[bushpilot2]

Abe Lincoln 1864 election, National Union Party. Was that a third party?

[wideawake]

The National Union Party was what the Republican Party named itself for the national election in 1864.

It was one of only two parties contesting that election, so by definition it could not be a third party.

It was also the incumbent party in power, and the winning party by a 10% margin, so it wasn't even the second party.

It was the first party.