Ronald C. Ehrenreich, April 16, 1950 -
VP candidate for Socialist Party of the United States of America (aka Socialist Party USA aka Socialist Party aka Independent aka Liberty Union Party) (1988)
Running mate with nominee: Willa Kenoyer (1933-2020)
Popular vote: 3,882 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
In 1984 the Socialist Party of the United States of America had endorsed the Citizens Party but by 1988 they were back on their own. Presidential nominee Willa Kenoyer, a freelance writer in Michigan, had previously served as the Co-chair of the Citizens Party. It seems VP nominee Ron Ehrenreich of Syracuse, NY had also been active in the Citizens Party.
In the Vermont primary Kenoyer gained the support of the Liberty Union Party. Ehrenreich lunched with Burlington Mayor Bernie Sanders in the course of that primary campaign.
Kenoyer expressed a desire to eliminate the CIA and FBI, create a national health program, use the Pentagon to promote peaceful activities, create full employment at union wages, create federally funded child care, lifelong free education, public ownership of utilities and large corporations, and "socialize the Fortune 500."
Ehrenreich had no illusions about electoral victory. The SPUSA had other goals, he told the press: "We want to address the Reagan legacy and ask the question, 'Are the Democrats the only alternative to this legacy?' ... What we seek is a transformation of the economy to eliminate poverty and a transformation of society to eliminate injustice ... The campaign is a protest of the two-party dictatorship, where elections are rigged to prevent the participation of small parties, where choices are limited to Tweedledee and Tweedledum."
They had hoped to make the ballot in 38 states and finish with a five digit popular vote but only made it to six states plus DC and finished with four digits. 67% of the Kenoyer/Ehrenreich total popular vote came from New Jersey, where they placed 7th of out of 11 with 0.08%. Their other showings were not exactly something to write home about as they placed at the bottom or near it in almost every result: District of Columbia 0.07%, Vermont 0.06%, Iowa 0.03%, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Utah 0.02% each. They also received a smattering of reported write-in votes half a dozen states.
Election history:
1999 - Onondaga County, NY Comptroller (Green Party) - defeated
Other occupations: credit union officer, teacher
Notes:
Washington State triva alert!!! Kenoyer was born in Tacoma!
Ehrenreich has lived in Syracuse, NY since 1973.
Burned his draft card in 1971 while a student at Temple University.
