The Disadvantages of the Two-Party System

For more than 150 years, Democrats and Republicans have dominated American politics. This two-party system shapes nearly every election and policy debate in the United States. Some see it as a source of stability. But for others, it’s a barrier to fair representation.

The disadvantages of the two-party system go well beyond partisan disagreements. They limit your choices as a voter, withhold power from outsiders, and make it harder for fresh ideas and candidates to break through. These challenges play out in different ways at the local, state, and federal levels. All these problems come from the same thing: a system built to keep two major parties in control.

What Is the Two-Party System?

A two-party system is when two big parties control most elected offices and decisions. In the United States, that’s the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

Some other countries also have two major parties in their government, like the United Kingdom, Australia, or Canada. However, the government systems in those countries also make room for smaller parties to compete. In those countries, third parties win federal elections and have influence in the government. 

The presence of third parties can also prevent any single party from being too powerful. The United States is unique in the way our two major parties shut out competition from Independent or third-party candidates. For instance, in 2021, five parties won in Canada’s federal election. But in the last federal election in the United States, no third-party candidates won at all. 

Although third-party and Independent candidates can run and sometimes win here, it’s more challenging at higher levels of office. Barriers like ballot access laws, fundraising challenges, and a lack of media coverage make federal races especially difficult. At the local level, Independent or nonpartisan wins are far more common. Ultimately, local races often focus on community priorities rather than national party agendas. 

The same core disadvantages built into our two-party system still exist locally, but they tend to be less intense than at the state or federal level.

Disadvantages of the Two-Party System

The two-party system may affect voters differently depending on where they live and whether they’re voting locally or in federal elections. However, the core problems are the same.

#1: Limited Political Diversity and Choice

At every level of government, the two-party system limits who can run for office and reasonably expect to win. If you don’t like one party’s ideas, your only other option tends to be the other major party.

This dynamic is most obvious at the federal level, where we typically need to choose between Democrats and Republicans for any office. But it still shows up locally, especially in places where local races are partisan. The result is a political landscape that doesn’t reflect voters' diverse wants and needs.

Some of the ways this lack of choice shows up include:

• Voting for the lesser of two evils instead of feeling authentic support for a candidate.

• Voters staying home instead of voting because neither major party offers a candidate they trust.

• Grassroots candidates feeling pressure to run under a major party banner rather than as an Independent or third-party candidate.

These factors push voters into a situation where they feel like they only have two options. Since 43% of Americans identify as politically Independent, our votes don’t fully show the range of views in this country.

LEARN MORE: Explore how voting for Independent candidates can solve political apathy.

#2: Misrepresentation of Voter Preferences

Winner-take-all elections often leave large groups of voters unrepresented. The biggest example is presidential elections. If nearly half of the electorate votes for the losing candidate, their perspectives won’t get a seat at the table for the next four years. But that same scenario happens with every election at every level of politics. 

This problem is especially visible in:

• Federal races where the millions of votes for losing candidates are effectively discarded.

• Partisan local races, where only a handful of votes often decide races, still result in one party-aligned candidate winning it all and being responsible for 100% of the representation.

• Communities with many priorities where voters are forced to choose the “closest fit” instead of a true match.

In smaller communities, Independent and third-party candidates have better shots at winning. Voters can vote in ways that more closely align with their values. But that can only happen if diverse candidates run for office and people show up to vote. Without those factors, the same major-party dominance can play out locally, just on a smaller scale.

LEARN MORE: See why diversity of thought and demographics is so crucial in politics. 

#3: Barriers to Independent and Third-Party Candidates

Running outside the two-party system often means starting at a disadvantage. Even popular, well-organized candidates face steep logistical and financial obstacles.

These barriers can include:

• Restrictive ballot access laws that vary by state and city. 

• Needing thousands of signatures or paying high fees to get on the ballot.

• Party-controlled fundraising networks that exclude outsiders.

• Debate and media access rules that keep non-major candidates off the stage.

In local politics, getting on the ballot can be easier. Yet, difficulties with raising money and gaining name recognition still apply. Additionally, local chapters of the major parties often throw their support behind their preferred candidates, even in so-called nonpartisan races.

Together, these factors make it harder for fresh voices to compete, even in races where voters are hungry for alternatives.

#4: Polarization and Gridlock

Two-party politics are built on opposition over collaboration, and the major parties want to keep it that way. This creates an environment where legislative wins are often measured by how much the other party loses.

This gridlock takes several forms:

• Partisan stalemates that prevent urgent bills from getting attention.

• A policy “seesaw” where new laws are reversed each time power changes hands.

• Erosion of public trust as parties focus more on winning headlines than solving problems.

The 118th Congress passed fewer than 150 bills in two years, while the previous Congress passed over 350. That makes the Congress of 2023 to 2025 the least productive in decades. 

Polarization tends to be less intense in nonpartisan local governments. However, it’s creeping into city councils, school boards, and county commissions. The result is that even urgent community issues can become partisan battlegrounds.

LEARN MORE: Check out the effects of political polarization and some ways we can fix it. 

#5: The Influence of Money and Partisan Favoritism

Money plays a major role in who gets elected. In our two-party system, big donors often have the most influence.

That influence shows up in ways like:

• Special interest groups and PACs shaping policy priorities.

• Major donors receiving special treatment and rewards, such as contracts or appointments.

• Elected officials spending more time fundraising than engaging with constituents.

Local races are generally less expensive, but incumbents and well-connected candidates still benefit from financial and institutional advantages. In both local and national elections, party-backed candidates have easier access to money from major donors. 

The result is a system where money often speaks louder than votes.

LEARN MORE: Understand how deep the corruption of big money goes, even in local elections. 

#6: Narrow Policy Debate and Stifled Innovation

When two parties dominate the political landscape, fewer ideas get serious attention. Ideas outside the party platforms often get ignored. This keeps innovative or unconventional solutions out of the conversation.

Common examples of how this happens include:

• Fresh proposals being dismissed because they don’t fit neatly into a party platform.

• Third-party candidates polling well early in campaigns but losing support as voters worry about wasting their votes.

• Media framing that treats non-major candidates as novelties rather than serious contenders.

At the local level, there’s sometimes more space for creativity, especially in nonpartisan city governments. However, the influence of local party affiliates can still limit bold ideas from reaching voters.

Over time, this dynamic leads to repetitive campaign messaging and fewer policy breakthroughs.

#7: Voter Disillusionment and Declining Trust

When voters feel trapped between two inadequate options, their trust in the political system erodes. Many non-voters aren’t disengaged because they don’t care. They’ve simply stopped believing their participation will make a difference.

This lack of trust can look like:

• Skipping elections altogether.

• Avoiding political news and community meetings.

• Voting reluctantly for a candidate they don’t support just to block the other side from winning.

Local elections can sometimes overcome this with personal connections and issue-based campaigning. Many people don’t know when local elections happen, so turnout stays low, and many voters feel disconnected from politics as a whole.

This lack of trust weakens democratic participation at every level.

LEARN MORE: To learn what advantages this system holds, check out our guide to the pros and cons of the two-party system. 

Breaking the Two-Party Barrier

While it’s rare for candidates outside the two major parties to win high-profile offices, it’s not impossible. These victories show that breaking through is possible, even if the odds are steep.

Notable state and federal Independent or third-party officeholders include:

• Senator Bernie Sanders (I–VT), the longest-serving Independent in U.S. congressional history.

• Senator Angus King (I–ME), who also served two terms as an Independent governor before joining the Senate.

• Justin Amash, former U.S. Representative from Michigan, who served from 2011 to 2021; he became an Independent in 2019 and later joined the Libertarian Party in 2020.

• Jesse Ventura, former Governor of Minnesota, elected in 1998 on the Reform Party ticket.

• Bill Walker, Independent Governor of Alaska from 2014 to 2018, the most recent Independent to hold a governorship.

These wins make headlines because they’re unusual. While these examples show that it’s possible to break through at higher levels, the clearest and most consistent path to doing so starts locally.

Why Local Elections Matter for Independents

In community-level elections, the picture is very different. Independents and nonpartisan candidates consistently win across the country, in city council, school board, and county-level races. These elections often focus on solving community issues instead of pushing party platforms, so voters are more open to grassroots candidates.

Winning locally matters because:

• Independents and third-party candidates can better represent their community and solve problems without being tied to a party agenda.

• Candidates can build governing experience and credibility to help them run for higher levels of government in the future.

• Candidates can build the networks and donor relationships needed for larger campaigns.

• Communities become more open to leaders outside the two-party system and feel more comfortable voting for those candidates in larger elections. 

Every local win chips away at the perception that politics is only for the two major parties. Over time, a strong bench of Independent leaders can influence policy, shift public opinion, and make state and federal victories more achievable.

How We Fix the Two-Party System

Breaking the two-party system is about changing the rules that make it so dominant in the first place. 

Solutions include:

• Electoral reforms like ranked choice voting, approval voting, or proportional representation, which give voters more choices without “splitting the vote.”

• Open primaries that allow all voters, not just registered party members, to participate in candidate selection.

• Fairer ballot access laws so Independent and third-party candidates can compete without facing excessive signature requirements or filing fees.

• Campaign finance reform to limit the outsized influence of big donors and special interests.

• Voter engagement and education to encourage people to look beyond party labels and evaluate candidates on their ideas and qualifications.

These changes won’t happen overnight, but the more we change the rules and build a pipeline of local leaders, the closer we get to a system where voters truly have choices.

LEARN MORE: Boost your civic knowledge with our beginner’s guide to politics. 

The Path to Reform Starts in Your Community

The disadvantages of the two-party system show up differently at the local, state, and national levels, but the pattern is clear. It limits political diversity, stifles fresh ideas, fuels division, and erodes trust in government.

Local elections are where the two-party system’s grip is weakest and where change starts. Every Independent victory at the local level helps shift public expectations, proves alternative candidates can govern effectively, and chips away at the barriers to higher office. By building a deep bench of local leaders, we make it more possible for Independents to compete and win at the state and federal levels. 

GoodParty.org is here to help make that future possible. We empower Independent and nonpartisan candidates across the country with free and low-cost tools, strategy insights, and campaign support.

Photo by Akshika Singh on Unsplash