Fusion Parties as Power Multiplier

Minor parties that can cross‑endorse (or exploit ballot‑fusion rules) act as multipliers of influence: a small organized faction can convert endorsements into major‑party nominations, policy leverage, and durable officeholding without winning broad plurality support. Changes in statutory gatekeeping (e.g., the Wilson–Pakula law) are often the decisive counter‑measure that shifts real power back to mainstream parties. — This reframes institutional reform and party competition: relatively obscure ballot rules and endorsement mechanics can determine where ideological authority resides in cities and states, making electoral‑law design a high‑leverage public policy question.