List of third party and independent performances in United States elections

In the 58 presidential elections since 1788, third party or independent candidates have won at least 5. 0% of the vote or garnered electoral votes 12 times. Only once has one of the two major parties finished third in a presidential election, when not the result of a realignment. In the 418 Senate elections since 1990, thirdParty or independent candidate have won 39 times.

About List of third party and independent performances in United States elections in brief

Summary List of third party and independent performances in United States elections In the 58 presidential elections since 1788, third party or independent candidates have won at least 5. 0% of the vote or garnered electoral votes 12 times. Only once has one of the two major parties finished third in a presidential election, when not the result of a realignment: in 1912, the Progressive Party, with former president Theodore Roosevelt as their presidential candidate obtained 88 electoral votes and surpassed the Republicans.

In the 418 Senate elections since 1990, thirdParty or independent candidate have won 39 times. In 11 of the 37 races, one or the other of the major parties failed to nominate any candidate, allowing third-party candidates to perform better than usual.