"Forward" wants to fill in ditches: Ex-Republicans and Democrats found new party

The political system in the US is polarized, compromises between Democrats and Republicans are rare.

"Forward" wants to fill in ditches: Ex-Republicans and Democrats found new party

The political system in the US is polarized, compromises between Democrats and Republicans are rare. Now politicians from both camps are founding a new centrist party. According to a survey, many Americans see a need for it.

The US two-party system is being shaken up by a new third party. Dozens of former Republican and Democratic officials planned to unveil a new political party called Forward on Thursday (July 29), the founding members said. Forward does not yet have a concrete agenda, but wants to establish itself as a centrist party.

"How are we going to solve the big problems America faces? Not left. Not right. Forward." The main pillars of the party program are "revival of a fair, prosperous economy" and "more choices for Americans, more confidence in a functioning government and more say in our future".

The party is based on the merger of three organizations: From the Renew America Movement, which was founded in 2021 by former Republicans from the administrations of Ronald Reagan, George Bush, George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Also joining the new party is the original Forward Party, founded by former Democratic presidential nominee Andrew Yang, as well as the Serve America Movement, a group of Democrats, Republicans and independents established by former Republican Congressman David Jolly. The organizations had emerged in recent years in response to the increasingly polarized and deadlocked US political system.

Historically, third parties have not succeeded in America's two-party system. Since the middle of the 19th century only the Democratic and Republican parties have been of any importance. Occasionally they can influence a presidential election, like the Green Party's Ralph Nader, who in 2000 won enough votes from Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore to help Republican George W. Bush win the White House. In the 1992 elections, independent candidate Ross Perot won almost 19 percent of the vote.

Forward has set a goal of achieving party registration and voting access in 30 states by the end of 2023 and in all 50 states by the end of 2024 -- in time for the 2024 presidential and congressional elections. A record two-thirds of Americans hold one According to last year's Gallup poll, a third party is necessary. Political analysts are skeptical that they can succeed.

(This article was first published on Thursday, July 28, 2022.)