Five third-party races to follow in Tuesday’s election

While the mainstream media focuses on the duopoly candidates, there are other choices on the ballot.

From Illinois to Wyoming, and from Arkansas to California, third-party candidates are in it to win it. They can also pose a serious electoral threat as a result. In some races, they’re three-way races in hot contention. Others may be head-to-head against a Democrat or a Republican. In rare instances, the candidate is the only option on the ballot.

As we count down with two days until Election Day, it should be important five out of many races that we intend to follow on election night across the nation.

Wyoming House 55 election: Ember Oakley (R), Bethany Baldes (L)

Bethany Baldes could quite possibly make history on Tuesday night.

Baldes is making her second consecutive and third overall attempt for the seat after losing for longtime lawmaker David Miller in 2018 by an incredibly close margin. The margin in that contest: 53 votes.

After two decades in office, Miller made a decision not to seek a re-election bid. In his stead is Ember Oakley, a similarly conservative candidate with an extensive background in Wyoming state politics.

Both candidates have their own share of endorsements. Oakley has secured the endorsement from some top political voices in Wyoming. However, Baldes has some endorsements to her credit. Three of them come from prominent local Republicans, including Riverton mayor Rich Gard, state Rep. Timothy Salazar and also Miller.

Race could be incredibly close

Projections show this could also be a close election. A recent forecast from the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics reflects this could be a race potentially in favor of Baldes.

Election analyst Chaz Nuttycombe recently changed the district rating went from a toss-up race to leaning Libertarian. This is according to recent campaign finance reports.

Baldes’ campaign is part of a statewide campaign being backed by the national Libertarian Party known as the Libertarian Frontier Project. It is an initiative for Libertarians to be elected in several states in the American far west.