What would have to happen for an independent politician to…
9 reactions
What would have to happen for an independent politician to win the presidency?
A genuinely nationally known independent emerges
The candidate would need enough name recognition and support to compete across many states, rather than simply becoming popular in one region.
They build a nationwide organization
This is probably the biggest practical hurdle. They would need people, funding, volunteers, lawyers, campaign infrastructure, and voter organizations in essentially every state.
They achieve ballot access nationwide
Presidential ballot-access rules differ by state. An independent campaign would have to meet the relevant requirements across the country, including petition/signature requirements in some states.
They become acceptable to voters from both major-party coalitions
An independent generally can't win the presidency by simply replacing one party's voters. They would need a coalition broad enough to win individual states.
The Electoral College map has to work for them
This is crucial. The presidency isn't awarded based directly on the national popular vote. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes.
The major parties would have to be unusually unpopular or divided
Historically, strong third-party or independent campaigns have sometimes benefited when voters were dissatisfied with both major parties. Ross Perot's 1992 campaign is an example: he received roughly 19% of the popular vote but won no electoral votes.
The independent would need to survive the “spoiler” problem
Voters may support an independent but worry that doing so will help the major-party candidate they like least. An independent would need enough support that voters believe the candidate can actually win states.
An independent politician will never win the presidency. Change my mind. 🧠 #independent #politicians
A genuinely nationally known independent emerges
The candidate would need enough name recognition and support to compete across many states, rather than simply becoming popular in one region.
They build a nationwide organization
This is probably the biggest practical hurdle. They would need people, funding, volunteers, lawyers, campaign infrastructure, and voter organizations in essentially every state.
They achieve ballot access nationwide
Presidential ballot-access rules differ by state. An independent campaign would have to meet the relevant requirements across the country, including petition/signature requirements in some states.
They become acceptable to voters from both major-party coalitions
An independent generally can't win the presidency by simply replacing one party's voters. They would need a coalition broad enough to win individual states.
The Electoral College map has to work for them
This is crucial. The presidency isn't awarded based directly on the national popular vote. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes.
The major parties would have to be unusually unpopular or divided
Historically, strong third-party or independent campaigns have sometimes benefited when voters were dissatisfied with both major parties. Ross Perot's 1992 campaign is an example: he received roughly 19% of the popular vote but won no electoral votes.
The independent would need to survive the “spoiler” problem
Voters may support an independent but worry that doing so will help the major-party candidate they like least. An independent would need enough support that voters believe the candidate can actually win states.
An independent politician will never win the presidency. Change my mind. 🧠 #independent #politicians
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
| 81,000 mlx | |
| 67 | |
| 9 |
comments
No, not until people like you that keep saying it cannot happen change their own fucking minds. 🤣
