Billionaire Elon Musk's American Party Hasn't Been Formed Yet, But It's Predicted to 'Die Stillborn'

The American political system has no room for a third party.

According to the Washington Post, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX affirmed that he would make the new political organization the third largest party in the United States, aiming to provide voters with an alternative to the traditional Democratic-Republican coalition.

Georgetown University political history professor Hans Noel argues that the US does not have an open system for many third parties to succeed. He explains this because of the “winner-take-all” system, in which the candidate who wins an absolute majority in a constituency receives all the votes from that district.

In a presidential election, all of a state's electoral votes go to the candidate who wins that state. Even if the candidate who comes in second loses by just one popular vote, he or she loses all of the electoral votes.

This is in stark contrast to other democracies, where a small party can win a few seats in the legislature by getting 20-30% of the vote and build a base from there.

History of failure of third parties

This electoral rule has made it impossible for third parties in the US, despite their long-standing existence and large numbers, to make a difference in elections.

The last time a presidential candidate who was not a member of or allied with the Republican and Democratic parties won the electoral college was George Wallace in the 1968 election.

Another classic example is in the 1992 election, billionaire Ross Perot won 19% of the national popular vote. However, he did not win any states and therefore did not receive any electoral votes.

The requirements for forming a new political party and participating in elections are also very strict, including the requirement to collect signatures from voters. Although Elon Musk's huge financial resources can easily overcome the initial steps, building a political candidate or candidates who can win absolutely in any constituency requires a huge effort.

Lack of political allies

Politics has never been and should not be a one-man race. To win, any politician needs strong allies. This is exactly what Elon Musk lacks in politics.

After his controversial split with President Donald Trump, his influence in the Republican Party has been significantly weakened. Elon Musk’s controversial personality has also made it difficult for influential figures to support him.

Despite his vast resources, election rules do not allow Musk to spend money to buy votes. He is alone, facing off against strong political parties that can raise money from a much larger network of voters.

Professor Noel said a politician's fundraising ability shows how they know how to connect with many people - people who not only give money but can also do other things, at least vote for them.

Ambiguous political views

So far, the political views and policies of Elon Musk's party are unclear. The only hints come from the billionaire's political views, which include opposing increased budget spending and specifically opposing the Big and Beautiful Super Law.

But that’s “not enough” to form a long-term party strategy that can appeal to a loyal base, says Professor McCorkle. Elon Musk himself, whose companies are receiving tens of billions of dollars in government funding, could undermine his message.

Elon Musk’s opposition to government spending and his large government contract benefit create an inherent political contradiction. His companies, SpaceX and Tesla, have received billions of dollars in federal grants and contracts.

The Risk of the American Party's Premature Death

Given the challenges outlined above, Elon Musk’s American Party is at high risk of “dying young” right from its first steps. The American political system is designed to maintain a two-party structure, and any attempt to create a third party would face insurmountable institutional barriers.

Lack of allies, ambiguous policy positions, and especially negative impact on the political faction he once supported are all factors that could cause this political project to fail.

Even if the party fails to make any electoral gains, it could still have far-reaching political consequences. Diluting the Republican vote could create a surprising advantage for Democrats in key races.

Elon Musk, the founder of the American Party, may be the main reason why his party cannot survive and develop sustainably.

Quoc Duong