List of political parties in the United States

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Editor's note: This page is in the process of being updated. Please check back regularly for publication of the newest information. If you would like to send us an update please email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.


Election Policy Logo.png
Ballot access for major and minor party candidates
Ballot access for presidential candidates
List of political parties in the United States
Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
Public Policy Logo-one line.png
Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.


As of November 2022, there were at least 53 distinct ballot-qualified political parties in the United States. There were 209 state-level parties.[1] Some parties are recognized in multiple states. For example, both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are recognized in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. These two parties account for more than half of the 209 total state-level parties.[2][3][4] Three minor parties were recognized in more than 10 states as of November 2022:

  1. Libertarian Party: 39 states
  2. Green Party: 27 states[5]
  3. Constitution Party: 15 states[6]

Although there are dozens of political parties in the United States, only certain parties qualify to have the names of their candidates for office printed on election ballots. In order to qualify for ballot placement, a party must meet certain requirements that vary from state to state. For example, in some states, a party may have to file a petition in order to qualify for ballot placement. In other states, a party must organize around a candidate for a specific office; that candidate must, in turn, win a percentage of the vote in order for the party to be granted ballot status. In still other states, an aspiring political party must register a certain number of voters.

The number of ballot-qualified political parties fluctuates as parties gain or lose qualified status. In addition, some states distinguish between major parties and minor parties. Specific differences between major and minor parties differ from state to state. For example, in all states, major parties are granted access to primary elections. Some states, however, do not permit minor parties to participate in primary elections. Consequently, minor party candidates in these states can run only in general elections.[2]

The table below lists all ballot-qualified political parties in each state as of December 2021. Click "[show]" to expand the table.[2]

Presidential ballot access

Some states have special provisions permitting parties to place presidential candidates on the ballot without attaining full ballot status. Ballot access for the presidential candidates of select minor parties in previous election cycles is detailed below.

Presidential ballot access, 2020

See also: Presidential candidates, 2020.

There were 21 candidates on the ballot each in Vermont and Colorado, more than in any other state. Arkansas and Louisiana came in second, with 13 candidates each. Twelve states featured only three candidates on the ballot.

The following map shows the number of presidential candidates on the ballot in 2020 in each state.

For information from previously presidential election years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

Presidential ballot access, 2016

See also: Presidential candidates, 2016

In 2016, the Democratic and Republican parties were fully ballot-qualified in all 50 states, granting them presidential ballot access by default. The following large minor parties achieved presidential ballot access as indicated:[7][8][9]

  1. Libertarian Party: 50 states
  2. Green Party: 44 states (write-in status in an additional three states)
  3. Constitution Party: 24 states (write-in status in an additional 22 states)

The maps below provide further details for each of these parties. Hover over a state to see further details.

Impact of minor party presidential candidates on party ballot status

In some states, the performance of a minor party's presidential candidate can directly help that party attain state ballot status. The table below identifies state-level affiliates of the Libertarian and Green parties that gained ballot status between 2016 and 2017.[10] The table also indicates whether the performance of a presidential candidate can figure directly in methods for attaining ballot status.

Impact of minor party presidential candidates on parties attaining ballot status between 2016 and 2017
Political party State Methods for attaining ballot status Impact of candidate on party status Notes
Libertarian Party Iowa Candidate petition, then poll 2%
Hold meeting of 250, then poll 2%[11]		 Party met multiple thresholds for ballot status The Libertarian Party also ran a candidate for the United States Senate who won 2.6% of the total votes cast for that office.[12]
Libertarian Party Massachusetts Registration drive, 1%
Candidate petition, then poll 3%[11]		 Direct impact The Libertarian candidate for president, Gary Johnson, won 4.2% of the total votes cast for that office. No other statewide contests featured Libertarians.[13]
Libertarian Party New Hampshire Candidate petition, then poll 4%
Petition of 3% of last gubernatorial vote[11]		 Party met multiple thresholds for ballot status The Libertarian Party's candidate for governor, Max Abramson, won 4.3% of the total votes cast for that office.[14]
Libertarian Party South Dakota Petition of 2.5% of last gubernatorial vote[11] No direct impact The performance of a party's presidential candidate cannot directly help that party attain ballot status.
Green Party Delaware Registration drive, 0.1% No direct impact[11] The performance of a party's presidential candidate cannot directly help that party attain ballot status.
Green Party Missouri Petition of 10,000 signatures No direct impact[11] The performance of a party's presidential candidate cannot directly help that party attain ballot status.

Historical research

Below is historical information on the number of ballot-qualified state-level political parties in the United States. The tallies presented below are current as of the dates indicated in the table header. To expand any of the below tables, click "[show]" in the table header.

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014


2013


Political party presence in state legislatures

State senators

As of April 1, 2024, 1,962 state senators were affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. This total is updated monthly.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
State senates 847 1,115 4 7
State houses 2,433 2,941 19 20
Total: 3,280

4,056

23

27


State representatives

As of April 1, 2024, 5,374 state representatives were affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. This total is updated monthly.

Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
State senates 847 1,115 4 7
State houses 2,433 2,941 19 20
Total: 3,280

4,056

23

27



Minor parties in gubernatorial races, 1857-2012

The following table includes state-by-state information on when a minor party's candidate for governor won at least 5 percent of the vote between 1857 and 2012. In four states (Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming), a minor party candidate for governor had not won 5 percent or more of the vote since the 19th century. A total of 17 states saw minor party candidates win at least 5 percent of the vote for governor between 1982 and 2012. The information was compiled by Richard Winger of Ballot Access News.[15]

When did a minor party last poll 5% for governor?[15]
State Candidate Party Year Percent
Alabama John Logan Cashin National Democratic 1970 14.70%
Alaska Walter J. Hickel Alaskan Independence 1990 38.90%
Arizona Sam Steiger Libertarian 1982 5.10%
Arkansas Walter Carruth American 1970 5.90%
California Peter Camejo Green 2002 5.30%
Colorado Tom Tancredo Constitution 2010 36.40%
Connecticut Lowell Weicker A Connecticut Party 1990 40.40%
Delaware Isaac Dolphus Short Independent Republican Party 1936 6.60%
Florida Sidney J. Catts Prohibition 1916 47.70%
Georgia James K. Hines People's 1902 5.50%
Hawaii Frank F. Fasi Best 1994 30.70%
Idaho W. Scott Hall Progressive 1926 28.40%
Illinois Richard Whitney Green 2006 10.40%
Indiana Albert J. Beveridge Progressive 1912 26.00%
Iowa John L. Stevens Progressive 1912 15.60%
Kansas Henry J. Allen Progressive 1914 15.90%
Kentucky Gatewood Galbraith Reform 1999 15.40%
Louisiana John M. Parker Progressive 1916 37.20%
Maine Patricia LaMarche Green 2006 9.60%
Maryland Thomas Holiday Hicks American 1857 54.90%
Massachusetts Frank A. Goodwin Equal Tax 1934 6.40%
Michigan Henry R. Pattengill Progressive 1914 8.30%
Minnesota Tom Horner Independence 2010 11.90%
Mississippi J. T. Lester Socialist 1915 7.40%
Missouri Albert D. Nortoni Progressive 1912 15.60%
Montana Frank J. Edwards Farmer-Labor 1924 6.10%
Nebraska Dan Butler Progressive 1924 7.90%
Nevada James Ray Houston Independent American 1974 15.50%
New Hampshire Meldrim Thomson American 1970 9.90%
New Jersey Everett Colby Progressive 1913 11.00%
New Mexico David E. Bacon Green 2002 5.50%
New York Carl Paladino Conservative[16] 2010 5.00%
North Carolina Iredell Meares Progressive 1912 20.40%
North Dakota Alvin C. Strutz Independent Republican Party 1944 18.80%
Ohio James R. Garfield Progressive 1914 5.40%
Oklahoma Fred W. Holt Socialist 1914 20.80%
Oregon W. J. Smith Socialist 1914 5.80%
Pennsylvania Peg Luksik Constitution 1998 10.40%
Rhode Island Ken Block Moderate 2010 6.50%
South Carolina Sampson Pope People's 1894 30.40%
South Dakota Tom Ayres Farmer-Labor 1926 6.50%
Tennessee A. L. Mims People's 1894 9.90%
Texas Ramsey Muniz La Raza Unida 1974 5.60%
Utah Merrill Cook Independent Party 1992 33.50%
Vermont Anthony Pollina Progressive 2008 21.90%
Virginia Rob Sarvis Libertarian 2013 6.50%
Washington Vick Gould Taxpayer's 1972 5.90%
West Virginia Walter B. Hilton Socialist 1912 5.60%
Wisconsin Ed Thompson Libertarian 2002 10.50%
Wyoming Lewis C. Tidball People's 1894 11.30%

Political party articles on Ballotpedia

Below is a partial listing of the political parties that are covered on Ballotpedia.

Darkpurpleslashed.png : 2010 Peace Party
Limeslashed.png : Alaskan Independence Party
American Independent : American Independent (CA)
Darkred.png : Conservative Party
Constitution Party : Constitution Party
Democratic Party : Democratic Party
Green Party : Green Party
Independence Party of America : Independence Party of America
Grey.png : Independent (No party affiliation)
Independent_American_Party : Independent American (Nevada)
Darkgreenslashed.png : Justice for Vermonters Party
Libertarian Party : Libertarian Party
Pinkslashed.png : Liberty Union Party
Moderate Party : Moderate Party
Green Party#Mountain Party : Mountain Party
Peace and Freedom Party : Peace and Freedom Party
Progressive Party : Progressive Democratic Party
Lime2.png : Progressive Party (Vermont)
Greenslashed.png : Vermont-Independence Party
Reform Party : Reform Party
Republican Party : Republican Party
Tea Party : Tea Party
Working Families Party : Working Families Party

See also

External links


Footnotes

  1. ↑ This total does not include parties that have attained ballot status at the municipal level. Only those parties with state-level ballot status are included here.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Roneka Matheny, "Research of state election agency websites and email correspondence with state election agencies," November 2022
  3. ↑ As of November 2022, there were six state-level parties that called themselves Independent or Independence parties. For the purposes of this article, these were not tallied when counting the number of distinct ballot-qualified parties in the United States because it is difficult to determine to what extent these various parties are affiliated with one another.
  4. ↑ Because Washington utilizes a top-two, nonpartisan primary system, the state does not officially recognize parties. Consequently, only the state's two largest parties, the Democratic and Republican parties, were included in this tally.
  5. ↑ This figure includes the D.C. Statehood Green Party, Maine's Green Independent Party, Oregon's Pacific Green Party, and West Virginia's Mountain Party.
  6. ↑ This figure includes Nevada's Independent American Party and Michigan's U.S. Taxpayers Party.
  7. ↑ Libertarian Party, "2016 Presidential Ballot Access Map," accessed November 8, 2016
  8. ↑ Green Party US, "Ballot Access," accessed November 8, 2016
  9. ↑ Constitution Party, "Ballot Access," accessed November 8, 2016
  10. ↑ Affiliates of the Constitution Party are not included because no state affiliates of the party attained new ballot status between 2016 and 2017.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Ballot Access News, "April 1, 2017 – Volume 32, Number 11," accessed July 28, 2017
  12. ↑ Iowa Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Canvass Summary," accessed July 28, 2017
  13. ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Election results," accessed July 28, 2017
  14. ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Governor - 2016 General Election," accessed July 28, 2017
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ballot Access News, "December 2013 Ballot Access News Print Edition," December 31, 2013
  16. ↑ Paladino also appeared on the Republican and T.E.A. (Tax Enough Already) party lines. New York's fusion voting laws allow candidates to qualify for the ballot on multiple party tickets.
v • e
Ballotpedia
About
Executive: Leslie Graves, President • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Michelle Robinson, Senior Product Manager, Education & School Boards

Communications: Alison Graves • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Sarah Groat • Erica Shumaker
External Relations: Andrew Heath • Moira Delaney • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Policy: Caitlin Styrsky • Molly Byrne • Jon Dunn • Jimmy McAllister • Annelise Reinwald
Research: Josh Altic
Tech: Matt Latourelle • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Trevor Pollo • Joseph Sanchez

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen
Editorial
Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=List_of_political_parties_in_the_United_States&oldid=9293030"