Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
    • Elijah Decious
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • Elijah Decious
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Brucemore celebrates 40 years of being open to the public

IMU COVID vaccine clinic coming

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Wellington Heights home gutted in 2017 fire finally coming down

26-year-old man killed in shooting in NE Cedar Rapids

Peggy Whitson to be keynote speaker for Iowa Ideas 2021

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

Livestream: Funeral for Iowa state trooper Jim Smith

Home / Opinion / Staff Columnists

For Iowa’s 100,000 third-party voters, 2020 field is wide open

Adam SullivanBy: Adam Sullivan Feb. 5, 2020 6:00 am Updated: Feb. 4, 2020 8:06 pm
For Iowa’s 100,000 third-party voters, 2020 field is wide open

The Iowa caucuses are not quite over.

Now that Iowa Republicans and Democrats have sounded off, another presidential nomination contest is starting. This weekend, Libertarian Party of Iowa members will gather for their own caucuses and presidential straw polls. Later this month, 10 Libertarians running for the presidential nomination will appear together in Iowa.

It's too late for registered voters to switch parties and participate in the Libertarians' virtual or in-person caucuses Saturday. But there are a couple reasons all Iowans should pay close attention to the state and nation's largest third-party nominating process.

For one, thousands of us will end up voting for someone besides the Republican or Democrat in the November general election. For another, those who don't will spend a few months scolding and wagging fingers at third-party voters. Either way, it's a good idea to start vetting the candidates now.

A large portion of Americans say the country is poorly served by the existing two-party system. That discontent could be emboldened by an incumbent Republican with underwhelming popularity, and a Democratic nominee with her or his own unfavorables.

In 2016, eight third-party candidates appeared on the ballot in Iowa and altogether earned nearly 100,000 votes. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and running mate Bill Weld - both former Republican governors - won about 3.7 percent of the vote, making them by far the state's most popular third-party ticket last cycle.

Johnson was considered a front-runner for the nomination throughout the 2016 process, but this year's field is wide open. Delegates elected at the caucuses and state convention will attend the national convention in May, where they will be unbound and free to support whichever candidate they choose.

Libertarians are having lively debates about the party's future. The key question is whether to once again nominate an established figure with ties to one of the major parties, or go with a bold and die-hard Libertarian activist.

On Feb. 29, I will moderate a presidential candidates forum in Des Moines, part of the Libertarian Party of Iowa's state convention. Questions submitted by members cover a range of policy points, and also meta issues about the party and its strategy.

Most third-party activists acknowledge winning the White House in the next election is unlikely, but there are other good reasons to support minor presidential candidates. Top-of-the-ticket races help parties build lists of supporters and can create momentum for down-ballot candidates.

Most importantly in Iowa, parties earning 2 percent in a gubernatorial or presidential election gain official party status, which Libertarians achieved in 2016 and lost in 2018. That status entitles parties to the same ballot access as major parties, and also attracts more equitable coverage from the media.

Loyalists to the partisan duopoly worry that third-party candidates sway elections. They claim, without compelling evidence, that recent elections would have turned the other way if not for spoilers.

To that, I say get over it. When parties nominate bad candidates, don't be surprised when voters look elsewhere.

(319) 339-3156; adam.sullivan@thegazette.com

Demonstrators discuss differing opinions at the Johnson County Tea Party's Tax Day rally on the Ped Mall in Iowa City on Thursday, April 15, 2010. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Adam Sullivan

Adam Sullivan

At Liberty, The Gazette

I serve as a columnist and editorial writer from The Gazette’s Iowa City newsroom, focusing on state and local government.

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

The only safe prison is an empty one

Freedom falling out of fashion in the Iowa Legislature

Iowa Democrats vie for ‘Back the Blue’ mantle during gun…

2nd District challenge was never about counting all the votes

All articles by Adam

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Capitol Ideas: Trump looms over GOP hopefuls’ treks to Iowa

Capitol Ideas: Trump looms over GOP hopefuls’ treks to Iowa

Erin Murphy News Mar. 28, 2021 5:54 pm

Capitol Ideas column: High demand for COVID-19 vaccine is great…

Capitol Ideas column: High demand for COVID-19 vaccine is great…

Erin Murphy Opinion Feb. 14, 2021 11:16 pm

Abolish the undemocratic Iowa caucuses

Abolish the undemocratic Iowa caucuses

Lyz Lenz Staff Columnists Nov. 14, 2019 7:05 pm

Staff Columnists

Huddled masses? Not our problem

Huddled masses? Not our problem

Todd Dorman

Staff Columnists Apr. 15, 2021 8:09 am

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Adam Sullivan

Opinion Apr. 12, 2021 3:06 pm

The only safe prison is an empty one

The only safe prison is an empty one

Adam Sullivan

Opinion Apr. 9, 2021 8:26 am

Caucuses in trouble? What’s new?

Caucuses in trouble? What’s new?

Todd Dorman

Staff Columnists Apr. 6, 2021 1:03 pm

Opinion

Helping a stranger in the April rain

Helping a stranger in the April rain

Kurt Ullrich

Guest Columnists Apr. 16, 2021 2:17 pm

Migrant children are not ’our problem,’ governor — they’re our…

Migrant children are not ’our problem,’ governor — they’re our…

Staff Editorial

Opinion Apr. 16, 2021 2:51 pm

’Back the Blue’ legislation makes Iowans less safe and free

’Back the Blue’ legislation makes Iowans less safe and free

Christina Bohannan and Janice Weiner

Guest Columnists Apr. 15, 2021 5:36 pm

Lack of oversight at Iowa’s prisons is a deadly problem

Lack of oversight at Iowa’s prisons is a deadly problem

Staff editorial

Staff Editorials Apr. 16, 2021 7:55 am

News

Crackdowns on advance voting belie growing popularity among all voters

Crackdowns on advance voting belie growing popularity among all voters

AP

News Apr. 16, 2021 5:19 pm

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

, Marissa Payne

Community Apr. 16, 2021 9:30 pm

100 days after attack, Hinson wants Capitol fence to be…

100 days after attack, Hinson wants Capitol fence to be…

James Q. Lynch

Government & Politics Apr. 16, 2021 8:50 pm

Iowan accused of assaulting officers during Capitol riot

Iowan accused of assaulting officers during Capitol riot

Washington Post

Crime and Courts Apr. 16, 2021 9:11 pm

Sports

Kylie Feuerbach: Former Cyclone, future Hawkeye

Kylie Feuerbach: Former Cyclone, future Hawkeye

Jeff Linder

Hawkeye Basketball 90m ago

Taylor Mouser, tight ends to attempt takeover of the Iowa…

Taylor Mouser, tight ends to attempt takeover of the Iowa…

Ben Visser

Iowa State Cyclones 2h ago

5 things I’m watching at my first Iowa football open…

5 things I’m watching at my first Iowa football open…

Leah Vann

Hawkeye Football Apr. 16, 2021 7:56 pm

Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes softball vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes softball vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Jim Slosiarek

Apr. 16, 2021 7:45 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Gazette Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company