Fox News Poll: Voters Back Third Party, Not Elon Musk's

Public Support for a Third Political Party

A recent national survey by Fox News reveals that more than half of voters support the idea of a third major political party, but this support comes with a significant caveat. The survey found that 53% of respondents believe it is a good idea to have a third major party, compared to 42% who think it is a bad idea. This represents a slight decline from a 27-point margin in 2010 when the question was last asked.

The support varies significantly across different political groups. Independents are the most enthusiastic about the concept, with a 44-point advantage in favor of a third party. Democrats also show strong support, with a 20-point lead, while Republicans are more divided, with a 9-point majority believing it is a bad idea.

Shifts in Political Sentiment

The drop in support since 2010 is largely attributed to a shift among Republicans. In 2010, 50% of Republicans viewed a third party as a good idea, compared to 37% who saw it as a bad one. This 13-point advantage has now reversed, with Republicans now more likely to see it as a negative option.

Daron Shaw, a Republican pollster involved in conducting the survey, noted that the anger and disappointment with both parties in 2010 fueled the tea party movement. This time around, the dissatisfaction seems to be coming from Democrats, indicating a change in the political landscape.

Elon Musk's Influence

Despite the general support for a third party, there is a clear line drawn when it comes to leadership. Most voters, 75%, are "not very" or "not at all" open to supporting a party created by Elon Musk. Only 22% express being "extremely" or "very" open to such an idea.

Men, especially Republican men, are more likely to support a Musk-led party. Men under the age of 45 and White men without a college degree also show higher levels of openness. Independents (32%) and Republicans (31%) are roughly 20 points more likely than Democrats (11%) to support a Musk-run party.

Voter Dissatisfaction with Major Parties

The desire for a third party stems partly from voter dissatisfaction with both major parties. A majority of voters, 64%, believe the Democratic Party lacks a clear plan for addressing the country's issues, while 54% feel the same about the GOP.

The survey also included questions on the role of third parties. About 6 in 10 voters agree that third parties are desperately needed because the two major parties are failing to address voter concerns. However, another 6 in 10 think third-party candidates are just spoilers that distract from the main options.

Differing Perspectives on Third Parties

Democrats and Republicans are more likely to view third-party candidates as spoilers, while independents tend to disagree. Majorities of independents (76%) and Democrats (67%) believe a new party is needed, whereas Republicans are split, with 49% agreeing and 50% disagreeing.

Additionally, about 4 in 10 voters feel that third-party candidates are less qualified than those from the two major parties. More Republicans (51%) hold this view compared to Democrats (41%) and independents (33%).

Perception of the Political System

Voters are more decisive when it comes to the fairness of the political system. 70% believe the system is rigged against third parties, with high percentages across all political groups: 73% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans, and 76% of independents.

Shaw notes that the survey highlights the dilemma for third parties in the U.S. "Voters want another choice, but don’t particularly like the options they’ve seen and are reluctant to back candidates they think are doomed."

Methodology

The survey was conducted from July 18-21, 2025, by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research. It included interviews with 1,000 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (114) and cellphones (636) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (250). The results have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points.