Why Can't Third Parties Take Off?

America’s third parties, ​like the Libertarian and Green parties, think 2016 could finally be their year to break through to the political mainstream. After all, the major-party candidates are historically unpopular—with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at 54 and 58 percent unpopularity, respectively​—and more voters identify as Independent than at any time in recent history. However, the candidacies of past third-party nominees don’t inspire much hope. ​In this video​, Atlantic associate editor Nora Kelly breaks down the sociological and systemic obstacles that third-party candidates will face in 2016.

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