The Working Families Party is betting on 2026 as the perfect time for a third US political party, following a string of victories and a growing desire among voters for an alternative to the two major parties. 'For 26 years, we've been building this argument, and the argument has met the moment,' said Maurice Mitchell, the national director. The party, founded in 1998, has already made significant strides, helping elect Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor and working to remove an unfair electoral process in New Jersey. They've also seen their endorsed candidates win across the country, including in Dayton, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York.
In the upcoming midterms, the party will focus on primary elections, supporting candidates who prioritize working-class politics and challenge the status quo. The Working Families Party describes itself as a multiracial party that fights for workers and people over the powerful, aiming to build an America that realizes freedom and equality for all. 'Less and less people are identifying as being a Democrat or Republican,' Mitchell noted, 'The brand of the Democratic and Republican parties are underwater consistently.'
The party's success is partly due to the Democratic Party's waning appeal to some voters, who see them as too moderate or unwilling to fight for their interests. Working Families has capitalized on this, attracting those who previously identified as Democrats. 'We cook what we have in the kitchen,' Mitchell said, referring to the party's ability to endorse candidates from both the Democratic and Working Families parties.
The party is now active in 18 states, with a growing membership and staff. They've made inroads in non-political spaces, too, using tactics like organizing 'Real Housewives of Politics' events to engage fans of the TV show. 'As much as I disagree with Maga and Trump, that is their political project: winning a world,' Mitchell said, contrasting the Working Families Party's approach with that of the Democrats, who are focused on winning elections.
The party believes 2026 will be a wave year for the left, and they're actively recruiting candidates for state legislatures, aiming to flip chambers and make a significant impact. 'If there's going to be a wave election, the ink hasn't been dried on the character of that wave, who led that wave, and how that wave was won,' Mitchell said, emphasizing the party's ambition and determination. 'I believe that our time has come.'
