Why Join the Forward Party?

The System Isn't Broken; It's Rigged.

The two major political parties are addicted to a corrupt system they refuse to fix. Despite the existence of comprehensive, ready-to-pass legislation like the American Anti-Corruption Act, Democrats and Republicans refuse to act because the current rules guarantee their power. They rely on billions from special interests to maintain their duopoly, prioritizing corporate donors over everyday Americans. To maintain that power, each party demonizes those of the other party so neither must face the difficult questions regarding their own corruption.

The Forward Party is the necessary disruption to this rigged game. We are a movement dedicated to passing structural reforms, breaking the financial stranglehold of the establishment, and finally returning the government to the voters. Here is why the Forward Party is necessary for a fair and just civic life in the United States—and how we actually get there.

1. The Gerrymandering Crisis: Politicians Picking Their Voters

Gerrymandering is one of the most blatant ways the political duopoly disrupts free and fair elections. Instead of voters choosing their politicians, politicians use data software to draw their own district lines, legally rigging the map to guarantee their own re-election.

They do this using two primary tactics: "packing" (cramming as many opposition voters into a single district as possible to waste their voting power) and "cracking" (splitting opposition communities apart across multiple districts so they can never form a majority).

Gerrymandering, explained (The Washington Post) - Watch this 2-minute animation to see exactly how politicians use "packing" and "cracking" to legally rig election results before a single vote is even cast.

Here is the hard evidence of how this destroys our elections:

Mass Disenfranchisement: A comprehensive study by the Center for American Progress found that partisan gerrymandering artificially shifted the outcome of 59 U.S. House seats on average during recent election cycles. That effectively disenfranchised 42 million Americans by rendering their votes mathematically meaningless.
The Death of Competition: According to election tracking by the Cook Political Report, the vast majority of U.S. House seats (over 80%) are now completely uncompetitive in the general election because the maps are explicitly rigged to be "safe" for one party.
The "Primary Problem": Because the general election outcome is predetermined by the gerrymandered map, the winner is actually decided during closed, low-turnout partisan primaries. Research by Unite America shows that because of this dynamic, less than 10% of voters effectively elect over 80% of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Beholden to Donors, Not Voters: Because "safe seats" eliminate the threat of losing a general election, politicians are no longer required to reflect the will of their constituents to keep their jobs. This total lack of voter accountability frees them to spend their time chasing dark money and serving the corporate lobbyists and billionaires who fund their campaigns.
Forced Extremism: When a politician is handed a safe seat, their only real threat is being out-flanked by a radical primary challenger from their own party. This structurally rewards them for toxic polarization and punishes them for compromising.

Need a laugh? So did we.
If this all sounds absurd, you aren't alone. Let's lighten things up for a second. Watch comedian Ed Helms realize in real-time just how terrible gerrymandering actually is while trying to film a commercial:

2. The Data Proves It: Your Voice Has Zero Impact

Because gerrymandering and closed primaries guarantee their re-election, politicians no longer have to care what you think—and statistically, they don't.

In a landmark 2014 study published in Perspectives on Politics titled "Testing Theories of American Politics," researchers Martin Gilens (Princeton) and Benjamin I. Page (Northwestern) analyzed over 1,800 federal policy initiatives spanning two decades to see if public opinion actually influenced whether a bill became law.

The results were staggering. The study found that whether an idea has 0% public support or 100% public support, it has the exact same roughly 30% chance of passing. In the words of the researchers, the preferences of the average American "appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy."

Who does have an impact? Economic elites, corporate lobbying groups, and special interests. The Gilens and Page study is hard, mathematical proof that our government isn't just dysfunctional—it has been completely captured. We no longer have a say in our own laws, which is exactly why we must reform the system itself.

Corruption is Legal in America - A visual breakdown of exactly how legalized bribery works.

3. True Diversity Means Embracing Discomfort

The extreme division in modern American civic life isn't an accident; it is a deliberate public relations strategy. The two major parties use classical propaganda techniques to keep the electorate in a constant state of fear and outrage directed at the "other side," engineering consent for their continued grip on power. The reason is simple; in a fear state they can control us and if they didn’t people would think for themselves and start to ask questions and demand reform.

The Forward Party rejects this manufactured polarization. We believe that true diversity means being uncomfortable and inclusive of opinions you don't always 100% agree with. Real diversity isn't just about optics; it's about building a coalition of Americans who are willing to cross ideological lines to fix the foundation of our republic.

Look at our recent elections for California Co-chair and Secretary: Those running for office included a blue-collar, former Republican white man from Humboldt County, a self-identified trans Black woman from LA, corporate business executives, minorities, a 17-year-old from the Central Valley, and a female military veteran. We don't agree 100% on every single issue, but we are all fighting side-by-side for the exact same cause: a free and fair system for Americans everywhere.

4. The Myth of the Divided American: The "Exhausted Majority"

If you watch cable news or scroll through social media, you would think Americans are fundamentally split down the middle on every issue. The data tells a completely different story. We are not a divided nation; we are a manipulated one.

The Hidden Tribes Study: In a massive sociological study, the nonpartisan research group More in Common found that while the extreme ideological wings (the loudest 33% of the population) dominate the national conversation, the remaining 67% of Americans make up an "Exhausted Majority." This majority is frustrated by bitter partisanship, feels forgotten by the establishment, and is highly willing to compromise.
The Perception Gap: Studies show that both Democrats and Republicans drastically overestimate how extreme the other side actually is. Because the duopoly's media ecosystems only highlight the most radical voices, we are tricked into believing we have nothing in common.

The Reality of Consensus: When polling institutions like Gallup and Pew Research ask Americans about specific policies rather than political labels, massive bipartisan majorities emerge. Over 80% of Americans agree on the need for anti-corruption laws, Congressional term limits, and protecting domestic infrastructure. We don't actually disagree on the problems nearly as much as we think we do.

5. We Champion the American Anti-Corruption Act (AACA)

What it is and where it came from:
The American Anti-Corruption Act is a piece of legally bulletproof, nonpartisan model legislation drafted in 2011. It was not written by sitting politicians looking out for themselves; it was authored by a uniquely cross-partisan coalition. The primary architects include Trevor Potter (the former Republican Chairman of the FEC) and Lawrence Lessig (the renowned progressive Harvard Law professor). They were joined by democracy advocates like Josh Silver and Theodore Roosevelt IV to ensure the act is constitutional and ready to pass.

The Public Demands It:
Polling consistently shows that nearly 90% of Americans support making it the law of the land, including roughly 91% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans.

Why Congress Refuses to Vote on It:
If 90% of Americans want it, why won't Congress bring it to the floor? Because the AACA is designed to dismantle the exact machine that keeps them in power:

The Perpetual Fundraising Trap: Members of Congress currently spend between 30% and 70% of their working hours dialing for dollars. To win a Senate seat, a candidate often has to raise over $14,000 every single day for six years.
Turkeys Won't Vote for Thanksgiving: Asking Congress to pass the AACA is asking them to cut off their own money supply and sever their ties with the lobbyists who bundle their donations.

We support the proven historical strategy of bypassing Washington and passing local and state anti-corruption laws to force federal change, demanding an end to lobbyist bribery and secret "dark" money.

Unbreaking America: Solving the Corruption Crisis - Featuring Jennifer Lawrence and RepresentUs co-founder Josh Silver explaining the "Princeton Study" and the state-by-state strategy to pass the AACA.

Palate Cleanser!
Fixing corruption is heavy stuff. If you need a quick break from the gridlock, here is Jack Black and Ed Helms pitching a brand new "Anti-Corruption Theme Song" that we can all get behind:

6. Case Study: The California Turnaround

To prove that these structural reforms aren't just theoretical, we only need to look at California. For decades, California was the poster child for political dysfunction.

The Bipartisan Incumbent Protection Plan: In 2001, the Democratic and Republican establishments in California agreed to a "bipartisan gerrymander," drawing the lines to perfectly protect incumbents. In the 2004 elections, out of 153 state and congressional seats, not a single seat changed party hands.
Gridlock and the IOU Crisis: Because the districts were uncompetitive, politicians only catered to their extreme base. When the 2008-2009 financial crisis hit, the hyper-polarized legislature failed to pass a budget. The world's eighth-largest economy literally ran out of cash and began issuing "registered warrants"—essentially government IOUs—because they couldn't pay their bills.

Schwarzenegger and the Structural Fix:
Frustrated by a legislature that refused to compromise, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger realized he had to change the underlying mechanics. He championed three massive structural reforms:

Proposition 11 & 20: Handed the power of redistricting to a 14-member independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
Proposition 14 (2010): Abolished closed partisan primaries, replacing them with a "Top-Two Open Primary" forcing politicians to appeal to the broader electorate.

The Turnaround:
The reforms worked. Independent maps made dozens of "safe" seats highly competitive overnight. Open primaries forced politicians to appeal to moderate voters. The apocalyptic budget stalemates ended, California eliminated its deficit, and the system stabilized. It wasn't fixed by changing the people; it was fixed by changing the rules.

7. Beyond the Duopoly: Upgrading the Ballot and Forward-Thinking Solutions

Once we break the two-party gridlock, we can finally start implementing 21st-century solutions that actually serve the American people:

Next-Level Ballot Upgrades: We support exploring the best mathematical voting methods to eliminate the fear-based "spoiler effect":
- Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV): Rank candidates by preference. If your first choice doesn't win, your vote automatically transfers to your next choice.
- STAR Voting: Score candidates from 0 to 5 stars. The top two highest-scoring candidates instantly go to an automatic runoff, where your ballot counts as one full vote for your preferred finalist.
- Approval Voting: Simply vote for every candidate you approve of; the person with the most votes wins.
Bottom-Up Problem Solving: Whether it’s citizens pushing back on a poorly planned city construction project or launching a municipal basic income pilot, real democratic innovation starts by empowering the community.
The American Scorecard: We support measuring what actually matters: mental health, childhood success, clean air, and freedom from substance abuse—not just GDP and the stock market.
Civic Juries: Randomly selected panels of everyday citizens brought together to review facts and recommend policy—completely free from the pressures of campaign fundraising.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why form a new party instead of just registering as an Independent?
Registering as an Independent is a great first step, but historically, Independents are treated as a mere protest vote. They lack the organized infrastructure, funding, and collective bargaining power to actually run viable candidates or pass structural legislation. The "Exhausted Majority" in the middle of this country shouldn't have to settle for just sitting on the sidelines while the fringe extremes dictate our laws. We aren't here to just cast a protest vote; we are building a coalition that allows the will of the majority to have a direct, undeniable impact.

Isn't voting third party just throwing my vote away?
Under the current plurality voting system, that fear is exactly what keeps the duopoly in power. That's why our primary goal is implementing ballot upgrades like Ranked-Choice or STAR Voting. With these systems, you can vote for your true preference first without playing spoiler.

Are you a left-wing or right-wing party?
Neither. We are a "forward" party. Our platform isn't about rigid ideological purity; it's about structural reform. Our coalition includes conservatives, progressives, moderates, and independents united by a desire to fix the machinery of our democracy.

Take Action: Be the Disruption

The political duopoly relies on our complacency. The only way to break their system is to actively participate in building a new one.

Help Us Make History in California: The 75,000 Voter Goal

The Forward Party is on the verge of officially becoming a recognized political party in California. To gain official ballot access, California requires 75,000 citizens to register their party affiliation as "Forward."

It’s Fast and Easy: Head to the California Online Voter Registration page, click "Register to Vote Now," and select the Forward Party.
You Aren't Locked In: Changing your registration today is a strategic move to secure ballot access, but it is completely flexible. If you want to participate in a specific major party's presidential primary later, you can update your party online up to 15 days before Election Day. California uses a "Top Two" open primary for state and congressional races anyway, meaning your party affiliation only dictates your presidential primary ballot.

Get Involved Locally

Real structural change starts right here in our own communities. Find Your Local Chapter to start collecting signatures, petitioning local councils, and organizing for ballot upgrades.

Sources & Further Reading:

• Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens (Gilens & Page, 2014) - Princeton/Northwestern Universities.
• Hidden Tribes: A Study of America’s Polarized Landscape (More in Common, 2018).
• Center for American Progress (CAP) Electoral Analysis on Gerrymandering Disenfranchisement.
• Unite America "Primary Problem" Research.
• The Cook Political Report General Election Competitiveness Tracking.
• State of California Controller's Office & The Guardian (2009 Budget Crisis/IOU Records).
• Hoover Institution (2004 California Incumbent Protection Plan).
• The American Anti-Corruption Act (AACA) Legislative Framework.
• Videos provided by RepresentUs, The Washington Post, and The Equal Vote Coalition.

Why Join the Forward Party?

The System Isn't Broken; It's Rigged. The two major political parties are addicted to a corrupt system they refuse to fix. Despite the existence of comprehensive, ready-to-pass legislation like the American Anti-Corruption Act, Democrats and Republicans refuse to act because the current rules maintain their status quo. They rely on billions from special interests to maintain their duopoly, prioritizing corporate donors over everyday Americans. To maintain that power, each party demonizes those in the other party so neither group must face the difficult questions regarding their own corruption.

The Forward Party is the necessary disruption to this rigged game. We are a movement dedicated to passing structural reforms, breaking the financial stranglehold of the establishment, and finally returning the government to the voters. Here is why the Forward Party is necessary for a fair and just civic life in the United States—and how we actually get there.
How do we make politicians entrenched in polarizing political rhetoric listen? We don’t - We fire their asses and make something new.

1. The Data Proves It: Your Voice Has Zero Impact

If you feel like politicians don't care what you think, you are statistically correct. In a landmark 2014 study published in Perspectives on Politics titled "Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens," researchers Martin Gilens (Princeton University) and Benjamin I. Page (Northwestern University) analyzed over 1,800 federal policy initiatives spanning two decades to see if public opinion actually influenced whether a bill became law.

The results were staggering. The study found that whether an idea has 0% public support or 100% public support, it has the exact same roughly 30% chance of passing.
In the words of the researchers, the preferences of the average American "appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy." Who does have an impact? Economic elites, corporate lobbying groups, and special interests. The Gilens and Page study is hard, mathematical proof that our government isn't just dysfunctional—it has been completely captured. We no longer have a say in our own laws, which is exactly why we must reform the system itself.

2. The Myth of the Impossibly Divided America: The "Exhausted Majority"

If you watch cable news or scroll through social media, you would think Americans are fundamentally split down the middle on every issue. The data tells a completely different story. We are not a divided nation; we are a manipulated one.

The Hidden Tribes Study: In a massive, landmark sociological study titled Hidden Tribes: A Study of America’s Polarized Landscape, the nonpartisan research group More in Common surveyed thousands of Americans. They found that while the extreme ideological wings (the loudest 33% of the population) dominate the national conversation, the remaining 67% of Americans make up an "Exhausted Majority." This majority is frustrated by bitter partisanship, feels forgotten by the establishment, and is highly willing to compromise to solve problems.

The Perception Gap: Researchers have also identified a statistical phenomenon known as the "Perception Gap." Studies show that both Democrats and Republicans drastically overestimate how extreme the other side actually is. Because the duopoly's media ecosystems only highlight the most radical voices, we are tricked into believing we have nothing in common.

The Reality of Consensus: When polling institutions like Gallup, Pew Research, and the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation ask Americans about specific policies rather than political labels, massive bipartisan majorities emerge. For example, over 80% of Americans agree on the need for anti-corruption laws, Congressional term limits, and protecting domestic infrastructure. We don't actually disagree on the problems nearly as much as we think we do; we have just been trained by the two major parties to hate the other team.

3. America Means Embracing Difference

The extreme division in modern American civic life isn't an accident; it is a deliberate public relations strategy. The big two both use classical propaganda techniques to keep the electorate in a constant state of fear and outrage directed at the "other side" – thus keeping you in their pocket.

The Forward Party rejects the manufactured polarization. We believe that true diversity means being uncomfortable and inclusive of opinions that aren’t always your own. We don’t have to agree perfectly on every issue, but we want free and fair elections. We want our beliefs to be given more than lip service. We want a civil society. Real diversity isn't just about optics; it's about building a coalition of Americans who are willing to cross the lines created by these two political parties to fix the foundation of our republic.
Look at our recent elections for California Co-chair and Secretary (held in March 2026): Those running for office included a blue-collar former Republican white man from Humboldt County, a self-identified trans Black woman from LA, corporate and IT business executives, a 17-year-old from the Central Valley, and a military veteran. We don't agree 100% on every issue and we don’t have a litmus test to join, but we are all fighting side-by-side for the exact same cause: a free and fair system for Americans everywhere.