Why Vote "3rd Party" this November?

Political parties have always reflected their membership at any given time. In the 1860s, the Democratic Party was pro-slavery, and the newer Republican Party championed first limitations on slavery and finally total abolition of slavery. In the 1960s, Democrats championed civil rights for minority groups, and Republicans became the party of Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon, both staunchly opposed to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Both major parties often speak of being a “big tent” where many views can exist within their group. In reality, the more active core of each party tends to dictate how the party's views are shaped.

Many voters registered with a party actually choose to vote for a candidate from another party, or simply not vote at all. Our participation rate at elections should tell us that the two-view model is not drawing wide appeal.

A Gallup poll conducted in September 2025 showed that 62% of registered voters said that the two main parties are doing such a poor job that a third or other parties are needed. Another Gallup poll released in January shows that, increasingly, voters are choosing to register to vote as “Independent” or “No Party” rather than associate with the two dominating parties.

In West Virginia, 30% of the current registered voters choose NOT to associate themselves with either the Republican or Democratic party. Why then does a Democrat or Republican always seem to win?

Money is a main factor. Donors tend to choose to stick with the more widely known names, and this in turn makes it very difficult for a “new” party or name to become widely known. This also gives the parties the power to push who they believe should be in office.

We've watched this play out right here in District 12, where Governor Patrick Morrisey supported a primary challenger for Vernon Criss, simply because Criss refused to rubber-stamp Morrisey's budget. Morrisey was able to turn the tide of the state party and use his influence to place someone more loyal as his party's nominee.

I would argue that it is past time for a change in how we choose our leaders. If each of us chose a candidate who most closely represents our views, then more viewpoints would be represented in our leadership. This would force negotiation and compromise, two things that this country's founders dreamed of when building this budding democracy, and something we see far too little of in recent years.

I have always hoped that one day every person who is eligible to vote will register and do so, and in this way we would truly know what the “majority view” is. Our country was founded on the concept of majority rule with minority rights. Until we look beyond the “two-party system,” we will never truly have all our views represented, and we will be worse off for it.

My question to you this November is, do you really think there should be just two ways of looking at how our government is run? Or will you reject this notion, and vote for the candidate that you think is qualified for the job, regardless of party?

Stephen Thomas Smith