America is looking for a "third way"

Hundreds of third-party candidates are competing in the November 3rd elections for seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, the growing frustration among voters who want to change the status quo clashes with the reality that these candidates have no chance of defeating the Democrats and Republicans.

Tim Sharman, an independent candidate for the 8th District of Virginia in the House of Representatives, says, "Why am I running? I ask myself that question every morning."

He adds, "I don't feel like I belong to the Democratic or Republican party. So, I thought: let's try it and make some change."

He continues, "I come from a business background, so I believe in solutions and cooperation across the spectrum."

Sharman (62) spent $40,000 in his quest to collect the thousand certified signatures required to run in the midterm elections.

He relies on his friends for logistical support for his campaign under the slogan "A government that gets things done. Politics that doesn't obstruct."

He confirms that "running was fun... If you had met me in a bar a year ago, I would have had many opinions, but when you have to think about political positions deeply, it becomes much harder because there is always a need for compromises, which was an interesting experience."

A Gallup poll published this year showed a record 45% of American adults identifying as independents, indicating growing dissatisfaction with the Republican and Democratic parties that have dominated power since the 1850s. The poll concluded that young people are less likely to identify with either of the two main parties, noting that 56 percent of Gen Z identify as independents.

For Diane Bliss, running for Congress for the Green Party is not about winning, but about continuing her volunteer work, which ranges from working in schools to childcare.

Bliss, who has previously run for the Greens, said, "I am very upset about what is happening in this country and this is something I know how to do."

Bliss joined the party initially to promote rail transport to reduce traffic congestion, and now describes herself primarily as a peace activist, criticizing both former Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican President Donald Trump for their failure to stop wars around the world.

She says, "I hope to educate a number of people."

Bliss points to Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, who garnered three percent of the vote nationwide in 2000, as a major inspiration for the alternative or third-party movement, although Ross Perot attracted a huge 19 percent as an independent candidate in 1992.

She said, "Based on the existing system, you cannot win when you are a third party."

Most US elections are "winner-take-all" contests, meaning a party that gets 15 percent or more of the vote nationwide could end up with nothing. No Libertarian or Green Party candidate has ever been elected to Congress.

Bliss (72) avoided campaigning by knocking on doors this year, unlike Libertarian Party candidate Tanner Lopez (46), who shakes hands and relies on direct communication with voters at every opportunity.

He says, "I have weekly breakfasts and we have a tent at events like agricultural festivals."

He adds, "I knock on many doors, but I realize that people are tired of listening. They are fed up with politics. If someone says 'that's great,' it pushes me to knock on ten more doors."

Lopez is quite confident that he would have won the House seat for Virginia's 7th District if he had the same resources and capabilities as the traditional parties.

He says, "We don't have the money, so all we can do is go out and meet people and expand our networks. It's not easy, but that doesn't mean we have to give the two main parties a chance to do whatever they want."

Despite the obstacles, Lopez is already looking forward to the next elections.

He says, "New generations are tired of a system that is supposed to allow freedom of choice, but it doesn't. And when they start looking at other options, they start thinking and weighing them."

He adds, "It's a marathon. I will run in the 2028 elections and I believe the Libertarian Party is the future."

Sharman also confirms that he intends to run in 2028. He says, "It won't be as expensive and I will have more support next time."