Kathleen A. Mickells, July 6, 1950 (Omaha, Neb.) -
VP candidate for Socialist Workers Party (aka Independent) (1988)
Running mate with nominee: James Warren (b ca1952)
Popular vote: 15,602 (0.02%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
The good news for the Socialist Workers Party in 1988 was the impression that their long period of turmoil, purges and splinter groups breaking away appeared to have come to an end for the time being. The bad news was that the Party was now a mere shadow of it's former self and a Phoenix-like rise was not going to be a reality in the near future. In the opinion of several observers, Castroism had solidly replaced Trotskyism in the SWP.
In March 1988 the SWP nominated James Warren for President and Kathy Mickells (pronounced "Michaels") for VP. It was a young ticket with both being under the age of 40 but in an unusual twist for third parties on the Left, both were also old enough to legally serve in office if elected.
Mickells had recently been laid off from her job with Steel Mining Corporation's Cumberland Mine in Kirby, Penn. Earlier in her political activity she had been involved with the American Indian Movement and their occupation of Wounded Knee. Later she was an anti-nuclear power protester.
The three man points of the SWP's 1988 campaign were: Shorten the work week to 30 hours with no cut in pay -- Increase Affirmative Action programs -- Cancel the Third World debt. Both candidates were energetic in their electioneering, criss-crossing the country and making their case, usually hammering on employment. The amount of national media coverage they received was not exactly copious but local newspapers seemed to be relatively more willing to cover the SWP candidates when they came to town.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson's impact on the presidential election as a contender in the Democratic primaries was addressed by nearly every third party on the Left, ranging from total support to utter disdain. Warren was sometimes called by the press "the other Black candidate." Mickells gave the SWP perspective on Jackson's effort: "As he put himself forward as the viable candidate, his policies have bent as opposed to really reflecting what working people are looking for ... [the Democrats and Republicans] are two sides of the same coin. They are parties of the ruling rich. Their program is to defend big business, big bankers and big landowners against working people. And that will be the position Jackson will find himself in."
Mickells had predicted that an economic collapse on par with the Great Depression would happen in the United States within the next couple years.
On the ballot in 15 states + DC, it was not a stellar year for the SWP in terms of popular votes. In 6 of those states they placed dead last. The best showings for Warren/Mickells: North Dakota and Wisconsin 0.12% each, Minnesota 0.10%, New Jersey-New Mexico-South Dakota-Washington 0.07% each.
Election history:
1983 - Washington County Commission (Penn.) (Socialist Workers Party) - defeated
1985 - US House of Representatives (W. Va.) (Socialist Workers Party) - defeated
1990 - Governor of Pennsylvania (Socialist Workers Party) - defeated
1991 - Mayor of Philadelphia, Penn. (Socialist Workers Party) - defeated
Other occupations: oil refinery worker, coal miner, garment worker, teacher, member of a political theater troupe, railroad switchperson
Notes:
She ran in the 1985 and 1990 races as a write-in.
Was married to Douglas Hord, but used her birth name.
