Former Democrats and Republicans form third party

Former Republican and Democratic officials created a new national political third party for the millions of voters who are disappointed with the country’s two-party system. 

The new party, called Forward, will be co-chaired by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and former Republican New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Reuters reported. 

Founding members of the party told Reuters that they hope the party will be a viable alternative to the Republican and Democratic parties that dominate the U.S. political scene. 

“What is the main objection you hear to third parties? ‘They can’t compete.’ Well, we are demonstrating that we can generate the resources necessary to elevate and elect candidates around the country with the support of tens of thousands of Americans and millions of dollars of grassroots funding,” said Yang in a statement. 

Forward is a merger of three political groups that have reacted to the country's polarized political system. The merger includes the following groups: First, the Renew America Movement, formed in 2021 by former Republican officials of the Reagan, Bush, and Trump administrations. Second, the Forward Party, was founded by Yang after he left the Democratic Party and became independent. Lastly, the Serve America Movement, a group of Democrats, Republicans, and independents ran by former Republican congressmen David Jolly. 

The party labels itself as centrist. While it has no specific policies yet, the two pillars of the platform are to "reinvigorate a fair, flourishing economy" and to "give Americans more choices in elections, more confidence in a government that works, and more say in our future."

 "The fundamentals have changed," said Miles Taylor, former Homeland Security official under Trump who will be part of the new party. "When other third party movements have emerged in the past it's largely been inside a system where the American people aren't asking for an alternative."

"The difference here is we are seeing a historic number of Americans saying they want one," he added.

This autumn, Forward’s party leaders will hold a series in events in several cities to make their platform known and attract support. The party’s official launch will be held in Houston on September 24. 

The party aims to gain party registration and ballot access in 30 states by 2023, adding the rest of the states by late 2024. It aims to promote candidates for local rages, state houses, U.S. Congress, and the presidency. 

"How will we solve the big issues facing America? Not Left. Not Right. Forward," the party plans to say at its launch on Thursday.