For all the #NeverTrump voters out there, Josiah Peterson explains how they can actually do something, particularly when it comes to support a third party candidate, in “These Numbers Say A Third Party Can Win The Presidency” for The Federalist.
It won’t necessarily be an easy path to the presidency, and the next House of Representatives may have to step in. But, in his thorough analysis, Peterson explains how it’s at least possible. “You don’t need a majority, or even a plurality, of electors to win the presidency,” Peterson writes, going on to explain that if no candidate receives the necessary 270 electoral votes, the next House picks the candidate from the top three.
With the current state of the race, Peterson points to a “Not Trump” and “United DNC.” While “Trump likes to brag about winning more than 10 million votes,” Peterson writes, “almost 16 million people voted for someone other than Trump.” He also failed to win a majority in 33 states.
Peterson carefully analyzes and explains the numbers of which states “Not Trump” would need to win to prevent a Trump or “United DNC” presidency. Peterson is quick to note though that:
As complicated as the process may seem, and unlikely at times, “the combined Not Trump and Not Hillary votes total more than 25 million out of the about 48 million votes cast, for more than 52 percent.” Peterson also points to eagerness of the media for a third party candidate to report on, Republicans of the #NeverTrump movement, hesitant or refused endorsements, and calls for a third-party candidate.
As far as which candidates could run, Peterson focuses on Former Senator Tom Coburn, while also suggesting Governor Mitch Daniels and Former Senator Jim DeMint. He’s keen on Carly Fiorina as a running mate.
But, they would have a tough job ahead of them:
The candidate would of course need support. Peterson suggests “a draft movement, organized loosely by social media, in which people who are fed up with the two party options commit to raising $1,000 or donating 100 hours to support a credible third-party candidate…”
The most difficult hurdle would be to get on the ballot, with the options available to the candidate to be “petition state by state with a preset number of eligible voters to qualify for ballot access as an independent, or file some paperwork to be a viable choice as a write-in candidate.”
Peterson acknowledges throughout that the process won’t be easy, but it’s something worth giving a try. “We don’t have a lot of practice with this, but it’s long overdue we start,” he later writes.
