At a recent basketball game between Boston College and Harvard, Max Silverman and his friends were not cheering for either team. Instead, they were sporting T-shirts promoting the independent presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Max, a junior at Emmanuel College, considers himself a lifelong Democrat but is dissatisfied with President Joe Biden, seeing him as uninspiring.
Many young people, like Max, feel the two main parties have too much control, and they are turning to candidates like Mr. Kennedy for a change. The 2024 election is expected to be a rematch between President Biden and former President Donald Trump. Independent candidates such as Kennedy, Cornel West, Jill Stein, and a potential “unity” ticket by No Labels are gaining attention.
While the chances of third-party candidates winning are low, their impact could be significant. RFK Jr.’s popularity, especially among younger voters, has raised concerns for both major parties. With dissatisfaction with current political leaders, many voters are open to unconventional alternatives, as shown in a Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll.
There is an opportunity for a candidate from the center-right to appeal to disaffected conservatives. No Labels, a bipartisan group, is considering a “unity” ticket, potentially led by a Republican from the “Never Trump” wing. Joel Searby, an advocate for greater electoral choice, believes there is a high demand for a new approach to politics.
However, there are concerns that No Labels could act as a spoiler, benefiting one of the major parties. With a year left before the election, polling dynamics may change as the stakes become clearer. While third-party candidates might not win, their presence could shape the political landscape and influence the policies of the major parties.
