Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Socialist Party of Florida

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Headquarters
  
Zephyrhills, FL

National affiliation
  
Socialist Party USA

Ideology
  
Democratic socialism

Colors
  
Red

Chairperson
  
State Executive Committee

Founded
  
1902, became inactive in 2011

The Socialist Party of Florida (SPFL) is the Florida state chapter of the Socialist Party USA, a democratic socialist party. The SPFL is the local organization of the members of the SPUSA who lived in or claimed legal residence in Florida.

Contents

History and political activity

The first Socialist Party of America (SPA) local in Florida was founded in Orlando on November 18, 1901, a few months after the national party was founded. The original Socialist Party of Florida was founded as a part of the SPA, July 14, 1902. The Socialist Party of America voted 73:34 to change its name to Social Democrats, USA in December 1972. SPUSA was founded in 1973, after which the SPFL was founded on March 16, 1998.

The SPFL became inactive in about June 2011 and on December 20, 2011, the Florida Division of Elections revoked the status of the SPFL as a registered party in the State of Florida.

SPFL is active around several main issues. The SPFL is involved in the anti-war movements around Iraq and Afghanistan, working on behalf of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and opposing the anti gay marriage amendment effort. In addition, the SPFL worked on bringing a lawsuit against the State of Florida over violations of minor parties' First Amendment rights.

While the party was primarily an activist organization, it was also an official minor party in Florida, which enabled it to field candidates for office. The SPFL ran candidates for President in 2000 (David McReynolds) and 2004 (Walt Brown). In 2006, the SPFL attempted to field a write-in candidate for governor, but failed to gain eligibility. SPFL member Brian Moore was nominated to run for President in 2008 by the SP national convention. In 2010, SPFL member, David Maynard, was elected to the Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation Board.

The SPFL had locals in the county of Broward and the Tampa Bay Area.

Elected officials

Formerly and currently elected Florida Socialists:

  • Andrew Jackson Pettigrew, State Representative, Manatee County, 1907-1909
  • C.C. Allen, State Representative, Pinellas County, 1909-1911
  • John Dobler, Mayor, Gulfport, 1909-1911
  • James Love, Mayor, Lake Worth, 1914-1916
  • David Maynard, Hillsborough County Soil & Water Conservation Board, Seat 5 2010-[1]
  • Gubernatorial candidates

  • 1916 — C. C. Allen
  • U.S. Senatorial candidates

  • 1916 — R. L. Goodwin
  • 1920 — M. J. Martin
  • U.S. Representatives candidates

    1904

  • 2nd District — W. B Wood
  • 3rd District — George S. Smith
  • 1906

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen
  • 3rd District — T. B. Meeker
  • 1908

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen
  • 2nd District — A. N. Jackson
  • 3rd District — C. N. Wood
  • 1910

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen
  • 2nd District — Thomas W. Cox
  • 3rd District — Eric Vonaxelson
  • 1912

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen
  • 2nd District — J. J. Collins
  • 3rd District — W. N. Lamberry
  • At-large — A. N. Jackson
  • 1916

  • 1st District — Frank L. Sullivan
  • 4th District — A. N. Jackson
  • 1920

  • 1st District — C. W. Smith
  • 2nd District — W. L. Case
  • 4th District — Earl Hunt
  • 2008

  • 20th District — Marc Luzietti
  • Presidential nominee results

    Since 1976, the Socialist Party USA has run a candidate for President of the United States. The party's nominee has been on the ballot in Florida in each election since 2000. The candidate who has received the highest vote total in Florida and nationally was former Oregon State Senator Walt Brown.

    Logos

    The Socialist Party of Florida near the end of its life had four official logos. The linked hands over the world is the official logo of the Socialist Party USA, while the red carnation is the former logo of the SPUSA. The use of both logos was approved by the State Executive Committee of the SPFL in July 2007. In May, 2008, the SEC approved the use of the Red Star Over Florida. In February, 2010, the SEC approved yet another new logo, based on the linked hands over the world and the red star over Florida.

    References

    Socialist Party of Florida Wikipedia