Arizona has never elected an independent candidate to statewide office, to Congress, or to the state legislature, in all the years since it has been a state. But on November 4, an independent candidate for Justice of the Peace (a partisan office) was elected in Seligman. See this story.
This is the kind of victory we Independents and 3rd partisans really love to smile about. When a Independent or 3rd party candidate defeats BOTH a Democrat and a Republican, this is a real victory!
When a Independent or 3rd party candidates defeats only a Democrat or only a Republican, it still is a victory, but somehow the Independent or 3rd party candidate appears to be “helped” by the absence of one of the major parties. It’s as if the major party not participating in the race, has silently thrown their votes to the Independent or 3rd party candidate, and just enough Independent or 3rd party voters made up the difference for the victory.
And it is true, when the race is only a “two person” race, the odds are better for the Independent or 3rd party candidate.
Still, I’ll take victories for Independent and 3rd parties in any dimension they come in – two person or three person race.