How many political parties are there in the U.S.?

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The number of political parties in the United States fluctuates. Although numerous parties exist, not all are ballot-eligible, and eligibility requirements differ by state. In January 2025, 238 parties qualified at the state level, meaning their party candidate could appear on election ballots. The majority of these parties consisted of state-level Republican and Democratic parties, with Libertarian, Green, and Constitution parties following in number.