### Elon Musk Isn’t the First Businessman to Challenge the Two-Party System—Here’s Who Tried Before
Elon Musk recently announced plans to form the “America Party,” aiming to disrupt the Republican-Democrat duopoly. However, he’s not the first high-profile businessman to attempt this. In 2021, former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang launched the centrist **Forward Party**, focusing on electoral reform and reducing polarization. Though the party has gained some traction with endorsements from bipartisan lawmakers, it remains far from replacing the two-party system. Similarly, former Starbucks CEO **Howard Schultz** considered an independent 2020 presidential run, fearing Democratic policies were becoming too progressive. Despite his concerns, Schultz ultimately abandoned his campaign, acknowledging the risk of splitting the vote and aiding Trump’s reelection.
The most successful third-party businessman in modern U.S. history was **Ross Perot**, who ran as an independent in 1992 and secured nearly **19% of the vote**—the best third-party performance in decades. His populist platform, emphasizing deficit reduction and trade reform, resonated with voters disillusioned with both parties. In 1996, he founded the **Reform Party**, though his support dwindled to 8.4%. The party briefly outlived his political career, even propelling Jesse Ventura to the Minnesota governorship in 1998.
Musk’s efforts join a long line of business leaders attempting to reshape American politics, but history suggests breaking the two-party system remains an uphill battle. Whether his “America Party” gains momentum or fades like past attempts, the challenge of overcoming entrenched political divisions persists.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-businessmen-third-party-history-perot-yang-schultz-2025-7.