Poll: Half of Americans open to third-party candidate if Trump and Biden run again.

Third-Party Candidates Gain Popularity in the Face of a Trump-Biden Rematch

Are you tired of the same old political options? You’re not alone. According to a recent NewsNation/DDHQ poll, a surprising 49% of Americans would consider voting for a third-party presidential candidate if the 2024 election pits President Biden and former President Trump against each other once again.

“If President Biden and former President Trump are renominated by their parties for President of the United States, how likely would you be to consider voting for a 3rd party candidate in the 2024 presidential election?”

Of those surveyed, 23.38% said they would be “very likely” to consider a third-party option, while 25.67% said they were “somewhat likely.” This trend is not new, as previous polls have shown similar results.

Concerns and Priorities

When asked about their greatest concerns related to public schools, respondents expressed worry about recovering from learning loss due to the pandemic, limiting discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity, and giving parents a bigger say in school decisions.

As for political concerns, the NewsNation/DDHQ poll found that roughly 43% of respondents disapproved of the way Biden is handling his job as president. Additionally, a majority of 55% thought inflation was a more pressing concern than unemployment, crime, or immigration.

The History of Third-Party Candidates

While no third-party candidate in the last 100 years has posed a serious threat to winning the presidency, they have had an impact on the outcome of elections. In 1992, H. Ross Perot won 19% of the vote, likely siphoning enough votes away from former President George H. W. Bush so that Bill Clinton could win the presidency with only a plurality of the vote. In 1980, John Anderson won 6% of the vote, but his presence was not decisive, as Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter by a whopping 10 percentage points.

Will 2024 be the year that a third-party candidate finally breaks through? Only time will tell.