Why the Forward Party Will Not Field a Presidential Ticket in 2024
By Michael Willner
The 2024 election is one of the most critical in American history. Our democracy is under siege, with a political climate so toxic that it’s driving people away from civic engagement altogether. But this year, the Forward Party will sit out the presidential race. As much as we’d love to dive into the main event race and shake things up, we know the reality — we’re not yet in a position to win the presidency, and we’re not doing this just to be a spoiler or to prove a point.
Although we at the Forward Party intend to build a fully functioning national political party, we are only at the beginning of that journey. We know that it’s no easy task to build a viable political party in the United States; our system is actually designed to make it nearly impossible. And for the time being, running a presidential candidate without a viable path to victory is simply reckless. In 2024, the American people must choose between the only two candidates with a real path to victory. Our democracy is in the hands of voters to reject those who openly threaten the rule of law, our democracy, and our freedom.
As a result, we have adopted a two-tiered strategy — one for 2024 and another for 2025 and beyond. We’re building a party from the ground up, and that will take time. This year, we’re laser-focused on making a difference in local and state contests, and in a handful of critical U.S. House and Senate races. These are the elections where we can start cracking open the stranglehold of the two-party system. We’re working on real, sustainable change.
In 2024, we’re planting the seeds of a movement — one that’s grounded in practical solutions instead of ideological purity tests. The Forward Party is putting its energy behind candidates who are committed to working for all their constituents, not just their partisan bases. Some will run as “Forwardists,” while others will run on a major party line but are equally committed to advancing our core values. These are the battles we can win now, and they’re the stepping stones to something much bigger.
Let’s be clear about something else: The Forward Party isn’t interested in playing the same old partisan games. We’re not the Democratic Party, we’re not the Republican Party, and we’re not some ideologically rigid fringe group. We’re building a “big tent,” and when we say big, we mean big. Each of us brings our personal views to the table, we fight for what we believe in, we find common ground, and we move Forward.
We welcome everyone who’s tired of the extremes and dysfunction dominating our politics today. Whether your roots are in the Democratic or Republican Party, or you’re an Independent voter fed up with the whole mess, there’s a place for you in the Forward Party. This isn’t about compromising values; it’s about finding common ground on the issues that matter most — such as fixing our broken borders with a functioning immigration system, seriously addressing climate change, and building an economy that works for everyone, not just the elite few. Most importantly, it’s about protecting our Constitution so future generations can enjoy the freedoms given to us by our parents and grandparents.
This approach isn’t just strategic — it’s urgent. The challenges we face as a nation are too massive to be tackled by one party alone, and certainly not by the narrow ideological factions that have been holding us back. We’re building a coalition that’s about solutions, not slogans.
So what’s next? After we’ve made our mark in 2024, we’re not just going to pat ourselves on the back and call it a day. We’re going to keep fighting to reshape our political landscape.
Beginning in 2025, we aim to become a force that will not be ignored — a party with a solid 50-state presence and broad-based support. When we do run a presidential candidate — and we will — it will be because we’re in a position to win.
To those who might question our strategy: We’re looking at the bigger picture. We’re playing the long game, and we’re playing it to win. If you’re tired of the same old politics, if you’re ready for something different, something real — join us. The Forward Party isn’t just another option; it’s a new path toward improving our political system, where politicians are rewarded not for obeying their party’s leaders but for getting things done.
And make no mistake — democracy is far more fragile than we realize. If we don’t start to protect it right now, our kids will be living in a very different world.
Michael Willner is a co-founder and Co-Chair of the Forward Party
