Election Law Co-Chair Michael Toner Comments on Potential Third-Party Candidacy

Election Law & Government Ethics Practice co-chair Michael Toner was quoted in a Financial Times article focusing on efforts by Americans Elect to find a third-party candidate to run for president. Already, the new political organization has raised $30 million from large and small donors, while building an online infrastructure.

"A third-party candidate likely would need to be a major self-funder to be potentially viable, someone capable of contributing $100m-$200m of their own money into their campaign," Mr. Toner said. "In short, someone like Michael Bloomberg."

Mr. Toner, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, added that beyond money, the biggest hurdles for third-party candidates remain getting past election laws and ballot-access requirements.