It is hard to be victorious when they must campaign statewide instead of drawing in voters from smaller districts. It usually is the smaller districts or townspeople that are more receptive to minority positions and views on policies of third parties. Though we Americans do not support third parties and though it is extremely difficult for third parties to win any national elections in the US, they do have a sizeable opportunity of filling offices at the state and local level? Now with these forces against them, how do they impact the two party system of government? .
It is true that third parties have had very little success in the United States, but they do hold a strong influence on the two major parties that dominate our national government. Third party groups are vast in numbers and the causes they represent, but they do have one thing in common; their goal is to challenge the major parties because third parties' and citizens in general have needs and values that are being overlooked and are not being addressed properly. (Sidlow and Henschen, pp.158) The third party's ability to bring to attention certain political issues and concerns is steadfast, bold, and necessary. They are not concerned with "popularity" or trying to please everyone with every aspect of an issue because they know that they will never please everyone at the same time. Their focus is to bring matters and major concerns to the forefront of debate and to ensure it is of utmost importance in our citizens' minds. Third parties directly confront the 2 major parties about certain issues and expose issues that have previously been ignored. These issues are debated upon and are at the forefront of the political agenda. This way, the concerns/issues are not swept under the rug and ignored by these 2 major parties like so many times before. .
New political concerns were constantly arising and changing due to an ever evolving nation.