In the context of U.S. politics, the term “third party” refers to any political party that is not one of the two dominant parties, typically the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Third parties aim to represent specific interests or ideologies that are often overlooked by the major parties. Although they can influence electoral outcomes and public policy discussions, third parties face significant challenges such as limited funding, ballot access, and media coverage, making it difficult to gain traction in a system largely dominated by a two-party framework.