CHICAGO: Former Chicago Congressman Bill Lipinski has argued that United States voters should not take the role of third-party candidates in American elections for granted.
Lipinski, a conservative Democrat who served in the third and later redistricted fifth congressional district in Chicago and its suburbs, discussed the challenges faced by third-party candidates in a recent interview on The Ray Hanania Radio Show, set to air on Thursday, September 5.
He noted that while winning is difficult for third-party candidates, they have historically impacted presidential elections in unexpected ways.
Lipinski highlighted four notable instances where third-party candidates influenced the outcome of presidential elections: Teddy Roosevelt in 1912, who affected the re-election of President William Howard Taft; Ross Perot in 1992, who shifted votes from George H.W. Bush to Bill Clinton; Ralph Nader in 2000, who played a role in George W. Bush’s victory over Al Gore; and Jill Stein in 2016, who contributed to Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump.
Lipinski suggested that the current polarized political climate calls for a re-evaluation of the American electoral system to better accommodate third-party candidates. “In the past, two parties were sufficient, but today I believe we need a third party,” he said. “The extreme wings of both parties are dominating, which is detrimental to both the parties and the country.”
He also criticized the role of former President Donald Trump in shifting politics from issues to personalities, contributing to heightened polarization and voter emotion.
Lipinski argued that the influence of third-party candidates should not be underestimated, noting that the U.S. election system, which relies on the Electoral College rather than the popular vote, could lead to significant impacts from such candidates.
“The misconception that the presidential election is decided by the popular vote is flawed,” Lipinski explained. “If no candidate secures the necessary 270 electoral votes, the election is decided by the House of Representatives.”
Lipinski pointed out that in the 2000 election, Al Gore lost the presidency despite winning the popular vote, largely due to Nader’s candidacy drawing over 100,000 votes in Florida, which contributed to George W. Bush’s victory in the state’s electoral votes.
He also discussed the current political landscape, mentioning that Green Party candidate Jill Stein is drawing support from progressive voters dissatisfied with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Lipinski remarked on the shifting positions of politicians, noting how candidates often move towards the center as elections approach, reflecting a lack of consistent political principles.
Lipinski concluded by emphasizing the need for cooperation between Republicans and Democrats post-election, citing past instances of bipartisan efforts like the budget-balancing initiatives led by Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich.
He said that if no candidate achieves the 270 electoral votes required, the decision would fall to the House of Representatives, with each state casting one vote based on its Congressional delegation, while the Senate would determine the vice presidency.
