Summary
Despite broken promises like the return of factory jobs, Donald Trump continues to gain support in Ohio’s rust belt, including Youngstown, a former Democratic stronghold.
Voters feel abandoned by both parties but resonate with Trump’s anti-establishment rhetoric and perceived authenticity.
Economic decline, disillusionment with political elites, and anger over issues like trade deals and student debt forgiveness fuel their frustration.
Many voters believe Trump’s willingness to “tear down the system” aligns with their grievances, even as doubts remain about his solutions.
Their bitterness reflects decades of industrial decline and neglect.
While the US doesn’t have a parliamentary system, it’s functionally impossible to win the presidency without a nation-wide party with a presence in multiple states backing you. This is because the president is elected by the states so you need the infrastructure capable of winning a plurality of voters in multiple states which you can test by your party’s ability to win senate seats or governorships. Additionally, you would need support of enough members of Congress to actually implement any policy while during your term.
Most third-party presidential candidates in the US are grifters or fools as evidenced by the fact that they’ll run for president every year without even attempting to build out party infrastructure, push for alternative voting via citizen ballot initiatives, or win lower positions necessary to actually be successful.
Making third parties viable in the US is possible, but it will take a lot of work. It’s far easier to hijack one of the existing parties the way the Tea Party and later, Trump did.