News - Who are the Third-Party Candidates?

By Nick Robertson '19

Candidates Jill Stein and Gary Johnson. Courtesy Independent Voter Project

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are not the only people running for president this election. Aside from the over 1300 declarations of candidacy dismissed as fraudulent by the Federal Election Commission, two other main candidates are also vying for the top spot in the nation. The two candidates are the Libertarian Party’s Gary Johnson and the Green Party’s Jill Stein. Both have received substantial support, with Johnson receiving 7% and Stein 2% of the votes in the most recent national polls. To give perspective, 7% of the United States population according to the 2010 census is about 22.3 million people; that is three and a half New York Cities of people. Johnson has received the most support and has shown interest in participating in the presidential debates alongside the two major-party candidates. If he reaches 15% support in national polls, he would be eligible for the next presidential debate, becoming the first third party candidate to do so since Ross Perot in 1992. For voters, this election is a choice between the lesser of two evils; other choices like Johnson and Stein could be a release from standard politics. This has made third party candidates more important in this election than they have been in quite a few years. Johnson in particular is getting more attention than other third party candidates before him, and some believe that he does have a chance to win this election. The most important thing to remember with third party candidates is the differences in policy. Johnson and Stein do not fall under the traditional labels of liberal or conservative, so it is important to look at key differences between each other, as well as between them and Clinton and Trump.

Abortion:

Johnson is pro-choice, but believes that the government should have no role in funding abortions. He believes that Planned Parenthood is an important institution, but should not receive funding for abortions, and is against federally-funded stem cell research. Many believe that stem cells should not be tested on and that testing on stem cells equates to testing on humans without consent.

Stein is fully pro-choice and believes that the government should fulfill its duty and protect a woman’s choice on pregnancy. She supports Planned Parenthood and stem cell research.

Environment:

Johnson believes that clean air is important, but ‘cap and trade’ policy to limit CO2 emissions is bad for the economy (Read more on cap and trade here). He supports state-led efforts to clean mines and other contaminated land, but thinks that it is not the federal government’s job to organize or fund it.

Stein believes in a massive 200 million dollar investment into green jobs, that production and sale GMO foods should be stopped and that the environment is one of the nation’s most important issues. She is a main proponent for increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, and their capabilities.

Foreign Policy:

Johnson has an extreme isolationist policy. He believes that the United States should stay out of international situations like Ukraine, and that we should take Syrian refugees in small amounts.

Stein takes a different stance on these issues. She believes in changing the United States’ diplomatic situation from military to diplomatic, and working with nations worldwide to decrease conflict, while also cutting funding to many nations, such as Israel.

Gun Control:

Johnson believes that more people should have guns and there should be less restriction on ownership. He also believes in keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill.

Stein believes that guns should be kept out of the hands of many. She supports Australia’s gun ban and believes that fewer guns means less crime.

Gary Johnson and Jill Stein are not just baggage-free versions of Trump and Clinton; both come with their own ideas, beliefs and issues. For these candidates, the path to presidency is very steep. The two candidate’s biggest impact on this election is who they draw votes away from, as they can lower the polling numbers from the other two main candidates, and therefore their election results as well. We will just have to wait and see what comes from these two candidates.