This year, the most high-profile candidate on the Working Families Party line is congressional candidate Anthony Frascone, who is running in New York’s 17th district. However, Frascone did not receive the party’s endorsement.
The Working Families Party has claimed that he is a Republican plant running a fake campaign intended to spoil the race for the Democratic nominee, former Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., who is facing Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.
Tamas noted that such maneuvering poses a significant risk for third parties and contributes to the perception that they are often at the mercy of major party dynamics.
Despite skepticism about its future, Tamas acknowledged the resilience of the Working Families Party, especially in an environment where other third parties, such as the Greens and Libertarians, struggle to gain traction.
I’ve long been skeptical of the Working Families Party, Tamas said, but I’ll have to say after watching how deeply ineffective the Greens and Libertarians have been this year, at least they have a seat at the table.
Conversely, the Green Party has chosen a different path this election cycle, seeking to build its own political infrastructure independent of the major parties.
Peter LaVenia, a co-chair of the New York Green Party, expressed frustration about the difficulties they face in regaining their ballot line, citing the ongoing repression of smaller parties in the state. He emphasized that without a ballot line, it is exceedingly challenging to run candidates effectively.
LaVenia explained that the Green Party is committed to a different vision: The idea is that working people and people that think we need a radical change in this country need their own organization, and it’s a harder road to walk.
He noted that the party is skeptical of the traditional “sting like a bee” strategy and has increasingly focused on establishing a robust organizational presence rather than relying on major party concessions.
Elain Kamarck, a senior fellow for governance studies at the Brookings Institution, expressed her doubts about the effectiveness of any third-party efforts this year. She pointed out that historically, successful third parties either get absorbed into larger parties or fail due to a lack of grassroots support.
The Green Party, according to Kamarck, faces challenges in building a foundational presence compared to the major parties, which have well-established structures in every county across the country.
Kamarck observed that genuine influence can often be exerted through primaries, where individuals affiliated with movements or ideologies can directly challenge established candidates. If you look at The Squad, she noted, these are people that got themselves elected to Congress. They have influence, and people listen to what they say.
This observation underscores the importance of positioning within existing party structures rather than relying solely on third-party candidacies.
In conclusion, the struggle of the Working Families Party in New York reflects broader challenges faced by minor parties across the United States.
While the Working Families Party aims to maintain its relevance by acting as a fusion party aligned with the Democrats, the Green Party pursues an independent strategy focused on radical change.
Both parties navigate a complex political landscape where voter sentiment increasingly favors alternatives to the traditional two-party system, yet systemic barriers and historical precedents complicate their efforts.