Forward, a new political party, has been formed in the United States of
America as a “common-sense alternative” to the existing Republican-Democrat
binary. The new party has members who were formerly associated with Republican
and Democratic parties and are now moving out to create a moderate coalition.
The principal characters of the new party are Andrew Yang, David Jolly and
Christine Todd. Yang is a former Democratic presidential candidate, Jolly, a
former Congressman and Whitman, a former Republican governor of New Jersey.

“Political extremism is ripping our nation apart, and the two major
parties have failed to remedy the crisis… Today’s outdated parties have failed
by catering to the fringes. As a result, most Americans feel they aren’t represented,”
Yang, Jolly and Whitman wrote on a Washington Post op-ed. The three have decided
to merge their political association into a new political party – Forward.

The group seeks to find middle ground on contentious questions such as
gun violence, gerrymandering, and protection of voting rights. “Majority of
Americans actually agree on really even divisive issues. The most divisive
issues of the day like abortion or firearms – there’s actually a common-sense
coalition position on these issues and just about every other issue under the
sun,” Yang told CNN citing adding that 62% Americans now want a third party.

Forward is planning a political convention next summer and will seek
ballot access by 2024, the op-ed stated. The new party will seek to gain ballot
access to 15 states by the end of the year, 30 states by 2022 and all the
states by 2024. In this year’s midterm elections, Forward will not be running
any candidates. However, the party will extend support to a few candidates “even
if they come from outside the party”.

“Americans of all stripes – Democrats, Republicans and independents –
are invited to be part of the process, without abandoning their political affiliations
by joining us to discuss building an optimistic and inclusive home for the
politically homeless majority,” they wrote in the op-ed.