Can a third-party candidate influence the 2024 election?

As the 2024 presidential election nears, several third-party challengers have emerged to challenge President Biden and Donald Trump, including Robert Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and No Labels. Do any of these third-party candidates have a feasible path to the White House? What will be their impact on the race? Will they take votes from Biden, or present a challenge to Trump? 538’s Senior Elections Analyst Geoffrey Skelley takes us through past third-party challengers and the current political landscape.

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[breelee]

When I hear RFK Jr speak, I can't explain the profound powerful feelings of hope, excitement, inspiration, almost disbelief that I feel in my heart and my gut. And to see the growing support in the comments of people who feel similar amplifies these feelings. It is almost like he was meant for this moment. For him to choose to run and stand up at this pivotal moment in history, knowing better than any of us the fate that befell his uncle and then his father when they courageously stood up to fight against the same malevolent forces and powerful machine that we have been fighting ever since, is just kind of unbelievable. That we would be so lucky and that he has the same courage and integrity and will to fight for the regular people of this country in his blood feels like a miracle. Putting his life on the line. The prospect of a biden vs trump rematch was pretty discouraging and then he comes out of nowhere with such a powerful message of truth and light and unity by healing the divide and bringing us together around our common interests. He stands for ending the corruption and capture of our public institutions, dismantling the military industrial complex along with the deep state which is weaponized against American citizens and used to promote aggressive wars all over the world, protecting the environment by holding these mega corporations accountable for the destruction and damage and poisoning of the environment that belongs to all of us. Hes intelligent, critical thinker, courageous, principled, and a truth seeker for the people. A president we can be proud of. Of course he cant do it alone. I hope enough americans will wake up to the dystopian reality we are living in. And once we have been awakened it is time to stand up defiantly unified against the exploitation, the propaganda, the lying and the corruption. We will stand up as past generations have and we will fight for our freedom and we will win. The establishment elites are absolutely threatened and terrified about what this man represents. The beginning of a new era. The realization of a dream and a new path his uncle and father gave their lives to try to usher in and lead the country towards peace and prosperity and rebuilding and rebirth. ❤ i pray for his protection and i stand with all of you, my fellow free thinking citizens, in this fight for the soul of our nation.

[keithevans]

A lot of people ok are voting for Kennedy

[georgedavidson]

Not that hard to just say the third candidate is RFK jr...

[jtr]

I have a feeling RFK is going to win, might put a bet on it actually.

[Sam-dcbg]

Done with pragmatic voting. Voted for third party last election, only looking at third party now.

[Aaron-zfxw]

Influence? lol. RFK Jr. will absolutely win this.

[danielszymanski-jwkq]

I wish one would win !! To stop the crappy 2 party system! The lesser of 2 is bullcrap!

[RedneckandPinay]

We The People have had enough!! Kennedy 2024!!!

[carolineatkins]

RFK Jr. Is going to win. Americans are going to show who runs this country, US . The whole world will change.

[samman]

I wish there were no political parties.

[coachmo]

Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy kennedy Kennedy Kennedy du-duduu-dudu...

[justingantt]

I wouldn't underestimate #RFKJR 🇺🇸

[michellenina]

RFK Jr. for President 🇺🇸
Tulsi Gabbard for VP 🇺🇸

[umoabasute]

#2024Elections: America 🇺🇸 If Majority of us feel that our country is headed in the wrong direction. Question 🙋‍♂️ Why would y’all want to continue to vote 🗳️ for the same party that is responsible for taking this country in the wrong direction? Change is good.

[Riahbay]

I wasnt going ro vote this year but if i do it will be Kennedy

[michellenina]

Voters: don’t vote for an establishment candidate to prevent a spoiler or ban with a party. Vote for the person. Vote for who you think would be the best choice. Voting was created to be the voice of the people. 🇺🇸 RFK Jr. for President 2024 🇺🇸

[GerardoHernandez-sfwt]

Why not mention Jill Stein who is running for president in 2024 and has more ballot access in the Green Party than Cornel West

[MJ-utgp]

Kennedy has my vote.
I was raised to hate Democrats specifically because of the way his uncle handled Cuba... but the more I listen to him the more I'm convinced he's the best candidate I've ever seen. He's the only one sitting down with us to discuss issues and defending Americans from corruption. His record is clear all he cares about is people and the environment, money can't bend this man. He's a critical thinker and won't agree to anything unless he believes he fully understands the implications.

He's the best of both sides:
focus on closing the border in places that make sense and allowing wildlife to continue migrations while controlling the flow of migrants with a catch & return policy.
Stop the cross-pollination between big business and our institutions (health military, media, education, etc) with federal mandates and push congress to pass laws preventing political donations from businesses.
Get NIH to focus on studies to understand why we are the sickest nation and what we can do to get healthy again. Also have them study the relation between pharmaceuticals/social media and gun violence, instead of pushing congress for gun control legislation.
Stop meddling in other countries' government affairs and stop the feds abuse on inflation. Cut military spending and bring that money for economic programs to help project economic power so everyone needs us instead of BRICS. Don't tax bitcoin earnings and look into the using it to back our federal reserve.
Empower parents with school choice and give them the authority over medical decisions.
Pro choice but encourages people to choose life.
Federal funding for low-income neighborhoods to bring back local banks, good grocery stores, and entrepreneurial programs to build the knowledge missing in these communities.
Get housing back into the hands of Americans instead of companies that are making it impossible for the average college grad to purchase, by taxing these companies more than individual home owners and providing government programs that will cosign low interest loans for people who want to own a home for the first time.
Legalize marijuana and use the taxes to fund education, addiction services, and recovery.
I can go on forever

[najeehall]

If a third party voter doesn’t have the option they are likely to sit out. I’m not sure why so many seem to think that those votes would automatically go to Dems or Republicans.

[kenmoops]

Kennedy is the first time in YEARS when I've seen a man and been like "Nah... THAT'S a president right there"