Ted Cruz's dropout seemed to be the death rattle of the Republican Party. With no one standing in the way of Donald Trump many #NeverTrump voters are disheartened with the fast-approaching election, and may feel left without a worthy candidate.
But if we look to the third parties we may find a candidate that #NeverTrump conservatives can finally sink their vote into.
The nation now seems to collectively be railing against the establishment, and the sudden halt from Cruz and Kasich has escalated American frustrations. Third party candidates are picking up some serious popularity.
The Libertarian Party has recently experienced a spike in interested voters as applications have doubled for new members. Wes Benedict, executive director, told the Washington Examiner that as there had been no recent recruitment strategies the sudden jump would be all thanks to Trump standing alone as the unofficial Republican nominee.
Gary Johnson noted last week on his Facebook page that "a few folks" had been Googling him after Cruz dropped out.
Benedict believes that Trump is literally scaring voters into the Libertarian Party, citing the membership reports throughout April. As the primaries started the increase in donors began and, after Trump's nomination became imminent, the donations and applications jumped.
"Of course they are scared of Trump," Benedict said. "Trump sounds like an authoritarian...We need more transparency, and a smaller, less intrusive government."
However, even as so many Republicans have reluctantly come to stand behind Trump, some are realizing that voting differently could make a difference in this election. Will Kremer, former chair of the Georgia College Republicans, said he's been considering voting for a third party candidate in November.
"Party loyalty has its limits," Kremer said. "Trump is the standard-bearer of the party and its spokesman. But what that tells me is the Republican Party has left me."
But feeling let down by one's party isn't entirely new to the political scene. Exit polls have shown that as much as 60 percent (in some states) of primary voters felt a sense of betrayal by their leaders. Many Republican voters are upset that their elected leaders did nothing to change things in Washington, and yet so many have chosen such a non-conservative candidate.
Trump believes healthcare is one of the federal government's three main responsibilities-- conservatives do not believe in this type of federal intervention. Additionally, he lists education, which conservatives believe is a matter best left to the states.
Trump has yet to support conservative ideals of smaller government, while Cruz openly supported tea-party constitutionalism. One of Trump's own selling points is his "flexibility," a quality that conveniently releases him from political (and moral) consistency.
Of course, fed-up conservatives are voting in Trump as something like a "middle finger" to their corrupted party. But why vote in someone with no moral ground? No principles? Instead, why can't our nation look toward the unsung heroes of the political landscape—those who have waited so patiently for their time to shine?
It is in the third parties that America may truly find her new leader. This election is primed for voters to abandon the binary system. Conservatives don't want to vote for Trump, and certainly not for Hillary.
Is this really the election we want?
So many respectable, promising conservatives have dropped out of the race. But there are still plenty of third party candidates to be supported.
Gary Johnson, running with the Libertarian Party, holds very many of the same economic ideas that Cruz did. So far he is the only candidate that is likely to be on the ballot alongside Trump and Clinton.
While Romney himself doesn't plan on running independently, he is at the head of the #NeverTrump conservative campaign, and has discussed ways to get an independent into the race. The Hill recently released a list of top ten conservative alternatives to Donald Trump, all with their sights set on independent parties.
The disenfranchisement seen in the American public thanks to this presidential race is astounding, but has finally paved the way for voters to take note of third party candidates. This election is proving itself wildly beneficial for third party supporters, and the public will surely have these names stuck in their heads long after the new president is chosen.
Although the presidency may, this year, go to one of the two main parties one thing is for sure: American politics will never be the same.