---
title: "Three’s a Crowd?"
description: "A majority of voters want a third political party."
date: "2008-07-29"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/07/29/threes-a-crowd/"
---

# Three’s a Crowd?

A majority of voters (56%) say the country should have a third major political party in addition to the Democrats and Republicans, while 39% say it should not. Voters were split on a third party four years ago. Not surprisingly, independents (72%) are much more supportive of a third party than are Republicans (53%) or Democrats (47%). Young voters (65%) are also strong backers of a third party. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/893/obama-mccain-july)