In November 2010, the percentage of voters who cast a vote for an independent or minor party for U.S. House was 3.28% of the total vote cast for U.S. House. The November 2012 percentage can’t be known exactly until the New York State Board of Elections reports the final vote, but it appears it was also 3.3%.

It is somewhat surprising that the “other” vote for U.S. House in 2012 didn’t decline substantially. In November 2010, there was a ballot-listed choice besides “Democrat” or “Republican” in 69% of the districts. But in November 2012, there was a ballot-listed choice other than “Democrat” or “Republican” in only 56% of the districts. The chief reason for the decline in U.S. districts with another choice is that, starting in 2012, California used the top-two system. Whereas 29 California districts in 2010 gave voters a choice other than the major parties, in 2012 only four districts gave voters such a choice.

Another reason for the decline between 2010 and 2012 is that Illinois had the Green Party on the ballot in 2010, but in 2012 there were no ballot-qualified minor parties in that state. Whereas Illinois had 13 districts with an “other” choice on the ballot in 2010, in 2012 there were only five such districts. Two Greens petitioned, and three independent candidates petitioned.

Extrapolating the 2012 data, one could conclude that if all U.S. House districts in 2012 had given voters an “other” choice on the ballot, the “other” vote in 2012 nationally would have been 5.8% of the total vote cast. For purposes of this blog post, the nation is considered to have 436 members of the U.S. House; the District of Columbia Delegate vote is included in all calculations. Also for purposes of these calculations, votes cast for minor parties are considered “other” votes, even if the minor party had cross-endorsed a major party nominee. Finally, write-in votes are excluded from the calculation, unless the write-in candidate was officially supported by a particular party and that particular party had no ballot-listed member on the ballot.

Four minor party nominees in 2012 partisan statewide races carried counties. In Vermont, Cassandra Gekas, Progressive Party member-nominee for Lieutenant Governor, carried Bennington and Windham Counties. Vermont has fourteen counties. The Democratic Party had cross-endorsed Gekas, but she appeared on the ballot as “Progressive, Democrat”, indicating she considered herself a member of the Progressive Party. Vermont does not have registration by party, so the only official way a fusion candidate lets the public know the party of membership is by the order of party labels on the ballot.

In Georgia, David Staples, Libertarian nominee for Public Service Commission, carried Clayton, DeKalb, and Hancock Counties. Staples was in a two-person race with a Republican. Georgia has 159 counties.

In Montana, Mike Fellows, Libertarian nominee for Clerk of the Supreme Court, carried 27 counties: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Carter, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Garfield, Golden Valley, Granite, Judith Basin, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Musselshell, Petroleum, Powder River, Prairie, Ravalli, Sanders, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, and Wibaux. Montana has 56 counties. Fellows was in a two-person race with the Democratic incumbent.

In Texas, Jaime O. Perez, Libertarian nominee for Railroad Commission, short term, carried 9 counties: Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala. Texas has 254 counties. Perez was one of four Libertarian statewide nominees who ran in a race with no Democrat. Ironically, of the four Libertarians in such races, Perez received the lowest statewide percentage, 18.32%. However, none of the other three Libertarians in races without a Democrat carried any counties. None of the other three had Hispanic surnames; their names were Koelsch (21.22%), Bennett (22.12%), and Strange (21.93%). Thanks to commenter #1 for the Texas part of this post.

Among the four states discussed in this post, only Texas has a straight-ticket device on the ballot.

The United States has been holding popular elections for U.S. Senate starting in 1914. In November 2012, in four states, minor party or independent candidates for U.S. Senate polled the highest percentage ever, for non-major party candidates for U.S. Senate within that state.

In Maryland, independent U.S. Senate candidate S. Rob Sobhani polled 16.38% in a four-candidate race. The previous best showing for U.S. Senate in Maryland for a non-major party candidate had been George P. Mahoney, who had polled 13.10% in 1968.

In Maine, independent U.S. Senate candidate Angus King won the election with 52.89%. The previous best showing for U.S. Senate in Maine by a non-major party candidate had been Hayes E. Gahagan, who had received 7.42% in 1978.

In Missouri, Libertarian U.S. Senate nominee Jonathan Dine received 6.07%. The previous best showing in that state had been by the Progressive Party nominee in 1914, Arthur N. Sager, who had polled 4.47%.

In Vermont, Bernie Sanders, independent incumbent, was re-elected with 71.06%, topping the record he had set for non-major party nominees for U.S. Senate in 2006, when he had polled 65.41%.