The two-party system has dominated the American political sphere since its inception, but it’s important not to overlook the third party candidates who have had their fair share of influence on main stream frontrunners. Jill Stein is the Green Party nominee for president, and she is steadily making her way onto ballots across the country.

The Reform Party, led by Andre Barnett, blends Republican and Democratic ideals, claiming to appeal to blue collar and white collar workers. It opposes free trade and excessive use of the military.

While it may appear that Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are the only Americans running for president, there are still many third party candidates in the race. Gary Johnson, a libertarian, is one of those candidates.

In February, Maine Senator Olympia Snowe announced that she would not pursue a fourth term in November. She cited the Senate's "atmosphere of polarization" as one of the reasons she decided not to run. Now there’s a closely contested race to fill the seat.

A new biography of Strom Thurmond examines the Senator’s influence on the modern Republican Party, and explores how third party candidates who may seem extreme often have serious influence on the two-party system.