Third-party and independent candidates for the 2012 United States presidential election
This article contains lists of official third-party and independent candidates associated with the 2012 United States presidential election.
"Third party" is a term commonly used in the United States to refer to political parties other than the two major parties, the Democratic Party and Republican Party. An independent candidate is one who runs for office with no formal party affiliation.
Those listed as candidates have done one or more of the following: formally announced they are candidates in the 2012 presidential election, filed as candidates with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and/or received the presidential nomination of their respective party. They are listed alphabetically by surname within each section.
Ballot access to 270 or more electoral votes
vote totals on ballots representing 270 electoral votes. All other candidates were on the ballots of fewer than 10 states, 100 electors, and less than 20% of voters nationwide.
No candidates were "spoilers", i.e. having a greater total in any state greater than the margin between the top two candidates.
Libertarian Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Candidates
Declined to run
The following people were the focus of presidential speculation in past media reports, but ultimately decided to not run for the nomination of the Libertarian Party.
Ron Paul, U.S. Representative of Texas, candidate for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination, and 1988 Libertarian Presidential nominee.
Wayne Allyn Root of Nevada, entrepreneur and 2008 Libertarian vice-presidential nominee.
Green Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Candidates
Declined to run
The following people were the focus of presidential speculation in past media reports, but ultimately decided to not run for the nomination of the Green Party.
Jello Biafra, musician and Green Party activist of California
Van Jones, former White House Green Jobs Czar
Americans Elect
No nominee
Americans Elect announced on May 17, 2012, that it would not field a candidate for president, as no candidate garnered enough support in the organization's online primary to reach its self-imposed threshold for the nomination.
Ballot access
Candidates
The following were the only four declared candidates to achieve more than 1,000 supporters for the presidential nomination of Americans Elect prior to the organization's announcement that it would not field a 2012 presidential candidate:
Declined to run
The following people were the focus of presidential speculation in past media reports, but ultimately decided to not run for the nomination of Americans Elect.
Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks
Constitution Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Candidates
Declined to run
The following people were the focus of presidential speculation in past media reports, but ultimately decided to not run for the nomination of the Constitution Party.
Roy Moore, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court
Justice Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Ballot access to fewer than 270, but more than 50 electoral votes
Party for Socialism and Liberation
Nominee
Ballot access
American Independent Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Candidates
Peace and Freedom Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Candidates
Socialist Workers Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Socialist Party USA
Nominee
Ballot access
Ballot access to fewer than 50 electoral votes
America's Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Objectivist Party
Nominee
Ballot access
American Third Position Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Reform Party USA
Nominee
Ballot access
Candidates
Socialist Equality Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Grassroots Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Prohibition Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Candidate
No ballot access
Boston Tea Party
No nominee – the Boston Tea Party dissolved itself on July 22, 2012, citing decline in membership activity.
Former Nominee
Freedom Socialist Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Modern Whig Party
Nominee
Ballot access
Independent
Ballot access
Alabama, Iowa, Oregon, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming are not listed below unless the candidate has been directly placed on the ballot.
The following are the additional candidates who qualified for ballot status in at least one state (bolded) or as a formally recognized write-in candidate (italics):
Richard Duncan (Independent) – Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Ohio, West Virginia
Samm Tittle (We The People) – Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Utah, West Virginia