Headquarters Washington, DC | Colors Green | |
Ideology Green politics
Progressivism
D.C. Statehood National affiliation Green Party of the United States | ||
The D.C. Statehood Green Party, also known as the D.C. Statehood Party, is a left-wing political party in Washington, D.C. The party is the D.C. affiliate of the national Green Party, but has traditionally been involved primarily with issues related to D.C. Statehood. Party members sometimes call it the second most popular party in the city because in the 2006 election its candidates won more total votes than the Republican candidates. As of March 31, 2016, there are 3,419 registered voters affiliated with the D.C. Statehood Green Party. That is 0.79% of all registered voters.
History
The party was founded to convince Julius Hobson to run for the District's non-voting Congressional Delegate position as a member of the D.C. Statehood Party. Although Hobson lost that race to Walter E. Fauntroy, Hobson received enough votes to make the party an official major party in the District. Following the election, Hobson helped set up the party in the District. The party was organized on the ward level, and ward chairs could decide how to organize their activities in their wards. Hobson later served on the D.C. Council. In 1973, the party was a strong proponent of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which gave limited self-government to the city. From the creation of the city council in 1975 until 1999, the party always had one of the at-large seats, first occupied by Hobson and then by Hilda Mason.
In a district-wide plebiscite, residents voted in favor of statehood. The party criticized the lack of involvement of regular citizens in the process.