For decades, the share of Americans who identify politically as either Republican or Democrat has been eroding. Meanwhile, the ranks of self-described independent voters have swelled – and this trend shows few signs of slowing. A June 2023 Gallup poll found that 44% of Americans consider themselves independent, up from 38% a month earlier. Meanwhile, the share of Americans who fall into one of the two major political parties has not exceeded 30% since October 2022.Â
While most independent voters tend to lean either Republican or Democrat in national elections, their refusal to identify with either of the parties is telling. As one Gallup analyst explained in an interview with Axios, the growing number of independents partially reflects public pessimism toward the two parties and their ability to effectively govern. Indeed, the share of Americans with unfavorable views of both parties surged from 6% in 1994 to 27% in 2022, according to the Pew Research Center. Â
Not surprisingly, independents are the voting demographic most likely to be receptive to supporting a third party candidate. And one of the most prominent third parties operating in the United States today is the Green Party – a left-wing organization with a platform focused on environmental protection, universal access to health care, and both social and monetary justice. (Here is a look at the 15 cities raising the minimum wage this summer.)
Though the Green Party has fielded a candidate in each of the last four presidential elections, they have rarely garnered more than 1% of the popular vote. While third party candidates, like those in the Green Party, lack the mass appeal of their major party counterparts, at state and local levels, they have proven far more successful.Â
Using data from GPUS Elections Database, a Green Party candidate tracker, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most Green Party members serving in public office. States are ranked by the number of Green Party public officials in office, and in the case of a tie, states are listed in alphabetical order. Only Green Party members who were elected as party members were considered in this ranking.Â
According to the database, there are currently 18 states where Green Party members have been elected by the public. The offices held by Green Party candidates range from school board members and county public works officials to town and city mayoral positions and even statewide circuit court justices. (Here is a look at the most and least popular governors in America.)
Supplementary data on the number of registered voters in each state as of 2022 and the share of registered voters who participated in the November 2022 national elections are from the U.S. Census Bureau. The states on this list tend to be home to a larger than typical number of registered voters. Of the 18 states where Green Party members hold offices, 15 rank in the top 50th percentile of states by number of registered voters.Â
Click here to see 18 states where green party holds office.Â
18. Colorado
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 1
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City
> Total registered voters in state: 3,162,000 (22nd most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 85.0% of registered voters (the highest of 50 states)
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17. Indiana
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 1
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: County
> Total registered voters in state: 3,259,000 (19th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 63.1% of registered voters (2nd lowest of 50 states)
16. Missouri
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 1
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City
> Total registered voters in state: 3,532,000 (16th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 69.6% of registered voters (8th lowest of 50 states)
Source: Zachary Justus / iStock via Getty Images
15. Ohio
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 1
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: Village
> Total registered voters in state: 5,890,000 (7th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 70.7% of registered voters (14th lowest of 50 states)
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14. South Carolina
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 1
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: County
> Total registered voters in state: 2,491,000 (25th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 69.7% of registered voters (9th lowest of 50 states)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
13. Wisconsin
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 1
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: County
> Total registered voters in state: 3,225,000 (21st most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 84.2% of registered voters (4th highest of 50 states)
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12. Minnesota
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 2
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City
> Total registered voters in state: 3,255,000 (20th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 82.3% of registered voters (7th highest of 50 states)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
11. Virginia
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 2
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: County
> Total registered voters in state: 4,487,000 (11th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 71.7% of registered voters (18th lowest of 50 states)
Source: Jon Bilous / iStock via Getty Images
10. West Virginia
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 2
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: County
> Total registered voters in state: 877,000 (12th fewest of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 61.3% of registered voters (the lowest of 50 states)
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
9. Michigan
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 3
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City, township
> Total registered voters in state: 5,797,000 (8th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 82.1% of registered voters (8th highest of 50 states)
Source: Purdue9394 / iStock via Getty Images
8. Illinois
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 4
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City/town
> Total registered voters in state: 6,110,000 (6th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 75.3% of registered voters (25th lowest of 50 states)
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7. New York
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 4
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: Town, village
> Total registered voters in state: 8,897,000 (4th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 74.5% of registered voters (22nd lowest of 50 states)
6. Massachusetts
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 6
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City/town, school/school district
> Total registered voters in state: 3,618,000 (14th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 76.7% of registered voters (21st highest of 50 states)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
5. Connecticut
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 7
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City/town
> Total registered voters in state: 1,778,000 (22nd fewest of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 70.5% of registered voters (11th lowest of 50 states)
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4. Pennsylvania
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 9
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City/town, borough, school district
> Total registered voters in state: 7,009,000 (5th most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 83.4% of registered voters (5th highest of 50 states)
Source: Alexander Fattal / iStock via Getty Images
3. Oregon
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 10
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: Statewide, city/town, county
> Total registered voters in state: 2,581,000 (23rd most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 84.7% of registered voters (2nd highest of 50 states)
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2. California
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 22
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City/town, county, school/school district, township, neighborhood
> Total registered voters in state: 17,032,000 (the most of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 76.6% of registered voters (22nd highest of 50 states)
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1. Maine
> Num. of Green Party members in public office: 57
> Jurisdiction level(s) governed by Green Party members: City/town, county, Native American reservation, school/school district
> Total registered voters in state: 856,000 (11th fewest of 50 states)
> November 2022 election turnout: 84.3% of registered voters (3rd highest of 50 states)
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