The Significance of Third-Party Candidates in the 2024 Election

Expert political scientist Bernard Tamas from Valdosta State University shares his insights on the potential impact of third-party candidates in the upcoming 2024 election. Tamas highlights the growing opportunity for a moderate conservative party to address the existing gap in the political landscape. However, he notes that established third parties such as the Greens and the Libertarians appear to be maintaining their traditional strategies. Tamas emphasizes the importance of third parties presenting galvanizing issues and running candidates at all levels of the ballot in order to influence the political discourse effectively. Regarding the potential spoiler effect on the presidential level, Tamas points out that third-party candidates could shift the election outcome by drawing a small percentage of votes from the major party nominees. He stresses that successful third parties need to have clear policy goals and innovate their campaigns to make a significant impact. Despite increased ballot access requirements and financial obstacles, Tamas believes that third-party candidates can still play a vital role in pushing unaddressed issues into the political spotlight.