Third Parties

In a political landscape dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties, third or minor parties have had great trouble getting rooted. Three major third parties are working to sustain a national presence and are running candidates around the country: the Libertarian Party, the Greens, and the Constitution Party. Despite their limited success in the electoral realm, third party activists argue that their ideas have influenced debate in this country. 


Libertarian Party
"The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971. Our vision is for a world in which all individuals can freely exercise the natural right of sole dominion over their own lives, liberty and property by building a political party that elects Libertarians to public office, and moving public policy in a libertarian direction."

Chairman: Nicholas Sarwark.
(elected June 2014)  Active with the LP since 1999.  Vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Colorado.  A deputy public defender in Colorado, Sarwark also has more than a decade of experience in computer consulting and sales.  J.D. from American University's Washington College of Law, 2008; B.S. in computer science from Columbia Union College, 1998.

Vice Chair: Arvin Vohra [Bethesda, MD] 
Secretary: Alicia Mattison [Las Vegas, NV]
Treasurer: Tim Hagan [Las Vegas, NV]
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Executive Director: Wes Benedict.
Co-founded (April 2012) and ran the Libertarian Action Super PAC supporting Gary Johnson's presidential campaign. Executive director of the Libertarian National Committee from July 2009 to Dec. 2011. Executive director of the Libertarian Party of Texas, 2004-08.  MBA from the University of Michigan and a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Texas. He has previously bought and sold a kitchen and bath countertop manufacturing business, and he has worked as a management consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers and a manufacturing engineer for 3M Company.

Libertarian National Committee  |  facebook  |  twitter
Advocates for Self Government | Cato Institute


2016 Libertarian Party National Presidential Nominating Convention
Rosen Centre Hotel & Resort in Orlando, FL
May 27-30, 2016


Green Party
"The Green Party of the United States
is a federation of state Green Parties. Committed to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots organizing, Greens are renewing democracy without the support of corporate donors."

The Green National Committee, consisting of representatives of state parties and accredited caucuses of underrepresented groups, is the highest decision-making body of the Green Party of the United States.

The key entity coordinating the Green Party presidential nomination process is the Presidential Campaign Support Committee, chaired by Tom Yager and Holly Hart.

Green Party of the United States  |  facebook  |  twitter
Green Party Watch

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2016 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention
University of Houston in Houston, TX
August 4-7, 2016

Annual National Meetings
July 23-26, 2015 - St. Louis, Mo.
July 24-27, 2014 - St. Paul, Minn.
July 25-28, 2013 - Iowa City, Iowa


Constitution Party

"The mission of the Constitution Party is to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity through the election, at all levels of government, of Constitution Party candidates who will uphold the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. It is our goal to limit the federal government to its delegated, enumerated, Constitutional functions."

Chairman: Frank Fluckiger
(elected April 21, 2012)  Chairman of the Constitution Party of Utah from its inception until 2012.  Career in corporate finance and accounting.  Degree in business administration from University of Wyoming.  Born and raised in Wyoming.

Constitution Party  |  facebook  |  twitter


2016 Presidential Nominating Convention
City Center Hilton in Salt Lake City, UT
April 13-16, 2016


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