Andrew Yang announces new ‘Forward Party’ with other centrist groups

Several political groups, including one led by former Democrat candidate Andrew Yang, are coming together to form a political party under one umbrella. The new party will consist of Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians.

The aim of the party is to reach out to Americans who are frustrated the country’s current two-party system and also those Americans who “reject extremism and division,” according to CNN.

The new party, which is called Forward, will be chaired by Andrew Yang and former New Jersey Republican Governor Christine Whitman. Reuters reported that the party will merge Andrew Yang’s “Forward Party” with the “Renew America Movement” (RAM) and “Save America Movement” (SAM).

Yang wrote in a blog post, “About 10 months ago, I left the Democratic Party. I did so because I knew the country needed a new kind of party to help realign our politics and reverse the polarization that is tearing our country apart.”

“Some of you reached out to help—thank you!! It has meant the world to me. Thanks to you, we enlisted volunteers in all 50 states and began backing both aligned candidates and reforms like non-partisan open primaries and ranked choice voting that would give our country a real chance,” Yang said. “It’s time to deliver the new approach to party politics millions of Americans have been waiting for—Forward! Let’s go!!!”

Former Governor Whitman expressed serious concern about America at this moment in time and said that if no action is taken, the United States won’t reach its 300th birthday in “recognizable form.”

A party emphasize the need for change. “The United States badly needs a new political party — one that reflects the moderate, common-sense majority. Today’s outdated parties have failed by catering to the fringes. As a result, most Americans feel they aren’t represented.  Most third parties in U.S. history failed to take off, either because they were ideologically too narrow, or the population was uninterested. But voters are calling for a new party now more than ever,” the party said in a statement.

The party also cited a 2021 Gallup poll where nearly two-thirds of Americans were dissatisfied with the two dominant parties. They also said that a 3rd party could not spoil the current system as it is “already spoiled.” Forward have said their aim is to have recognition in all 50 states by the end of 2024.