[brendank310]

At least in NY (and probably true of state/local politics in general) this is not necessarily true. These third parties often will choose a D or R that align with their policy goals. It helps candidates in that their name is on the ballot more (either multiple rows or listing the parties that they are the nominee of)

[bobthepanda]

That isn’t really a third party though that most people would think of; when people are saying this in the context of US elections they usually mean they want a third actual person on the general ballot.

The US lacks a third party like the UK’s Lib Dems or Greens, or Canada’s NDP. (The US has a Green party that is pretty farcical and doesn’t actually win elections.)

[dragonwriter]

> That isn’t really a third party though that most people would think of; when people are saying this in the context of US elections they usually mean they want a third actual person on the general ballot.

There are usually significantly more than three names on a Presidential general election ballot. The US has a two-party system because it has an electoral system in which voting for any but the least offensive of the two major parties structurually is subiptimal in achieving ones preferences, not because there are only two options on the ballot.

[dragonwriter]

New York's system is unique, though there are some other states where cross-endorsement is possible.