Maryland voters will see five third‑party candidates on the November 3 general‑election ballot after the state Board of Elections completed certification on Monday. Among them is Sam Husseini, the Green Party’s nominee for the 4th Congressional District.
Signature requirements and limited resources
Unlike Democratic and Republican hopefuls, who secured their spots by winning party primaries, third‑party aspirants must first satisfy a state‑mandated petition process. Maryland law requires any party that failed to earn at least 1% of the vote for the highest office in the previous election to collect 10,000 valid voter signatures before it can place a candidate on the ballot.
The Green Party met that threshold in the 2024 presidential race when Jill Stein captured just over 1% of the state’s vote, allowing the party to retain ballot status for this cycle. The Working Class Party, however, fell short of the vote‑share test and had to rely on a separate effort, gathering more than 12,000 signatures to secure its gubernatorial running mates, Cathy White and Cathy Permut, on the final ballot.
Challenges beyond the petition
Even after certification, third‑party campaigns confront steep obstacles. Husseini acknowledged that “we don’t have the machinery that the establishment parties do,” noting the difficulty of translating public discontent into a viable campaign without the extensive fundraising networks, media exposure, and party infrastructure enjoyed by the two major parties.
Political science professor emeritus Matthew Crenson of Johns Hopkins University echoed the sentiment, stating, “You’re simply not a part of the game.” He highlighted how the signature requirement and lack of party recognition effectively marginalize a subset of voters who might otherwise seek alternatives to the traditional two‑party system.
Impact on debates and voter choice
Third‑party candidates also risk exclusion from high‑profile debates. Maryland Public Television has scheduled a debate on October 6 featuring incumbent Governor Wes Moore (D) and Republican challenger Dan Cox. State policy requires participants to achieve at least 10% in a public poll to qualify, a threshold that third‑party hopefuls rarely meet, leaving them out of the public discourse.
Despite these barriers, the certified candidates remain on the ballot, offering Maryland’s electorate additional choices on issues ranging from climate policy to economic reform. Their presence underscores ongoing debates about ballot‑access reform and the desire for a more inclusive democratic process.
What voters need to know
Maryland’s primary elections, held earlier this year, determined the Democratic and Republican nominees. Voters who are unaffiliated with either major party can still register as “unaffiliated” but must wait for the general election to see their preferred third‑party candidates on the ballot. Write‑in candidates have until October 15 to file paperwork, though their names will not appear on the printed ballot.
As the November 3 election approaches, the certified third‑party candidates will continue to campaign, seeking to overcome financial constraints and limited media access. Their efforts highlight the broader conversation about whether Maryland’s election laws fairly accommodate all political voices.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
