The two political parties feed extremism. A third-party is the answer | Opinion

Murderous extremism is on the rise on both ends of the political spectrum. As people mourn right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, others are still coming to terms with the equally senseless assassination of Minnesota Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband. There were two assassination attempts against President Donald Trump (then a former president and candidate) last year and an attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro this spring.

It is good to see some Democratic and Republican lawmakers call for an end to political violence. But these statements are far too little, far too late. Both parties have allowed this problem to not just fester but worsen. And lawmakers on both sides have spent far too much time accusing the other side of fomenting violence rather than doing the hard work within their own camps. Meanwhile, support for political violence has increased among Democrats and Republicans, a survey shows.

With such polarization overtaking our society, young people have discovered something: If they pick the far left or far right and post or stream their messaging, they’re rewarded with clicks and follows. Party leaders reach out to and pose with some of the most incendiary speakers on each side — even those excusing and justifying the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol or the Oct. 7, 2023, massacres by the terrorist group Hamas in Israel.

This isn’t getting better. Our society is being ripped down the middle by our two-party system. The only solution is to reduce the power of the extremes.

It’s time to end the duopoly. The two parties are benefiting from dehumanizing and endangering each other. The more divisive their candidates are, the more media attention they get — and name recognition can be the biggest key to winning an election. In this system, common sense candidates who offer pragmatic plans and refuse to demonize the other side often get no traction.

Americans want a third party to shake things up. Last October, a majority (58%) agreed that a third major party is needed in the U.S. because Republicans and Democrats poorly represent the American people, Gallup found. And in July, a Quinnipiac survey found that about half of voters (49%) would consider joining a third party — even more than those who said they would not consider doing so (45%).

I may seem like an unlikely messenger for this, given that I’m currently in office as a Republican. But I’m living proof that we can step outside of the “us vs. them” mentality.

I briefly worked with those trying to get the Forward Party on the ballot when I was considering a second run for the Texas Railroad Commission. Then, when voters in my West Texas district asked me to run for district attorney, I entered the race as a Republican. I am a lifelong constitutional conservative, and there were no other Republicans running.

Since winning and becoming district attorney of the 143rd Judicial District, I have continued to call out corruption and failures by leaders in our state government, which is under the firm grip of the state GOP. Recently, I publicly challenged Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s obsession with banning marijuana while violent crimes need the attention and focus of the law enforcement community.

We don’t have to fall for the duopoly’s dangerous game of “pick a side.” We can have independent voices. We can get media attention by standing for what’s right in ways that get clicks. We can challenge each party from the outside and from within.

This is true across the country, and it’s true right here in Texas, where “friendship” is our motto, and “don’t mess with Texas” is our rallying cry. Combine those two, and we have our marching orders.

Sarah Stogner is district attorney of Texas’ 143rd Judicial District. Learn more at sarahstogner.com.