This question is what drives me to run for the office of North Carolina State Auditor.
I am a highly qualified third party candidate – an accountant, graduate of a top business program, former Peace Corps volunteer, and business leader. And based on polling, if people vote according to their conviction about third parties, I will win.
Their conviction being that we need alternatives to what the two parties are giving us. The evidence for this conviction includes:
Polling. Respondents to the recent North Carolina Meredith poll, by a 3:1 ratio, say that a third party is needed. See details below
Voter registration. There are more unaffiliated voters registered in NC than there are either of Democrats or Republicans. Add the third parties to unaffiliated and the ratio of registered voters is 38 : 32 : 30 respectively.
High profile elections. At the top of the ticket in the high profile and intense presidential race, over 13% of voter say they will vote for third party candidates (source: Real Clear Politics averages, 6/6/2024).
If not for Auditor, then for what?
At the top of each ballot, the stakes seem enormous. The “winner take all” rules in our elections and the fear of the “greater of two evils” motivates voters to abandon their convictions and vote for the “lesser of two evils.”
But down ballot, for an obscure and technocratic position like the NC State Auditor? Many voters are not even sure what the Auditor does, and know little about the candidates. This should be an easier decision to vote third party and it would still send a wake-up call to the two-party system. It would draw their attention, strike the fear of further defections in the future, and dramatically change political behavior. Hence the question: If not for this office, then for what office will you vote for a highly qualified third party candidate?
If not now, then when?
Politics will not change until voters elect a third-party candidate. In this election for State Auditor, the third-party candidate is an accountant while the two-party candidates are lawyers. The third-party candidate is without conflict while the two-party candidates have conflicts of interest. The third party candidate represents the idea of accountable government while the two-parties represent the government deficit spending and other problems that we have today.
People overwhelmingly say that they want good third party options. Well, here is a good option. Vote for political change in this race and your voice will be heard. Loud and clear.
The Meredith poll results
This April 2024 poll had 3 questions to voters about their interests in a third party. Note the most frequent answer to each question:
1) In your view, do the Democratic and Republican parties do an adequate job of representing the American people, or do they do such a poor job that a third party is needed?
Response | Number | Percentage |
The two parties do not do an adequate job of representing Americans and a third party is needed | 505 | 63 |
The two parties do an adequate job of representing Americans | 176 | 22 |
Don’t know | 120 | 15 |
2) [Which party] governs in a more honest and ethical way
Response | Number | Percentage |
Neither | 270 | 34 |
The Democratic Party | 257 | 32 |
The Republican Party | 203 | 25 |
Don’t know | 41 | 5 |
Both | 30 | 4 |
3) What political party do you most identify with?
Response | Number | Percentage |
Unaffiliated | 277 | 35 |
Republican | 252 | 31 |
Democrat | 236 | 29 |
Other | 18 | 2 |
Don’t know | 18 | 2 |
The Meredith Poll
April 11 – 17
North Carolina voters, 3.5% polling error rate.
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