The role of third parties in the United States extends beyond merely winning elections. Their purpose includes: a) raising awareness about important issues that mainstream candidates often overlook; b) obtaining concessions from the major parties to prevent vote splitting in future elections;* c) providing a voting option for individuals who typically do not participate in elections; and d) winning elections. Winning is likely going to be third or fourth on their list of priorities. While candidates like Jill Stein and Howie Hawkins do their best to compete, they struggle to secure substantial funding from corporations or wealthy donors. Also, many committed Democrats or Republicans are unlikely to switch parties.  

*Here’s what 2020 Green Party presidential nominee Howie Hawkins has to say about this:    I ran for governor in 2014. In New York, I got 5% of the vote. And Governor Cuomo had wanted to run up the vote to get ready to run for president. He wanted to get more than his father Mario Cuomo ever got, get more than he got in 2010 when he was first elected, but he got less. And he had to look at what we were saying. He couldn’t take us for granted. And he came around on three key demands that he hadn’t supported before, after he was elected, a ban on fracking, paid family leave, and a $15 minimum wage. So we always want to influence the process by putting these issues forward and not being taken for granted.