Support for Third Parties in California

Support for minor parties is increasing in some state elections. In this article we use survey data to model support for contemporary third party candidates in California. Our analysis indicates that voters choose minor party candidates when they are dissatisfied with major candidates and when they perceive no difference between the major parties. We also find that these minor party candidates receive support from voters who have loyalties to the minor party, a finding that contrasts with some of the existing literature on minor party voting in U.S. national elections.