Political position Left-Wing | ||
Chairperson Eric JonesPeter LaVenia Founded 1992; 25 years ago (1992) Headquarters 87 Montrose Avenue Unit 2, Brooklyn, New York 11237 Ideology Green politicsProgressivismSocial democracyEco-socialism National affiliation | ||
The Green Party of New York is a ballot-qualified political party in New York, which was founded in 1992. It is a part of the national Green Party movement. The party regained ballot status for at least four years when Howie Hawkins received over 50,000 votes in the 2010 gubernatorial election. The party again gained ballot status for another four years and moved up to line D, the fourth line on state ballots, passing the Working Families and Independence parties with 5 percent of the vote.
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History
The Green Party of New York had its roots in local Green organizing of the mid-1980s. In 1998 the Green Party in New York achieved ballot status when its candidate for governor, Al Lewis, received over 50,000 votes. Ralph Nader received 244,030 votes for President on the Green Party line in 2000. As provided under electoral law, the party formed a State Committee, several County Committees, and set up county organizations. The party lost ballot status in 2002, when gubernatorial candidate Stanley Aronowitz received 41,727 votes, fewer than the 50,000 votes required.
From 2003–2004 the Green Party had a city council majority (3 of 5 seats), in the Village of New Paltz. This was the third-ever Green city council majority in the United States. New Paltz also elected a Green mayor Jason West in 2003.
The party's petition for the 2004 Presidential election was successfully challenged, and no Green Party candidate appeared on the ballot in 2004. National Green Party nominee David Cobb received 138 votes in New York as a write-in candidate. Meanwhile, Nader received 99,873 votes, appearing on the "Peace and Justice Party" and the "Independence Party" ballot lines.
In the 2006 election, the party nominated Malachy McCourt for governor and failed to obtain ballot status by garnering only 40,729 votes, less than the required 50,000. Down-ticket candidates Rachel Treichler for Attorney General and Julia Willebrand for Comptroller fared better, but these votes do not count towards earning ballot status, and neither of these candidates were elected. The party also nominated Howie Hawkins for Senate who criticized incumbent Democrat Hillary Clinton for, among other things, supporting the Iraq War.
Presidential
The Green Party candidate for president in 2008 was former Georgia congresswomen Cynthia McKinney, who ran with hip-hop activist and New York resident Rosa Clemente as her vice-presidential nominee. The all-woman of color ticket received 12,729 votes in New York.
Green Party nominee Dr. Jill Stein and homeless advocate Cheri Honkala of Pennsylvania earned 39,982 (.56%) in 2012.
Congressional
In 2010 Colia Clark ran for Senator of New York against Chuck Schumer, and in 2012 she ran against Kirsten Gillibrand. In 2016, Robin Laverne Wilson is running against Chuck Schumer.
Ian Murphy ran as the Green Party candidate for New York's 26th congressional district special election, 2011. Ian Murphy lost and Kathy Hochul was elected. The seat was vacated by Chris Lee who resigned amid a scandal involving his response to a personal ad on Craigslist and the transmittal of shirtless photos. Murphy finished in last place in the four-candidate field.
Gubernatorial
Howie Hawkins ran as the Green Party candidate for Governor of New York, against six other candidates. His running mate was Gloria Mattera, of Brooklyn.
Hawkins ran again in the 2014 Gubernatorial election against four other candidates receiving 5% of the vote.
Brian Jones, a socialist actor and activist from New York City, was the party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 2014.
Municipal
Billy Talen ran for Mayor of New York City in 2009 as the Green Party candidate. He receive 8,902 (0.8%) votes.
Alex White received approximately 9% of the vote in Rochester's special election for mayor in 2010.
Anthony Gronowicz is runninng for New York City mayor in 2013. Christina González is currently running for New York City Council in District 7.
Platform
The platform of the party is based upon the Four Pillars of the Green Party that originated with European Green Parties. The Pillars are included in and expanded on in the Ten Key Values of the Green Party.
The official Green Party platform in New York is set by The Green Party of New York State Committee.
Current issues
The Green Party of New York supports the ban on hydraulic fracturing, which was brought up in the gubernatorial debate by Howie Hawkins and later approved by the state health department. Hawkins also pushed for a ban on genetically modified foods.
Current officeholders
As of September 12, 2013, there are 3 elected Green mayors in New York State: David Doonan of Greenwich, James M. Sullivan of Victory, Saratoga County, New York and Jason West of New Paltz. The party does not have any officeholders at the county, state or federal level.