Preliminary election results for Green Party candidates in the 2013 general election on Nov. 5 show several victories, with significant advances in California and Maine.
“The Green Party celebrated victories and reelections across the U.S. In some local races, Greens lost but received 25 to 40 percent of the vote, proof that the Green Party is reaching a lot more voters. The Green Party is awaiting election results from some states. So far, the party counts at least 31 victories out of at least 103 races in all of 2013, with 22 victories out of 82 races on Nov. 5.
Below is a list of highlights by state. For more results, see Green Party Watch:http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2013/11/06/2013-green-party-election-results
• ARKANSAS: The Green Party has qualified for the ballot in Arkansas (http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/11/06/green-party-qualifies-for-arkansas-ballot).
• CALIFORNIA: 16 Greens were elected to local office in California, bringing the number of Cali Greens elected overall in 2013 to 18, an all-time high for the party in an odd-numbered year; 54 Greens now hold office in California. The 16 out of 25 candidates who won their races on Nov. 5 gave the Green Party a 64% win rate. (More: http://www.gp.org/index.php/california-election-report-2013.html)
• CONNECTICUT: Mirna Lis Martinez was elected to the New London Board of Education, the sole non-Democrat on the seven-member board (http://www.theday.com/article/20131105/NWS01/131109796).
• MAINE: Josh Plourde was elected to the City Council of Bangor. Anna Trevorrow received the most votes in a race for for two seats on Portland’s School Board. Portland voters also passed a ballot measure legalizing recreational marijuana for adults, with about 70% voting in favor. Portland’s Green Party was a strong supporter of the initiative.
• MINNESOTA: Cam Gordon was reelected to a third term on the Minneapolis City Council (Ward 2). Annie Young was reelected to her seat on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Commission, a position she has held since 1989.
• NEW YORK: Howie Hawkins received 40% in his closely watched campaign for District 4 City Councillor in Syracuse, losing to Khalid Bey. As when Hawkins ran for the same seat in 2011, the Working Families Party invested resources in his Democratic opponent in the final days of the campaign, despite Mr. Hawkins strong progressive stands and winnability and Mr. Bey’s nonprogressive corporate-money campaign, confirming Green accusations that the WFP exists to shill for Democrats. For more on Mr. Hawkins and the WFP, see “Left Third Parties in 2013: The Wave Begins?” by John Halle (http://newpol.org/content/left-third-parties-2013-wave-begins). See also Mr. Hawkins’ reflection on running, “Every Green vote was a conscious vote” (http://www.gp.org/index.php/every-green-vote-was-a-conscious-vote.html), and “Hunting Votes for ‘The Hawk'” by Jon Flanders (http://www.greenpapers.net/?p=727).
“The Green Party celebrated victories and reelections across the U.S. In some local races, Greens lost but received 25 to 40 percent of the vote, proof that the Green Party is reaching a lot more voters. Some Greens placed second — behind the Democrat but ahead of the Republican, as in Lynne Serpe’s New York City Council race in a very large district in Queens,” said Darryl! L.C. Moch, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States and co-chair of the party’s Coordinated Campaign Committee
• OHIO: Brian Cummins, Green member of Cleveland City Council, has been reelected to a third term (http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2013/11/cleveland_city_council_ward_14_1.html). His challenger was endorsed by Cleveland’s mayor, who had pushed a trash-to-energy plant that Mr. Cummins opposed. Ohio Greens and other alternative parties now face grossly anti-democratic legislation supported by Republicans that will effectively abolish all minor political parties in the state (http://ohiogreens.org/node/277).
• PENNSYLVANIA: Neil B. Haagen III led several Green Party candidates to victory on Tuesday. The 23-year-old FedEx dockworker was elected to Snowshoe Borough Council in Centre County. Tausif Khan was elected Judge of Elections, Falls Township 1 – 5, Bucks County. Eric Hamell was elected Inspector of Elections, Ward 59, Division 21, Philadelphia County. Kevin Mock won his write-in campaign for Auditor in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County. In York County, Stephen N. Weisser was re-elected Inspector of Elections in York City’s 7th Ward and will serve as the Majority Inspector. (More:https://www.facebook.com/gpofpa)
• VIRGINIA: Audrey Clement earned 31% of the vote for Arlington County Board, finishing behind incumbent Democrat Jay Fisette. Ms. Clement outpolled Ken Cuccinelli in Arlington County by 3,000 votes.
See also:
“Green Party candidates to watch in the Nov. 5 general election”
Green Party press release, October 30, 2013
http://gp.org/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/details/4/650.html
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Filed under: 3rd party, activism, Ballot issues, election, Green Party, independent politics, new york, News, progressive politics Tagged: | Arkansas, california, connecticut, howie hawkins, Maine, Minnesota, New York City Council, ohio, pennsylvania
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