Third parties in U.S. elections face significant challenges, primarily due to the winner-takes-all system employed in most states, which discourages votes for non-major party candidates. This system leads to majoritarian domination, where two primary parties—Democrats and Republicans—perpetuate their own existence and limit third-party visibility. Additionally, third parties often struggle with funding, media coverage, and ballot access, as well as the perception that voting for them is a "wasted" vote. These barriers make it difficult for third parties to gain traction and impact the political landscape meaningfully.