to create a third party for the 2020 election. If such a party is thought desirable it should be created immediately after the 2020 election and try to replace the weaker of the two major parties in particular states and regions where they are exceptionally weak (say the Republicans in New England and the Democrats in the mountain west). It is not impossible to replace one of the existing major parties in a state, as the Farmer-Labor Party did in Minnesota from the 1920s until it merged with the Democratic Party in the 1940s.

I suspect a state based approach is more likely to achieve something than hoping to start out at the Presidential election level, with little or no supporting infrastructure. However, any third party effort is likely to be a long and difficult task with discouraging prospects of victory.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Has anyone looked into the effect of California's local elections being nonpartisan on 3rd party candidates winning? Richmond had a Green party mayor, and a Green almost beat Newsom for SF mayor.

[AltWorlder]

That being said, there is no reason to create a new third party. The Green Party already exists and will be running a strong presidential campaign this year (now is a great time to get involved). And for those not satisfied with the Greens, there are numerous smaller socialist/Marxist parties (e.g. SPUSA, PSL, WWP, etc).

The problem with the existing third parties is that they've kinda gone a bit nutty from isolation from mainstream politics. For instance, none of the leftist minor parties have tried electoral fusion this year by endorsing Sanders, despite him being the furthest-left mainstream figure in ages. By that same token, the only minor right-wing paleocon party that endorsed Trump in 2016 was the American Independent Party, and that was the only time in that party's history. That's why I argue in my linked thread that it takes both activity outside of the major parties and within the major parties to move the system towards something that's more empowering towards third parties.

To give a foreign perspective, it is far too late to try to create a third party for the 2020 election. If such a party is thought desirable it should be created immediately after the 2020 election and try to replace the weaker of the two major parties in particular states and regions where they are exceptionally weak (say the Republicans in New England and the Democrats in the mountain west). It is not impossible to replace one of the existing major parties in a state, as the Farmer-Labor Party did in Minnesota from the 1920s until it merged with the Democratic Party in the 1940s.

I suppose that's what the Working Families Party is attempting to do in New York.

I think the DSA and its rise should probably be discussed, though I'm not sure what they do besides organize and provide ideological support- and act as a constant source of drama.

[Roll Roons]

To give a foreign perspective, it is far too late to try to create a third party for the 2020 election. If such a party is thought desirable it should be created immediately after the 2020 election and try to replace the weaker of the two major parties in particular states and regions where they are exceptionally weak (say the Republicans in New England and the Democrats in the mountain west). It is not impossible to replace one of the existing major parties in a state, as the Farmer-Labor Party did in Minnesota from the 1920s until it merged with the Democratic Party in the 1940s.

I suspect a state based approach is more likely to achieve something than hoping to start out at the Presidential election level, with little or no supporting infrastructure. However, any third party effort is likely to be a long and difficult task with discouraging prospects of victory.

Honestly, that should be considered in one-party states. Tom Campbell, a former Republican congressman from the Bay Area, is trying to start the "Common Sense" party as a center-right alternative because the GOP brand is so damaged in most of California. Maybe they should create state-specific parties like that as the de facto state Republican or Democratic Party, but without the toxic name. Or just run independents who are supported by one party in all but name, like Angus King or Bill Walker.

[AltWorlder]

I read that NYT article about Silicon Valley elites getting worried, too. I'm not convinced that the Common Sense Party, as catchy as that name is, isn't just some VC equivalent to Bill Kristol blustering about getting Oprah to run with Admiral McRaven on a unity ticket, or something. It's a nonstarter because the rank and file would have no interest in voting for such a West Coast Bloomberg party. Most of them are voting Democrat, many for Sanders or Warren, and the remainder are more libertarian.

Anyway, there seems to be actually a ton of local/regional 3rd parties already, but only two are elected to the state level. Pathetic.

[brucejoel99]

No. Aside from the fact that doing so would be detrimental to the progressive movement, he actually likes & respects Biden.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

There arent any major third party candidates in MT, CO, ME and AZ where the Senate contests are, so there is no need for Bernie to hijack the election and there arent downballot races
 In addition, Indies cant get on the ballot, Nadar tried that in 2004, and Green Party, in itself, with Jill Stein cant reelect Trump, they need Gary Johnson.

Bernie wants to push Dems left, not destroy the Dems

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

1. It's not happening.
2. If it were to somehow happen, such party would fade into obscurity after the election, as it happens with every such third party, left or right-wing.