Final answer:
Third parties struggle in the U.S. due to the winner-take-all system which favors the two major parties, strategic voting by the electorate, and electoral rules that benefit Democrats and Republicans. Voters' tendency to avoid 'wasted votes' and the considerable resources of the major parties further hinder third-party success.
Step-by-step explanation:
Third parties struggle to secure seats in the House due to the entrenched two-party system in the United States. The winner-take-all electoral system signifies that third-party candidates must compete against the two dominant parties, Democrats and Republicans, who have established voter bases and significant resources at their disposal. Consequently, votes for third-party candidates are often viewed as wasted since they are unlikely to win. Additionally, voters tend to cast strategic votes for who they believe will win, rather than risking their vote on a party they see as non-viable.
The two major parties have also shaped election rules to their advantage, including ballot access restrictions that make it more challenging for third parties to compete. The media's focus on the leading parties further reinforces voters' perceptions of third party candidates as unlikely to succeed. Therefore, without significant voter support and resources, third parties face substantial barriers to winning elections and sustaining a voter base.
Despite a growing number of Americans identifying as independents, the two-party system persists, causing many to cast votes not for their ideal candidate, but for the lesser of two evils to prevent an undesirable outcome. This strategy perpetuates the two-party dominance, as third-party movements, while occasionally influential, have not yet been able to break the cycle and establish themselves as a sustainable alternative in the U.S. political landscape.