3rd party in America

as stated over and over and over the American System without major reform can't have more then two parties, but what about a smaller Lib Dems like party that picks up 5-10 Senators 20-40 Congressmen could that kind of party last long term, and do you have any ideas what party would be most likely to become that party?
 
I could see the Democratic left or Republican right seceding if their presidents move to the right of Bill Clinton (D) or the left of Olympia Snowe (R).
 
The manner in which the President is elected would have to change before a third party is truly viable. The system is designed to magnify a win and with the need for 50%+1 in the electoral college to become president its understandable why a third party hasn’t worked in the US, the system is designed for two parties.
 

Hyperion

Banned
The most third party members in Congress at one time was 17.

At one point in the 1930s, 4 US Senators and 13 Congressmen where third party candidates, though not all the same parties.
 
The 2 main parties act as loose coalitions, I think an adoption of a Parliamentary system or PR is needed to have a strong 3rd party
 
No one thinks to Libertarians?

Not really a strong force anywhere...

Best bet may be the Dixiecrats. Most exceptions to Duverger's law tend to be regional parties. A national first past the post system works against third parties, but if the party is more or less associated with a certain region, we may have the possibility. A president could not be elected merely by winning the south, but it could be a bloc in congress and maybe even throw elections into the house.
 
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