This article contains lists of official third-party and independent candidates associated with the 2012 United States presidential election.
"Third party" is a term commonly used in the United States to refer to political parties other than the two major parties, the Democratic Party and Republican Party. An independent candidate is one who runs for office with no formal party affiliation.
Those listed as candidates have done one or more of the following: formally announced they are candidates in the 2012 presidential election, filed as candidates with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and/or received the presidential nomination of their respective party. They are listed alphabetically by surname within each section.
Ballot access to 270 or more electoral votes Vote totals on ballots representing 270 electoral votes. All other candidates were on the ballots of fewer than 10 states, 100 electors, and less than 20% of voters nationwide.
Presidential ticketPartyBallot accessVotesPercentageStatesElectors% of votersJohnson / GrayLibertarian48 + DC51595.1%1,275,9510.99%Stein / HonkalaGreen36 + DC43683.1%469,6280.36%Goode / ClymerConstitution2625749.9%122,3880.09%Anderson / RodriguezJustice1514528.1%43,0180.03%Lindsay / OsorioSocialism & Liberation1311528.6%7,7910.006% No candidates were "spoilers", i.e. having a greater total in any state greater than the margin between the top two candidates.
Libertarian Party
Nominee Gary JohnsonFormer Governor of New Mexico (Website)Johnson declared his candidacy for the Libertarian Party nomination on December 28, 2011, at a press conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The announcement followed his withdrawal from his previous candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, which he had announced on April 21, 2011. Johnson won the nomination at the May 5, 2012, convention in Las Vegas on the first ballot. Judge Jim Gray of California was his running mate. Governor of New Mexico 1995–2003
Ballot access
Candidates R. J. HarrisArmy Veteran, of Oklahoma (Website) Harris filed his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination on August 24, 2011, to the FEC. Harris received the endorsement of Ron Paul during his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination to US Congress District 4. He withdrew his presidential candidacy in on April 11, 2012, and announced he would instead make a second run for the U.S. Congress. Carl PersonAttorney, of New York (Website)Person announced his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination in June 2011. Sam SloanChess player, publisher and writer from New YorkSloan announced his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination in January 2012.R. Lee WrightsAuthor and Libertarian National Committee Member, of Texas ()Wrights announced his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination on April 16, 2011, at the Libertarian Party of North Carolina's annual convention in Hickory, North Carolina.(April 18, 2011) "Wrights Launches Presidential Campaign and New Officers Elected at LPNC Annual Convention" , http://www.lpnc.org. Rertrievd October 31, 2011.
Declined to run
The following people were the focus of presidential speculation in past media reports, but ultimately decided to not run for the nomination of the Libertarian Party.
Ron Paul, U.S. Representative of Texas, candidate for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination, and 1988 Libertarian Presidential nominee.Volack, Jason M. (October 30, 2011) "Libertarian Party Tells Ron Paul to Come On Over" ABC News. Retrieved November 16, 2011.Krebs, Michael (October 31, 2011) "Ron Paul dominates Iowa straw poll, Libertarian Party courts him", Digital Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2011. Wayne Allyn Root of Nevada, entrepreneur and 2008 Libertarian vice-presidential nominee.Moye, David (November 4, 2010) "Sports Handicapper Gambles on Becoming President" , AOL News. Retrieved November 4, 2010.Myers, Laura (November 30, 2010) "Las Vegas will host Libertarian convention", Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 30, 2010.Derby, Kevin (January 14, 2011) "Presidential Derby", Sunshine State News. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
Green Party
Nominee Jill SteinPhysician, of Massachusetts (Website)Stein formally announced her candidacy on October 24, 2011. She indicated that a key point of her campaign will be her proposal for a "Green New Deal", which aims to provide energy-based public jobs for the unemployed. In May 2012, she became the party's presumptive nominee."Massachusetts physician Jill Stein says she has enough delegates for Green Party nomination", Associated Press. The Washington Post. June 6, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012. On July 14, 2012, she won the official nomination at the Green Party National Convention in Baltimore. Stein's running mate was Cheri Honkala of Pennsylvania.Caldwell, Leigh Ann (July 11, 2012) "Running mate revealed: Green Party running mate, that is", CBS News. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
Ballot access
Candidates
Stewart AlexanderActivist and 2008 Socialist Party USA vice-presidential nominee, of CaliforniaAlexander announced in August 2010 that he would seek the 2012 presidential nomination of the Green Party. Alexander also announced that he would seek the 2012 presidential nomination of the Socialist Party USA.Perry, Richard (August 18, 2010) Election 2012: Stewart Alexander Will Seek Green Party Presidential Nomination Philadelphia Independent Media Center. Retrieved November 9, 2010.Clarke, Stephen (November 4, 2010) "U.S. Election 2012: Stewart Alexander Making Big Push for Electric Car Manufacturing", IndyBay. Retrieved November 10, 2010. He withdrew his candidacy for the Green Party nomination in July 2011. Socialist Party USA vice presidential nominee, 2008Roseanne Barr Comedian, of Hawaii ()Barr announced in August 2011 that she would run for president in 2012 as the nominee of a political party she intends to create, called the "Green Tea Party." On January 25, 2012, she filed a declaration with the FEC. Barr has submitted paperwork to the Green Party for her candidacy, and stated on February 2, 2012, that she is a longtime supporter of the Green Party.Miga, Andrew (February 3, 2012) "Roseanne Barr seeks Green Party presidential nod", Associated Press. Yahoo! News. Retrieved July 3, 2012 After losing the Green Party nomination to Stein, Barr continued her campaign, winning the nomination of the Peace and Freedom Party.Kent MesplayActivist and air quality inspector, of California (Website)Mesplay announced during an interview with Wikinews on June 29, 2008, that he was in the planning stages for a 2012 presidential campaign. On May 24, 2011, he filed with the FEC as an official candidate for the Green Party nomination.
Declined to run The following people were the focus of presidential speculation in past media reports, but ultimately decided to not run for the nomination of the Green Party.
Jello Biafra, musician and Green Party activist of CaliforniaBorges, Christine (October 8, 2010)"Five Reasons Jello Biafra Won't Rejoin the Dead Kennedys", Broward-Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved October 29, 2010.McCutcheon, Jody (October 22, 2010) , ChartAttack. Retrieved October 29, 2010. Van Jones, former White House Green Jobs Czar
Americans Elect
No nominee
Americans Elect announced on May 17, 2012, that it would not field a candidate for president, as no candidate garnered enough support in the organization's online primary to reach its self-imposed threshold for the nomination.Sarlin, Benji (May 17, 2012). Americans Elect: Sorry, No Candidate This Year . Talking Points Memo. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
Ballot access
Candidates The following were the only four declared candidates to achieve more than 1,000 supporters for the presidential nomination of Americans Elect prior to the organization's announcement that it would not field a 2012 presidential candidate:
Buddy RoemerFormer Governor of Louisiana ()On December 1, 2011, still a Republican Party candidate, Roemer announced his candidacy for the presidential nomination of Americans Elect.Schoenberg, Shira (December 1, 2011) "Buddy Roemer says he will campaign for president on third-party ticket", Boston Globe. Retrieved December 1, 2011.Weigel, David (December 1, 2011) "Buddy Roemer, Your New Third Party Savior", Slate. Retrieved December 1, 2011. He officially left the Republican Party race in February 2012, and chose to seek the Reform Party presidential nomination in addition to Americans Elect. After the decision to not field a candidate, Roemer suspended his campaign as a whole. He attained an overall total of 6,293 supporters on the Americans Elect website. United States House of Representatives, 1981–1988 Governor of Louisiana, 1988–1992Rocky AndersonFormer Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah (Website)On March 14, 2012, Anderson announced his candidacy for the presidential nomination of Americans Elect. He was the 2012 nominee of the Justice Party,Higgs, Steven (March 17, 2012) "Anderson embraces Americans Elect nominating process", The Bloomington Alternative. Retrieved March 21, 2012.Derby, Kevin (March 17, 2012) "Established Politicians Going Third Party in 2012 Race", Sunshine State News. Retrieved March 21, 2012. and continued his campaign after the board decision. He attained an overall total of 3,390 supporters on the Americans Elect website. Mayor of Salt Lake City, 2000–2008Michealene RisleyActivist, of California (Website)In the summer of 2011, Risley mulled a presidential run. Learning about Americans Elect, she decided to seek the organization's presidential nomination. After the board decided to not field a presidential candidate, Risley became involved in a movement to overturn the decision. She attained an overall total of 2,351 supporters on the Americans Elect website.Laurence KotlikoffEconomist, of Massachusetts (Website)In early January 2012, Kotlikoff announced his intentions to seek the presidential nomination of Americans Elect. He filed with the FEC on January 12. In May 2012, he chose to also seek the Reform Party nomination, but ended his presidential campaign as a whole after Americans Elect decided to not field a candidate. He attained an overall total of 2,027 supporters on the Americans Elect website. Council of Economic Advisers Senior Economist, 1981–1982
Declined to run The following people were the focus of presidential speculation in past media reports, but ultimately decided to not run for the nomination of Americans Elect. Howard Schultz, CEO of StarbucksWilson, Reid (February 19, 2012). Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Says No To Politics. National Journal. Retrieved February 19, 2012. Joe Lieberman, Senator from Connecticut Lamar Alexander, Senator from Tennessee Bob Kerrey, Former Senator from Nebraska Chuck Hagel, Former Senator from Nebraska Jon Huntsman Jr., United States Ambassador to China
Constitution Party
Nominee Virgil GoodeFormer U.S. Representative of Virginia (Website)Goode filed with the FEC as a presidential candidate on February 10, 2012. He told The Daily Caller on February 16 that he would seek the Constitution Party presidential nomination. He won the nomination at the National Convention on April 21, and selected outgoing party chairman Jim Clymer as his running mate. Virginia State Senate, 1973–1997 United States House of Representatives, 1997–2009
Ballot access
Candidates Darrell CastleCastle nominated himself as a candidate for the Constitution Party's presidential nomination at the 2012 National Convention. He said that several party delegates convinced him to run. Constitution Party Vice presidential nominee, 2008Laurie RothRadio talk show host, of Washington