Elon Musk Announces "America Party": What It Takes to Form a Political Party in the U.S.

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Multi-billionaire Elon Musk has formed a new political party named the America Party in a bid to challenge the entrenched two-party system in the United States. The U.S. Constitution on Political Parties also supports Musk's plan.

"Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system! Should we create the America Party?" wrote Elon Musk on July 4, 2025.

Elon Musk's idea to establish a new party reflects a significant increase in his involvement in the political sphere. Previously acting solely as a government advisor, Musk has now taken concrete steps to challenge the dominance of the existing major parties. In the coming months, it remains to be seen whether his political ambition can truly alter the dynamics in Washington.

According to People, Musk's strategy for his party, named America Party, is highly targeted. The primary focus is not on wide vote acquisition but rather on targeting only two or three seats in the Senate and eight to ten seats in the House of Representatives, particularly in areas with very narrow winning margins.

The America Party is conceptualized as a centrist political platform targeted at the 80 percent of Americans who feel unrepresented in the current deeply polarized political climate. Musk does not plan to field national candidates, but instead aims to strategically influence the balance of power in the legislature, hoping to effect change from within American politics.

Elon Musk's idea to establish the America Party is still in its early stages, but he has asserted that with the right financial clout and precise election strategy, the party could have a significant impact in the tightly contested elections predicted to take place in November.

According to Al Jazeera, experts highlight the historic difficulty third parties face in competing within the two-party political system in the United States. Their existence often weakens the movements they support by diverting votes from the more potentially winning major candidates.

Establishing a new political party is no easy feat, especially considering how Democrats and Republicans already have wide access to election systems across the country, along with stringent regulations on campaign fund limitations from the federal government.

Although Elon Musk acknowledges that the chances of his party's success are slim, he believes that if his plan succeeds, its impact could be significant and could potentially change the entire landscape of American politics.

What it takes to form a political party in the United States

As quoted from fec.gov, to form a national or state-level political party in the United States, the organization must register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) if they begin to raise or spend funds that exceed a certain threshold in connection with federal elections.

The FEC has the authority to assess whether a committee has demonstrated enough political activity to be recognized as a national or state party committee. Before being able to utilize the larger contribution limits available to official political parties, the committee must first apply to the FEC to obtain an official opinion confirming their status.

However, if the organization's party activities are limited to state or local elections, registration with the FEC is not required.

For local branches of existing major parties such as the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or Green Parties, the obligation to register with the FEC also applies if they exceed certain limits in terms of raising or spending funds for federal elections.

After registration, these branches will be considered as local party committees and automatically affiliated with other related party committees in the same state. This affiliation means they are subject to the same contribution limits as other related party committees.

Initial steps in forming a party include obtaining a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), opening a bank account, forming a committee structure, and appointing a treasurer. Additionally, the organization must meet the qualifications as a political party committee to be officially recognized. In this process, cybersecurity is also crucial to safeguard sensitive party information.

There are also additional provisions regarding financial management and contribution limits if the national party bears certain expenses. Specialized guidance detailing further processes and requirements is available for local party committees not registered with the FEC.

Ida Rosdalina contributed to the writing of this article.

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