Why US third parties perform best in the Northeast

Many Americans are unhappy with the two major parties but seldom support alternatives. New England is an exception.

By: Bert Johnson, Middlebury College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 25, 2026

Words: 1,150

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

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By Bert Johnson, Middlebury College

A majority of Americans say they are “frustrated” or “angry” – or both – with Republicans and Democrats, according to the Pew Research Center. But that rarely translates into support for independent or third-party candidates.

One exception has been in the Northeast. Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont are the Senate’s only independents. King, along with Lowell Weicker of Connecticut and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, represent …

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