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Matthew Mokhefi-Ashton, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Nottingham Trent University

Elon Musk says he may launch his own party: but US history tells us that’s not a recipe for success

Elon Musk United States Donald Trump America Ross Perot The Reform Party

To paraphrase a very old joke, how do you make a small fortune in America? Start with a large fortune and fund a third political party. American political history is littered with the wrecks of challengers who thought they could break the two-party system and failed.

This makes Elon Musk’s tease that he may launch his own new political party as an act of defiance following his falling out with Donald Trump even more intriguing.

What do we mean by a two-party system though? Since the 1860s, the Democrats and Republicans have dominated the US political landscape, holding the presidency, Congress and the vast majority of elected positions. Attempts at third parties have usually floundered at the ballot box.

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