With Florida’s election locked in a recount battle and a recount for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District beginning today, some third-party candidates are questioning the integrity of the major parties.
In turn, some major party supporters are pointing the blame for November’s close elections at the third-party movement.
“Some people within the Green Party were getting death threats,” said Bonnie Bucqueroux, the Green Party’s 8th Congressional District candidate. “It comes from some of the last minute tactics by people who thought Greens took Al Gore and Dianne Byrum’s wins.”
Democratic candidate state Sen. Byrum, of Onondaga, asked for a recount on Nov. 27 after the state Board of Canvassers certified Republican opponent state Sen. Mike Rogers, of Brighton, the winner by 160 votes.
Bucqueroux, who received slightly more than 1 percent of the vote, said her party is not responsible for taking votes. Rather, it offers voters a platform that differs from Democrats and Republicans.
“There was a very ferocious backlash by some Democrats,” said Bucqueroux, director of the MSU School of Journalism’s Victims and the Media program. “I know a lot of people are suggesting that it’s the Greens who lost the (race) for the Democrats, but we’re unwilling to take the hit.”
Now the party is looking toward the future, Bucqueroux said. Its goal is to have a Green candidate running at every level and to win inclusion to debates on the state and federal levels.
The Green Party received strong support on campus, with presidential candidate Ralph Nader drawing a crowd of thousands to a September rally at the Auditorium.
To achieve her goals locally, Bucqueroux is speaking to high school government classes to educate the future voters on their options.
Attracting young adults is key to achieving a following as a third-party candidate. The major parties, many third-party officials say, have older generations’ votes locked up by touting issues such as Social Security and tax cuts.
“The third-party problem, of course, is that there is not a personal incentive in backing a third-party candidate,” said James Eyster, the 8th District’s Libertarian candidate.
Eyster said third parties tend to focus on long-term goals instead of short-term government benefits.
As for issues already on the table, Eyster said recounts in Florida are legal, but he does not believe the Florida ballot problems will lead to a large increase in third-party support.
“As a lawyer, I see what’s going on as the proper working of our legal system,” Eyster said. “It’s appropriate to use our judiciary to oversee the process, but I don’t see that as moving individuals to the third party.”
But that’s OK, said another 8th Congressional District candidate, Francisco Gualdoni of the U.S. Taxpayer’s Party.
“I’ve found the acceptance of a third party,” Gualdoni said. “People are looking for an alternative right now.
“They don’t see a lot of difference between the two major party candidates.”
Gualdoni calls the support he gets from friends, family and people on the street “acceptance with reluctance.”
“Once people understand how far away the government has gotten from the Constitution, they support it,” Gualdoni said.
In line with the name of his party - which will appear on future ballots as the Constitution Party - Gualdoni said he will consider running again should the opportunity arise.
“It was actually fun,” he said. “I definitely plan to do it again as long as the Republicans and Democrats do not vote on the Senate and House floor in Washington and Lansing as they say they will in campaigns.”
Emily Robinson can be reached at robin314@msu.edu.
