Many U.S. Voters Open to Third Parties, but Not to Musk’s New Party

A significant portion of American voters seems interested in third-party options beyond the typical Republican and Democratic choices, according to a recent poll. Yet, there’s a clear disinterest in Elon Musk’s newly proposed “America” party.

In fact, the Quinnipiac University survey shows that 49% of registered voters have considered joining a third party. However, a substantial 77% stated they would not join Musk’s party, with only 17% showing support for it.

As Tim Malloy, a voting analyst at Quinnipiac, pointed out, “There’s a noticeable appetite for third parties among voters, but Musk doesn’t seem to be capturing that interest.” The poll reveals that nationally, 37% of registered voters identify as Democrats, 31% as Republicans, and 32% as independents, based on data compiled by Balotpedia from various states.

Musk unveiled his plans for the American Party earlier this month, following critical remarks about a significant bill that he feels negatively impacts the deficit. Details about his party’s platform remain vague, though he aims to focus on competitive congressional races that could tip the balance of power.

Historically, Musk has largely avoided diving into politics. However, after a threatening incident last July involving an assassination attempt against him, he became more involved, notably supporting Trump and Republican candidates in the 2024 electoral cycle with around $290 million in contributions.

Trump, who later brought Musk into his administration to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has expressed skepticism about Musk’s new party, describing third-party efforts as “silly” and noting that they “have never worked.”

The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,290 registered voters between July 10th and 14th, with a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points.