The more candidates in the race, the better for Donald J. Trump, supporters say. And in a tight presidential contest, a small share of voters could change the result.

This works because almost all the US uses first-past-the-post elections for the Presidential general election. So you get outcomes like this:

Scenario 1:

Biden: 10 votes

Trump: 9 votes

Kennedy/Stein/West: 0 votes

Biden wins the state

Scenario 2:

Biden: 9 votes

Trump: 9 votes

Kennedy/Stein/West: 1 vote

Tied vote, decided by game of chance/lawsuit

Scenario 3:

Biden: 8 votes

Trump: 9 votes

Kennedy/Stein/West: 2 votes

Trump wins the state

This is why you see huge financial support from Republican billionaires for third party candidates who have no chance of winning.

  • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
    162·
    7 months ago

    Trump Allies Russia has a Plan to Hurt Biden’s Chances: Elevate Outsider Candidates.

    • silence7@slrpnk.netOP
      14·
      7 months ago

      A lot of it is US billionaires:

      One thing we should expect is for all of the “major” third party candidates — Kennedy, Stein, West — to be funded in part by ultra-high-net-worth Republicans. That’s already happening to some degree.

      • Pan_Ziemniak
        2·
        7 months ago

        Well yeah, project 2025 is backed by the heritage foundation.