DeKALB | Despite Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s second-term win, the Green Party feels it has emerged as a viable third party.

After the public caught wind of the squabble between Blagojevich and challenger Judy Baar Topinka over debate scheduling, the Green Party became a third option for some voters.

With 7,761 of 11,692 precincts reporting late Tuesday, Whitney had taken 11 percent of the total vote in Illinois. In DeKalb County, the Green Party representative took 18.1 percent.

“Many of the people were sickened by the two major party candidates, and so they looked for a third alternative,” said Matthew Streb, assistant professor of political science.

Whitney recognized that some of his votes were attributed to such dissatisfaction.

“Part of the reason [the Green Party has emerged] is that there were a large component of people who voted as a protest vote,” he said. “Many people voted for us for the right reasons, because I have the best stands on education funding reform, government funding reform and universal health care.”

Before the election, Streb predicted the voting results would show Whitney’s electoral presence.

“A significant number will vote for him; not enough to swing the election, but enough to show there’s some discontent with the two major parties’ candidates,” he said. “If you asked the average citizen, they wouldn’t be able to tell you more than one or two of his positions on the issues.”

Barbara Burrell, associate professor of political science, said that despite Whitney’s loss, the campaign he led will mean more for the Green Party in the future.

“This will give them the opportunity to publicize their positions more because the media will pay more attention to them,” Burrell said. “It will help them in the longer run for the next election.”

Because the Green Party received more than five percent of the votes, the party will not have to petition for a spot on the 2008 ballot.

“Now that we’re established at wide, we’ll start building our state structure,” Whitney said. “Using what name recognition I’ve built up, I can be a better spokesperson for the Green Party.”

Nyssa Bulkes is the City Editor for the Northern Star.