DO YOU FEEL THAT THE LEGACY PARTIES DON'T REPRESENT YOU?

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60% OF VOTERS WANT A NEW POLITICAL PARTY.

IF YOU'RE ONE OF THEM,
COME BUILD IT WITH US!

OUR VALUES

We believe everyday Americans should be able to decide what’s best for them and their communities.

That’s why we’re building a party that puts the power back in the hands of the American voter.

RULE OF LAW, RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION

RULE OF LAW

Members of the Forward Party uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and respect the outcomes of our free and fair elections.

SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY TO RESTORE THE VOTERS’ VOICE

SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY

Forward believes that our democracy works only when voters can make informed decisions and our systems are set up to empower and elevate the will of the voters. Elected officials must be accountable to their constituents. ​

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP

It is necessary for America to serve as an example of democracy and individual freedoms. Building alliances and stabilizing democracy across the globe is key to maintaining a safe world for ourselves and our children.

Build from the Bottom Up, Not the Top Down

BUILD FROM THE BOTTOM UP

Forward is building an organization designed to empower voters and local leaders. Forward won’t dictate a rigid, top-down policy platform and expect it to work for every community across the country.

Use Data to Drive Collaborative and Effective Solutions, Regardless of their Ideological Source

USE DATA TO DRIVE SOLUTIONS

Forward cares more about solving problems than being right. Good ideas come from the left, right, and center—or from completely new directions. Data, research, and a commitment to development should drive our discussions, and policy should be enacted with measurable outcomes.

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ARE CENTRAL TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND OUR FUTURE

INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

America has long won the global competition for talent and innovation. Our culture of entrepreneurship has constantly improved  living conditions both at home and abroad. The Forward Party is dedicated to ensuring that good new ideas are allowed to thrive.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

LIBERTY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND ENGAGEMENT

At the Forward Party, we believe that personal responsibility includes duties to care for our families however we define them, uplift our communities, and contribute to the greater good. It is through balancing our liberty with our duty to others in which the true American spirit thrives.

TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY

RESPECT AND DIGNITY

Forward believes in approaching one another with respect for the dignity that lives in each of us. Our policies and campaigns will seek to elevate and empower people to seek their unique version of the American Dream.

ACT WITH ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND COMPASSION

ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND COMPASSION

Forward leaders, members, and candidates are expected to act ethically and with integrity. That said, we are all fallible and make mistakes. At Forward, we are expected to admit them and work to rectify any harm we have caused.

BUILDING A PARTY

Hover over your state to learn more about our work there.

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WE BELIEVE EVERYDAY AMERICANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHAT'S BEST

That’s why we’re building a party that puts the power back in the hands of the American voter.


BUILDING A PARTY

NATIONAL SETS PRINCIPLES AND VALUES

STATE PARTIES SET PRIORITIES

STATES USE OUR PRINCIPLES AND VALUES TO WEIGH IN ON LEGISLATION

CANDIDATES TAKE POSITIONS ON POLICIES

VOTERS CHOOSE THE POLICIES VIA A PRIMARY CANDIDATE WHO BEST REPRESENTS THEM

BUILDING A PLATFORM

We believe a Party’s platform should be created by a process that elevates the voice of its membership. 

We are engaged in a process to organize, inform, and then poll Forward members to show which policies are supported.

Sign up now to add your voice to the conversation!

Problems
& solutions

PROBLEM:

VOTING SYSTEMS WITH BAD INCENTIVES


Our current election system creates the partisan division we see today by design. When voters can only pick one or the other, the “other” becomes the enemy. Voters are forced to pick between two bad choices because they’re told that if the other team wins, it’s the end of democracy as we know it. Convincing someone to never vote for your opponent is as effective as getting them to vote for you. Then, when a third option tries to come along and give voters a better choice, they’re a spoiler who will pull votes from the “good” candidate. All of this is caused by our “first past the post” voting system.

SOLUTION:

RANKED-CHOICE VOTING SYSTEMS


  • Implement ranked choice voting in all general elections in the US to eliminate the spoiler effect, and to allow voters to vote their conscience without worrying about wasting their vote.
  • Combine RCV with nonpartisan primaries in a Final Four or Final Five system to further eliminate the negative effects of partisan power on our government.
  • Note that Forward supports other solutions, such as STAR voting and Approval voting. RCV has momentum, but we leave it up to local parties and candidates to decide which reforms are best for their communities.

PROBLEM:

SHUTTING VOTERS OUT OF PRIMARIES


Our current primary system has a number of drawbacks. Partisan gerrymandering has resulted in the vast majority of districts being “safe,” meaning the winner of one party’s primary is the overwhelming favorite to win the general election because of the makeup of the electorate in that district. And since only a small percentage of party voters show up for primaries in those districts, those primary voters get to decide who wins in November. These voters are often the most partisan, meaning the candidate that wins the general election is the one that most appeals to the partisan members of their party.

SOLUTION:

NONPARTISAN PRIMARIES


  • Implement a Final Five Nonpartisan Primary system in as many jurisdictions as possible.
  • Allow all candidates to run together in the same primary, with all voters getting a voice in who will run in the general.
  • Tie this reform together with Ranked-Choice Voting (or a similar voting reform) so that candidates are required to build a broad coalition in order to succeed in the primary and general elections.

PROBLEM:

POLITICIANS CHOOSING THEIR VOTERS


Over 80% of Congressional districts are considered ‘safe’ seats—they are either clearly Republican or clearly Democratic. This reality is why Congress has a reelection rate of over 90% even though its approval rating is in the teens. This mismatch has been purposely engineered through gerrymandering—politicians picking their voters by drawing maps that have a very large share of their party’s voters, instead of voters picking their politicians. When the politicians can choose who gets to vote for them, they can ensure that they will continue to win, even if they’re unpopular. Voters should get to choose who represents them, not the other way around.

SOLUTION:

INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS


  • Implement independent or non-partisan redistricting commissions in every state.

  • Push for a federal law making redistricting that attempts to “crack” or “pack” voters into districts in order to maximize one party’s power in a state illegal.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

FAQ

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

Because it’s the right thing to do. Problems that affect our communities are left unsolved by two parties that would rather fundraise on them than fix them. Politically motivated violence driven by extreme partisanship has become alarmingly common and widespread. People are distraught, disillusioned, and scared for the future of our democracy. No wonder nearly 60% of American voters say they want a new party, and 50% are no longer members of either major party.

WHAT ARE YOUR POLICIES?

A fishing community in Alaska, a metropolis in the Midwest, and a rural county in Georgia aren’t necessarily going to have the same interests or priorities. Yet, the two major parties hand down one-size-fits-all national platforms and expect us all to conform to one or the other. Ridiculous. We’re reforming the system so that independent-minded candidates outside the two major parties have access to compete with them on equal footing in every state. The state Forward parties determine their own priorities, not Washington. And individual candidates develop innovative policy solutions around those priorities. The rest is up to the voters.

SO... WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR THEN?

Simple…we stand for the American people. We’ve been effectively shut out of the system, and it shows. But with more access, better choices, and a bigger voice at the table, the people will power a new American renaissance that breaks through dysfunction and heals our political culture. Through collaboration rather than polarization, we’ll advance realistic, sensible solutions that move us forward and past the extremes. Whether it’s abortion, climate change, or gun safety — the two major parties aren’t getting the job done. Keeping the fights going keeps them funded and employed, while the American people lose. Enough is enough. It’s time to move Not Left, Not Right, but Forward.

WON'T YOU BE A SPOILER?

No. The systemic reforms Forward supports eliminate the spoiler effect that drives voters to support the lesser of two evils. Our current “winner-take-all” electoral system is a zero-sum-game that rewards candidates for smearing their opponents and for taking extreme stances on highly divisive issues. With reforms like ranked-choice voting and open, nonpartisan primaries, candidates are instead incentivized to appeal to the majority of voters. There are 520,000+ elected positions in the U.S., but under the current system, 70+% are uncontested. How’s that working out for us? We believe everyone deserves better choices—for some of us, maybe for the first time ever.

WHO ARE YOUR CANDIDATES?

Any candidate who puts the interests of their constituents above ideology and works to heal divides rather than exploit them is a potential Forward candidate, whether they run on a Forward ticket or not. We’re unique in that we will cross-endorse candidates from other parties as well, if their values are in line with ours. So there are “Forward Democrats” and “Forward Republicans” out there, and we’re pleased to support them and work with them on shared priorities. Look here or on social media for updates about our official slate of candidates and endorsements ahead of local, state, and national elections.

ARE YOU RUNNING A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2024?

NO. The Forward Party will not run a presidential candidate in 2024. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to fix our politics, and seizing that opportunity takes precedence over the headline-grabbing spectacle of the presidential race, especially when the rules of that election are intentionally devised to preclude competition. Instead, our energy is concentrated on real, lasting change earned through the steady and deliberate work of electoral reform and national party building. Forward Party members are already engaged in that crucial work, gathering signatures and gaining legal recognition in states across the country.

THIRD PARTIES HAVE NEVER WORKED IN THE PAST. WHY WOULD FORWARD BE ANY DIFFERENT?

Third parties have worked in the past—that’s exactly how the Republican Party got started. They offered something new, different, and better at that moment in history. We think it’s time for something new, different, and better right now. The Forward Party is building a grassroots movement from the ground up, empowering local leaders instead of centralizing power. It’s about time a party put power back in the hands of the people.

IF I'M REGISTERED WITH ANOTHER PARTY, CAN I STILL JOIN FORWARD?

Absolutely. We don’t care about the letter next to your name. Forward is full of hardworking people from all across the political spectrum. If you are a problem-solver willing to work with people in good faith, you’re already a Forwardist—you just didn’t know it! So go ahead and make it official. Sign up today!

JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

FUEL THE MOVEMENT!

The 2024 election is over.
Not sure what to do now?

This election showed us that the country needs better options. The legacy parties won’t give them to us. 

We have to build something new.

CONTACT US