Liberty Union Party
Encyclopedia
The Liberty Union Party of Vermont
, founded in 1970 by former Congressman William H. Meyer
, Peter Diamondstone and others, originated in the anti-war
and People's Party
movements of the late 1960s and defines itself as a nonviolent socialist
party.
joined Liberty Union in 1971, and was a candidate for several offices on their ticket
before deciding to run as an independent.
The Liberty Union Party sometimes endorses the candidates of other parties which it feels offer a vision and goals compatible with its own. Over the years, it has selected various Presidential
candidates from several national leftist
political parties. In 1980, 1988, 1996 and 2000 it endorsed the Socialist Party USA
's candidates. Mary Alice Herbert
, the party's 2006 candidate for Lieutenant Governor, was the Vice Presidential
candidate of the Socialist Party USA in 2004. However, due to conflicts with her running mate, Walt Brown
, the LUP gave its ballot line to Workers World Party
candidates John Parker
and Teresa Gutierrez
. In 2008, the Socialist Party's presidential candidate, Brian Moore
, was the only candidate to collect the 1,000 signatures required to participate in the Liberty Union Party's presidential primary. The primary election is binding, so Moore and his running mate Stewart Alexander
were the Liberty Union nominees in the November general election.
Some Liberty Union members in 2004 sought the state-wide nomination of the Vermont Progressive Party
, which had achieved major ballot status in 2000.
The Liberty Union Party lost its major party status in 1994, but requalified in 2004 due to Auditor of Accounts candidate Jerry Levy's six percent showing. In 2006, the Liberty Union Party had nine candidates for offices including Governor
, United States Senate
and United States House of Representatives
, and again received enough votes to retain its major party status.
In local Vermont town elections in 2009 a Liberty Union and Vermont Progressive Party
endorsed candidate, David Van Deusen, won a contested race for a seat on the Moretown
Select Board
. Dave Van Deusen, a District Vice President of the Vermont AFL-CIO
, also received the backing of organized labor. In 2010 Van Deusen again ran and again won a contested seat on the Moretown Select Board. Again he was endorsed by the Liberty Union, the Progressives, the Socialist Party USA, and organized labor. In this election Van Deusen was the top vote-getter among four Select Board candidates. In 2011 Van Deusen did not seek reelection to the Select Board. In this election he ran for First Constable of Moretown (a position he held in 2007). While Van Deusen won the election, he did not seek the endorsement of the Liberty Union Party. This time he had the endorsement of the local Progressive Party alone. During Van Deusen's two terms on the Moretown Select Board, he was able to win "livable wages" for all non-elected town employees, doubled property tax relief for disabled military veterans (through a Town Meeting article), and made strides in opening up the local democratic process to all town residents.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, founded in 1970 by former Congressman William H. Meyer
William H. Meyer
William Henry Meyer , was a Member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont....
, Peter Diamondstone and others, originated in the anti-war
Opposition to the Vietnam War
The movement against US involvment in the in Vietnam War began in the United States with demonstrations in 1964 and grew in strength in later years. The US became polarized between those who advocated continued involvement in Vietnam, and those who wanted peace. Peace movements consisted largely of...
and People's Party
People's Party (United States, 1970s)
The People's Party was a political party in the United States, founded in 1971 by various individuals and State and local political parties, including the Peace and Freedom Party, Commongood People's Party, Country People's Caucus, Human Rights Party, Liberty Union, New American Party, New Party...
movements of the late 1960s and defines itself as a nonviolent socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
party.
History
Bernie SandersBernie Sanders
Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
joined Liberty Union in 1971, and was a candidate for several offices on their ticket
Ticket (election)
A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...
before deciding to run as an independent.
The Liberty Union Party sometimes endorses the candidates of other parties which it feels offer a vision and goals compatible with its own. Over the years, it has selected various Presidential
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
candidates from several national leftist
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
political parties. In 1980, 1988, 1996 and 2000 it endorsed the Socialist Party USA
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
's candidates. Mary Alice Herbert
Mary Alice Herbert
Mary Alice "Mal" Herbert ran for Vice President as the candidate for the Socialist Party USA in 2004. She and her running-mate, Walt Brown, pulled in 10,837 votes, the highest total for the Socialist Party since 1952....
, the party's 2006 candidate for Lieutenant Governor, was the Vice Presidential
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
candidate of the Socialist Party USA in 2004. However, due to conflicts with her running mate, Walt Brown
Walt Brown
Walter Frederick Brown is an American politician and was the presidential candidate of the Socialist Party USA in the 2004 elections. Brown became a socialist in 1948. He served as Democratic member of the Oregon State Senate from 1975 to 1987. Brown also served as a Socialist Party of Oregon...
, the LUP gave its ballot line to Workers World Party
Workers World Party
Workers World Party is a far-left political party in the United States, founded in 1959 by a group led by Sam Marcy. Marcy and his followers split from the Socialist Workers Party in 1958 over a series of long-standing differences, among them Marcy's group's support for Henry A...
candidates John Parker
John Parker (activist)
John Parker was the candidate of the Workers World Party, a U.S. communist political party, for President of the United States in 2004. Parker and his running mate was Teresa Gutierrez received 1,330 votes . The ticket was endorsed by the Liberty Union Party of Vermont...
and Teresa Gutierrez
Teresa Gutierrez
Teresa Gutiérrez was a third-party candidate for Vice President of the United States in the United States presidential election, 2004, representing the Workers World Party as the running mate of John Parker...
. In 2008, the Socialist Party's presidential candidate, Brian Moore
Brian Moore (politician)
Brian Patrick Moore is an United States politician and founder of antiwar organization Nature Coast Coalition for Peace & Justice. He was the presidential nominee of the Socialist Party USA for the 2008 United States presidential election. He waged several campaigns for mayor and city council in...
, was the only candidate to collect the 1,000 signatures required to participate in the Liberty Union Party's presidential primary. The primary election is binding, so Moore and his running mate Stewart Alexander
Stewart Alexander (politician)
Stewart Alexis Alexander is an American democratic socialist politician, presidential nominee for the Socialist Party USA in the 2012 election., and former SPUSA nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2008 election....
were the Liberty Union nominees in the November general election.
Some Liberty Union members in 2004 sought the state-wide nomination of the Vermont Progressive Party
Vermont Progressive Party
The Vermont Progressive Party is an American political party. It was founded in 1999 and is active only in the U.S. state of Vermont. In terms of the dominant two parties in the United States, it enjoys support from "traditional liberal" Democrats and working class Republicans. The party is...
, which had achieved major ballot status in 2000.
The Liberty Union Party lost its major party status in 1994, but requalified in 2004 due to Auditor of Accounts candidate Jerry Levy's six percent showing. In 2006, the Liberty Union Party had nine candidates for offices including Governor
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
, United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, and again received enough votes to retain its major party status.
In local Vermont town elections in 2009 a Liberty Union and Vermont Progressive Party
Vermont Progressive Party
The Vermont Progressive Party is an American political party. It was founded in 1999 and is active only in the U.S. state of Vermont. In terms of the dominant two parties in the United States, it enjoys support from "traditional liberal" Democrats and working class Republicans. The party is...
endorsed candidate, David Van Deusen, won a contested race for a seat on the Moretown
Moretown, Vermont
Moretown is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,653 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.2 square miles , of which 40.1 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
Select Board
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
. Dave Van Deusen, a District Vice President of the Vermont AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, also received the backing of organized labor. In 2010 Van Deusen again ran and again won a contested seat on the Moretown Select Board. Again he was endorsed by the Liberty Union, the Progressives, the Socialist Party USA, and organized labor. In this election Van Deusen was the top vote-getter among four Select Board candidates. In 2011 Van Deusen did not seek reelection to the Select Board. In this election he ran for First Constable of Moretown (a position he held in 2007). While Van Deusen won the election, he did not seek the endorsement of the Liberty Union Party. This time he had the endorsement of the local Progressive Party alone. During Van Deusen's two terms on the Moretown Select Board, he was able to win "livable wages" for all non-elected town employees, doubled property tax relief for disabled military veterans (through a Town Meeting article), and made strides in opening up the local democratic process to all town residents.
Presidential nominee
| Year | Presidential nominee | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 United States presidential election, 1980 The United States presidential election of 1980 featured a contest between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who ran as an independent... |
David McReynolds David McReynolds David McReynolds is an American democratic socialist and pacifist activist who described himself as "a peace movement bureaucrat" during his 40-year career with Liberation magazine and the War Resisters League... |
Socialist Party USA Socialist Party USA The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing... |
136 (0,06%) |
| 1984 United States presidential election, 1984 The United States presidential election of 1984 was a contest between the incumbent President Ronald Reagan, the Republican candidate, and former Vice President Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate. Reagan was helped by a strong economic recovery from the deep recession of 1981–1982... |
Dennis Serrette | Liberty Union Party | 323 (0,14%) |
| 1988 United States presidential election, 1988 The United States presidential election of 1988 featured no incumbent president, as President Ronald Reagan was unable to seek re-election after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Reagan's Vice President, George H. W. Bush, won the Republican nomination, while the... |
Willa Kenoyer Willa Kenoyer Willa Kenoyer was the Socialist Party USA candidate for President of the United States in the 1988 U.S. presidential election... |
Socialist Party USA Socialist Party USA The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing... |
142 (0,06%) |
| 1992 United States presidential election, 1992 The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot.... |
Lenora Fulani Lenora Fulani Lenora Branch Fulani is an American psychologist, psychotherapist, and political activist. She may be best known for her presidential campaigns and development of youth programs serving minority communities in the New York City area... |
New Alliance Party New Alliance Party The New Alliance Party was an American political party formed in New York City in 1979. Its immediate precursor was an umbrella organization known as the Labor Community Alliance for Change, whose member groups included the coalition of Grass Roots Women and the New York City Unemployed and... |
429 (0,15%) |
| 1996 United States presidential election, 1996 The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack... |
Mary Cal Hollis Mary Cal Hollis Mary Cal Hollis is an American politician. She was a third-party candidate for President of the United States in the 1996 U.S. presidential election, representing the Socialist Party USA with running mate Eric Chester Hollis and Chester also received the endorsement and ballot line of Vermont's... |
Socialist Party USA Socialist Party USA The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing... |
292 (0,11%) |
| 2000 United States presidential election, 2000 The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President.... |
David McReynolds David McReynolds David McReynolds is an American democratic socialist and pacifist activist who described himself as "a peace movement bureaucrat" during his 40-year career with Liberation magazine and the War Resisters League... |
Socialist Party USA Socialist Party USA The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing... |
161 (0,05%) |
| 2004 United States presidential election, 2004 The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator... |
John Parker John Parker (activist) John Parker was the candidate of the Workers World Party, a U.S. communist political party, for President of the United States in 2004. Parker and his running mate was Teresa Gutierrez received 1,330 votes . The ticket was endorsed by the Liberty Union Party of Vermont... |
Workers World Party Workers World Party Workers World Party is a far-left political party in the United States, founded in 1959 by a group led by Sam Marcy. Marcy and his followers split from the Socialist Workers Party in 1958 over a series of long-standing differences, among them Marcy's group's support for Henry A... |
265 (0,08%) |
| 2008 United States presidential election, 2008 The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365... |
Brian Moore Brian Moore (politician) Brian Patrick Moore is an United States politician and founder of antiwar organization Nature Coast Coalition for Peace & Justice. He was the presidential nominee of the Socialist Party USA for the 2008 United States presidential election. He waged several campaigns for mayor and city council in... |
Socialist Party USA Socialist Party USA The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing... |
141 (0,05%) |
See also
- List of political parties in the United States
- List of democratic socialist parties and organizations
- Vermont gubernatorial election, 2006Vermont gubernatorial election, 2006The 2006 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Jim Douglas succeeded in his bid for re-election, defeating Democrat Scudder Parker.-Democratic Party:...
- Vermont United States Senate election, 2006Vermont United States Senate election, 2006The 2006 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican turned independent U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords decided to retire. Bernie Sanders, who has represented Vermont's At Large district as one of the few federally elected independents in the country, won...
- Vermont United States House of Representatives election, 2006Vermont United States House of Representatives election, 2006The Vermont United States House of Representatives election, 2006 was held on November 7, 2006 for representation of Vermont's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2009....