"You want a new political party? Well, you're getting one!" That’s how Elon Musk kicked off his latest political bombshell in early July. Never one to hold back, the world’s richest man went on: "We don’t live in a democracy. We live in a one-party system built on waste and corruption. That ends today. The America Party is here to reclaim your freedom."
With that, Musk unveiled the America Party—his bold attempt to shake up the two-party grip held by Democrats and Republicans. He’s eyeing a launch pad through two or three Senate races and as many as 10 House seats, betting that in a split Congress, even a handful of new faces could become power brokers for hot-button legislation.
With Americans routinely expressing fatigue over the Democratic-Republican duopoly, this should be a slam dunk, right?
Wrong, says Bernard Tamas, a political science professor at Valdosta State University and author of The Demise and Rebirth of American Third Parties. “Right now, there’s zero evidence a new party can break through and win seats in Congress—let alone influence government policy.”
The issue? Deep-rooted infrastructure. “It’s not just about cash,” Tamas explains. “Democrats and Republicans have the money, networks, and decades of institutional power. They’ve got seasoned politicians, savvy consultants, and top-tier ad agencies at their beck and call.”
The America Party, it seems, came together as fast as the Musk-Trump fallout blew up online. And like many spite-driven ventures, it’s showing some cracks. The domain Americaparty.com is already owned by someone else—who now wants $6.9 million to hand it over. On X (formerly Twitter), the handle @AmericaParty was taken, so Musk had to settle for @AmericaPartyX.
What the party actually stands for? Still a mystery. Aside from a swipe at the GOP over the ballooning national debt, there’s no platform, no detailed policy agenda, and not even a clear list of laws Musk’s candidates would oppose.
Historically, third parties rarely make the splash Musk envisions. But they have proven they can disrupt, push key issues into the spotlight, and pressure major parties to shift.
“The real impact of third parties is disruption—they’re the bee that stings,” said Tamas. “Look at the Progressive Party in Wisconsin or the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party. They didn’t just make noise—they helped push through major reforms like banking changes and relief for the unemployed.”
But Musk doesn’t seem to be after a sting—he wants a takeover. And that’s where the idea runs into a wall.
“The Republican Party is marching further to the far-right, toward a MAGA-centric identity,” Tamas explained. “That creates a prime opening for a centrist third party—not to replace them, but to force them back to the middle.”
That’s how third parties have made real gains—by making the big players sweat and forcing them to adapt to public sentiment.
On the flip side, third parties that tried to win elections outright haven’t exactly thrived. Just look at the Forward Party, founded by Andrew Yang in 2022. With its slogan “Not left. Not right. Forward,” it promised a fresh break from traditional politics. But now? It barely registers on the national radar. A recent July 4th Instagram post managed to rake in just under 40 likes.
From the start, Forward claimed it wasn’t aligned with traditional left-right politics, but that ambiguity hasn’t fired up voters. Its “elected affiliates” include the former mayor of a Florida town with 7,300 residents and a sanitation official from a Connecticut borough with fewer than 1,000 people.
Surveys show Americans are hungry for a third party—polls regularly reflect that. In fact, Musk’s own social media poll saw 65% support for launching a new party, with 34% opposed. But another early July poll found only 14% were very likely to support Musk’s venture, with 26% somewhat likely.
And there are already warning signs. Musk is reportedly surrounding himself with controversial political minds, including Curtis Yarvin, a right-wing blogger who believes democracy has failed and the U.S. should be led by a CEO-style dictator.
Then there’s the Musk factor itself—a major liability. A recent poll revealed 60% of Americans view him unfavorably, compared to just 32% with a positive opinion.
Sure, Musk promised America a third party. But is this really the party Americans want? With no clear message, questionable allies, and a polarizing figure at the helm, the America Party might struggle to do what third parties do best—sting the system into action.