2000s

Ah the 2000s you remember those don't you, they started with the threat of an internet shutdown and 9-11

Leading up to 2000 The Democrats controlled both houses of Congress and thus the redistricting which would remain in influence until 2000. In the 1992 & 1996 election where dark horse candidate Ross Perot made the most significant third party bid since Roosevelts Bull Moose campaign established the Reform Party as a legal third major party.

The Reform party's popularity largely came from the unpopularity of the Republican and Democratic nominees at the time and a genuine belief that Ross Perot could make a difference. In 2000 this belief faded, a party full of conflicting moderate views, and the inability to attract major candidates led not only its replacement as third largest party in 2000 but also would allow it to drift into political obscurity by 2009. Its successor was the Organization of Green Parties led by the well known Ralph Nadar in 2000 and would form a fully functional minor national party in 2004. The Green Party would not hold the bronze for long. The first factor would be the accusations of Ralph Nadar spoiling the 2000 election for Al Gore, The second factor would be the choosing of a lesser known candidate whose goal was to cement Green presence in non battle ground states thus ensuring a larger ballot access the following elections and Third their previous candidate deciding to run as an Independent/Reform candidate. They would fall to fifth largest party opening the door for the Socially Liberal, Fiscally Conservative Libertarian and the Paleoconservative Constitution Parties. The Democrats defeated Republicans by a comfortable margin in 2008, as Ralph Nadar continued to run on an Independent Ballot coming in 3rd. The Libertarians locked third largest party pulling 0.4% of the popular vote, The constitution party came in fourth narrowly beating the green party only to swap places in two years