Excellent article and information. I totally agree with Winner Take All contributes to maintaining a two party system, and that Ranked Choice Voting, and/or Multi-Member Districts with Proportional voting would help. However I find that almost every article on this subject leaves out what I consider to be the MAIN catalyst of preserving the DonkeyPhants lock on our political system - The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 that froze the size of the House of Representatives at its 1910 level of 435 members.
The single pillar holding up a strong, vibrant Democracy is that of appropriate Citizen Representation. Which we no longer have as OUR population has increased from 122 million to currently 343 million. In 1910 each member represented about 280,00 people and today it averages about 788,000. Literally no representation for those that can't afford a $10,000 political donation.
One of the fundamental reasons for the Revolutionary War was about lack of Representation. Any initiative that is hoped to create a movement must be simple, understandable, clearly defined and have a quantified outcome if it is supported. It's why I created my educational website PROJECT1305.org to increase the size of thew House, preferably by tripling it to 1,305 members. While it is very difficult for a 3rd party, candidates that run as Independents have a much easier road.
Two examples: TO FILE AS AN INDEPENDENT:
TEXAS:
Texas primary is March 3, 2026, runoff, if necessary, May 26, 2026.
1. File a ‘Declaration of Intent to Run as an independent Candidate’ between November 8, 2025 and December 8, 2025;
2. After the primary, gather 500 signatures from registered voters that did not vote in the primary;
3. Submit the Nominating Petition and the Candidate Application by June 5, 2026;
4. Federal Candidate Application by June 5, 2026
5. Maximum number of signatures required: 500
6. Fee: $0.00
ARIZONA:
1. File a Statement of Interest
2. File a Nomination Paper declaring candidacy
3. File a Nomination Petition with signatures equal to or greater than 3% of all registered voters in the relevant jurisdiction who are not registered with a recognized political party. In District 2 there are 172,000 non-aligned registered voter, so approximately 5,200 signatures from ANY registered voters in that district would be required.
4. Fee: $0.00
IF Independent candidates took up PROJECT1305 banner, both parties may have difficulty co-opting and supporting it due to their fear of loss of power and control. But that would put them on the wrong side of why the Revolutionary War was fought in the first place.
With 2026 being America's 250 year anniversary, Ken Burns' 'The American Revolution' (which too few people will watch), and all the media and events leading up to celebrations I cannot think of any cause so timely, and so simple as talking about OUR lack of Representation, OUR loss of Voice, and the importance of getting more average Americans' Voices to be heard in Congress. It's not about issues or politics - it's simply about reclaiming what OUR Founders intended in sacrificing their lives and families.
My educational website PROJECT1305.org explains well (I think)
This was a helpful article but I wish it also talked about how to bring about change, however remote that chance might be. Things like ranked choice voting and overturning Citizens United, what it would take to make them happen.
Excellent article and information. I totally agree with Winner Take All contributes to maintaining a two party system, and that Ranked Choice Voting, and/or Multi-Member Districts with Proportional voting would help. However I find that almost every article on this subject leaves out what I consider to be the MAIN catalyst of preserving the DonkeyPhants lock on our political system - The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 that froze the size of the House of Representatives at its 1910 level of 435 members.
The single pillar holding up a strong, vibrant Democracy is that of appropriate Citizen Representation. Which we no longer have as OUR population has increased from 122 million to currently 343 million. In 1910 each member represented about 280,00 people and today it averages about 788,000. Literally no representation for those that can't afford a $10,000 political donation.
One of the fundamental reasons for the Revolutionary War was about lack of Representation. Any initiative that is hoped to create a movement must be simple, understandable, clearly defined and have a quantified outcome if it is supported. It's why I created my educational website PROJECT1305.org to increase the size of thew House, preferably by tripling it to 1,305 members. While it is very difficult for a 3rd party, candidates that run as Independents have a much easier road.
Two examples: TO FILE AS AN INDEPENDENT:
TEXAS:
Texas primary is March 3, 2026, runoff, if necessary, May 26, 2026.
1. File a ‘Declaration of Intent to Run as an independent Candidate’ between November 8, 2025 and December 8, 2025;
2. After the primary, gather 500 signatures from registered voters that did not vote in the primary;
3. Submit the Nominating Petition and the Candidate Application by June 5, 2026;
4. Federal Candidate Application by June 5, 2026
5. Maximum number of signatures required: 500
6. Fee: $0.00
ARIZONA:
1. File a Statement of Interest
2. File a Nomination Paper declaring candidacy
3. File a Nomination Petition with signatures equal to or greater than 3% of all registered voters in the relevant jurisdiction who are not registered with a recognized political party. In District 2 there are 172,000 non-aligned registered voter, so approximately 5,200 signatures from ANY registered voters in that district would be required.
4. Fee: $0.00
IF Independent candidates took up PROJECT1305 banner, both parties may have difficulty co-opting and supporting it due to their fear of loss of power and control. But that would put them on the wrong side of why the Revolutionary War was fought in the first place.
With 2026 being America's 250 year anniversary, Ken Burns' 'The American Revolution' (which too few people will watch), and all the media and events leading up to celebrations I cannot think of any cause so timely, and so simple as talking about OUR lack of Representation, OUR loss of Voice, and the importance of getting more average Americans' Voices to be heard in Congress. It's not about issues or politics - it's simply about reclaiming what OUR Founders intended in sacrificing their lives and families.
My educational website PROJECT1305.org explains well (I think)
This was a helpful article but I wish it also talked about how to bring about change, however remote that chance might be. Things like ranked choice voting and overturning Citizens United, what it would take to make them happen.