alternatehistory.com

Theodore Roosevelt's candidacy was remarkably successful for a third party, gaining second place in both the popular and electoral votes. This success in the presidential level, however, was not replicated down-ticket: the Progressives won a mere 9 House seats and no governorships or senate seats. One cause of this lack of success was the fact that many existing progressive Republicans did not switch. In addition, progressive states like Hiram Johnson's California generally had progressive Republican Parties, negating any need for a separate Progressive Party to win. What could have caused more Republicans to switch to the Progressive Party, and give the Progressives more victories in various elections?
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