Open Letter to Americans

We think that if we were to poll Americans and the entire world, the number one thing people would say about the American political system would be, "350 million people and these are the two choices?!" We are confident that everyone reading this has heard this and/or said it, perhaps with more colorful language. This is our plan to change that and, in the process, change everything.

We are convinced that there is not one, two, or three, but many people in this great nation who have the knowledge, skills, and charisma to capture the hearts and minds of the American public, and this project is all about finding them and getting them exposure. Perhaps it's a history teacher in Kansas, an accountant in Alaska, or a businessperson in Pennsylvania. This project offers a national stage for them and others to gain recognition.

Why Not a Third Party?

Although many of us would prefer a third-party option, we believe this isn't the right path. There are several challenges with this. The most obvious point, as many of you know, is that it essentially splits the vote of one of the major parties, helping the other win. The bigger problem, in our opinion, is that it still doesn't change the fact that the political elite still decides who runs in that third party. We are trying to solve a different problem.

The Primary System is the Attack Vector

We, the American people, are told who we can choose in the primaries. But who gets to decide who runs in the primaries?

For both the Democratic and Republican parties, entry into the primaries is determined by a combination of each party's own rules and state election laws, not by any single person or government office. If a candidate meets the state's legal requirements—such as filing paperwork, paying fees, or collecting enough valid signatures—and complies with the party's rules, they can appear on the ballot. While the parties don't usually block those who qualify at the state level, they do control the debates, delegate recognition, and other mechanisms that influence which candidates the public sees. In practice, many qualified candidates never gain traction because they lack the resources or visibility to break through the media and party filters.

This means that if the winner of our television show receives sufficient recognition from the American public, we can assist them in getting on the ballot, thereby placing the Republican and Democratic parties in a position where they cannot ignore them. That visibility could put them on the debate stage, earn delegate recognition, and give them a real shot at competing.

Our Expectations

• The show itself will educate Americans and the world about important issues.
• It's possible that even if the show has one ultimate winner, multiple participants get into the primaries.
• Most importantly, we believe in our core that the best president this country could have is someone that we don't know is even out there. We need to find them.

How You Can Support

• Share this website on social media
• Share this with anyone you know who might make a great leader
• Look through the actual candidates and support the ones you like

We care deeply about this country. We have personally voted for both major parties in our lifetimes. Great leaders can come from anywhere. The best often redefine their party in the process.

We commit to you that our own political beliefs will be absent from this process. We believe in you, the American public.

Regards, Rick Latona Founder — The Candidate