Wayne Allyn Root

 

Wayne Allyn Root, July 20, 1961 (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) -

VP candidate for Libertarian Party (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Robert Laurence Barr Jr. (b. 1948)
Popular vote: 523,515 (0.40%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

About two weeks prior to the 2008 Libertarian Party convention, former Rep. Bob Barr announced he was running for the nomination. Barr had previously served as a Republican from Georgia in the US House and had joined the LP in 2006. His conservative voting credentials included a very un-Libertarian track record especially in regard to supporting the War on Drugs, he authored the anti-Gay Defense of Marriage Act, he voted for the Patriot Act, voted for the Iraq Resolution, and once attempted to ban Wiccans from the military. Although the candidate had claimed to have changed his stripes, many Libertarians were not convinced, considered him a carpetbagger, and decided to walk away after Barr obtained the nomination following six ballots.

Two significant refugee groups included a faction led by George Phillies, a candidate defeated by Barr who went on to be on the ballot as an alternate Libertarian in New Hampshire, and the Boston Tea Party.

Barr's running-mate was another recent Republican convert to the LP, conservative talking head Wayne Allyn Root. Root had also tried for the Presidential nomination but was eliminated after the 5th ballot.

Like many other conservative pundits, Root had learned that there is no such thing as bad publicity and the more outrageous the claim the better the self-promotion. It is difficult to ascertain if he really believed the multitude of conspiracy theories he promoted throughout the years, before and after 2008 such as--

-The Obama "birther" claims.
-Las Vegas sniper Stephen Paddock was part of a "Clearly coordinated Muslim terror attack."
-When a Neo-Nazi killed a protestor in Charlottesville, Root tweeted, "Probably paid actors & infiltrators hired by Soros. No conservative I’ve ever met commits violence. EVER."
-The murder of Seth Rich: "He was murdered because he was the guy that gave all the DNC files to Julian Assange and Wikileaks ... They just killed him for no reason and nobody seems to be interested in finding the killer. And it sure seems to me to point to leading Democrats—Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC, the Clintons, Hillary Clinton, all the above, Donna Brazile, all the above, seem to be mixed up in this, they all had a motive to kill this guy."
-Obama is a Gay Manchurian candidate and a "Marxist, anti-American, anti-Israel, globalist, middle class-hating, Muslim sympathizer."
-"All liberal men are gay" and "All liberal women are ugly."
-Hillary Clinton was bribed and handed over 20% of US uranium stockpiles to Russia so she should be executed for treason.
-Obama "didn't come in to help us end the specter of racism, he brought it back ...  Obama needs ‘division.’ Race warfare. Class warfare. Anger. Resentment. Civil war ... the perfect opportunity to divide the nation, to incite unrest and violence across America ... use spreading unrest to declare martial law."
-"Democratic voters across this country are voting four times, five times, 10 times each for the Democrats."
-Chief Justice Roberts is being blackmailed. How else to explain some of his decisions?
-While warming up a rally for Trump in 2016, fantasized about the death of Hillary Clinton and aide Huma Abedin to a cheering crowd, "We all get our wish. The ending is like 'Thelma and Louise.'"
-"We need to hire an attack dog ... We need to hire former CIA or NSA or FBI or Navy Seals that have been involved in counter-insurgency operations all over the world, that have killed people, that understand how to fight; that don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, that bring a gun to a gunfight, preferably a shoulder-fired missile to a gunfight, preferably a nuclear weapon to a gunfight! ...It is time to go after the left as viciously as they go after us ... These people are mentally insane … and I will tell you right now, they would burn books if they could ... They would love to burn the Bible, because we all know they hate God ... And you know they hate the country."
-"Never in all my years in politics have I seen ever anything like the way the gates of hell have been unleashed on Donald Trump ... This isn’t just an old-fashioned attack, it isn’t random. This is a coordinated conspiracy to destroy Trump. This is a high-tech lynching. This is a crucifixion! ... And that’s why we must all support President Trump ... If we don’t back Trump now, if you don’t back Trump now, it’s all lost forever. It’s time to fight like a cornered wolverine. It’s time to fight like it’s the end of America, because it is. We can’t go back in time and save Sir William Wallace. We can’t go back and save Jesus Christ from being nailed to that cross. But we can change the future course of history today. There is still time to stand with Donald Trump against the forces of evil."
-"Find me a woman who is a feminist and a liberal and likes cats and I will find you someone who ought to be in an insane asylum every single time ... Hey guys, if any of you out there are single and you ever meet a woman who admits to being a liberal and hating Trump and when you get to her house, she’s got cats, run for your life. Run, run, run. Like those ads in Britain, run and hide and tell other men to run and hide ... No man can ever live with a liberal woman with cats ... She’ll cut your pee-pee off, I promise you. Liberals are mentally unstable and mentally insane. They're unhinged."
-"No doubt in my mind Dems are paid off by Mexican drug cartels to oppose [Trump's] wall. Their answers are so bizarre. They have no reasonable reason for opposition. They sound like idiots or little children. Guarantee u they’re getting paid off by hundreds of millions."
-"Pretty simple- if you hate @realDonaldTrump or vote Democrat on Tuesday [2018] you're either commie or freaking idiot."
-"I continue to believe that the left stole the election ... The left stole the 2018 midterm elections in so many states around the country."
-"Isn’t it funny how the liberal mainstream media loves to throw the term 'conspiracy theorist' at any conservative who tells raw truth and asks lots of good questions about the biggest stories in the news?"

Root has been a regular in the Southern Poverty Law Center's Hatewatch, earned a place in The Encyclopedia of American Loons, and has a long description in his Wikipedia entry entitled "Promotion of conspiracy theories and falsehoods," as well his legal transgressions.

It was apparently obvious very quickly that Root was major liability on the ticket. The Barr campaign website had an interesting item on Sept. 10, 2008 where the Presidential candidate offered the VP position to Ron Paul--

While you declined my offer to seek the Libertarian presidential nomination many months ago, I ask that you seriously consider this final offer as an opportunity to show true, lasting leadership beyond party politics.

Root also endorsed the idea--

As the Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee, I believe in one thing above all else—principle. There can be no compromise on the ideals of limited government, lower taxes, lower spending, and more freedom for the American people. Those are the principles to which I’ve dedicated my life. The GOP and Democratic candidates only give lip service—at best—to these ideals and principles. It is only an act at election time every four years.

I want to end the charade once and for all. I am willing to sacrifice anything to advance the cause of liberty, freedom, smaller government and to enable the American taxpayer to keep more of their own money and property. Understanding Dr. Ron Paul's reputation and name recognition in the freedom movement, I am willing to step aside as Libertarian vice presidential candidate if he would be willing to take my place. I will pledge to work day and night, just as I have as the vice presidential nominee, to support Dr. Paul. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity for the Libertarian and freedom movements. I encourage Dr. Paul to accept Congressman Barr's offer. The campaign is making this offer because we believe there is no sacrifice too large when it comes to improving the lives of the American people and American taxpayers.

Some pundits felt the failure of the Barr/Root ticket to attract an endorsement from Ron Paul (he endorsed Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party) coupled with Sen. McCain's selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running-mate took some of the wind out the sails of the Libertarian campaign in spite of Barr's energetic electioneering.

The Barr/Root ticket had ballot access in 45 states plus two write-ins. Nationally they placed 4th, following Ralph Nader's independent bid. They achieved third place in Indiana (1.06%), Georgia (0.73%), Texas (0.69%), North Carolina (0.60%), Arizona (0.55%), and South Carolina (0.38%). It could be argued they were spoilers in North Carolina, handing the state to Obama. Other states where they fiinshed with their highest percentages were Utah (0.73%), Wyoming (0.63%), Idaho (0.56%), Kansas (0.54%), and California (0.50%). Notably missing from this list is Alaska, no doubt due to Palin's place in the Republican ticket drawing away votes from Barr/Root.

Confirming the charges that both nominees were carpetbaggers, Barr and Root had returned to the Republican Party by the next Presidential election.

Election history:
1983 - Westchester County Board of Legislators, N.Y. (Republican) - defeated
2008 - Libertarian Party nomination for US President - defeated
2016 - U.S. Senate (Nev.) (Republican) - withdrew

Other occupations: radio host, author, columnist, TV producer, board member of Wealth Masters International

Notes:
Endorsed Romney in 2012.
"I am a Jew turned evangelical Christian. I am also a passionate supporter of Donald Trump. I have a message for Christians who don’t like Donald Trump: 'YOU’RE MISSING THE BOAT.' Christians have Trump all wrong. God sends messages in many forms. You’re just not listening. God is talking, but you’re [sic] eyes and ears are closed."--Wayne Root, 2016.

Darrell Lane Castle

 

With Ron Paul

Darrell Lane Castle, October 11, 1948 (Kingsport, Tenn.) -

VP candidate for Constitution Party (aka Independent aka Alaskan Independence aka Reform Party of Kansas aka US Taxpayers Party aka Nebraska Party aka Independent American Party) (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Charles Obadiah Baldwin (b. 1952)
Popular vote: 195,186 (0.15%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Chuck Baldwin, the 2004 Constitution Party VP nominee, had told journalists that is was up to God whether or not he would run for President in 2008. In 2006 Baldwin told the Conservative President 2008 website, "In order for me to even consider running in 2008 would require several 'miraculous' signs of reassurance that, frankly, I cannot see happening. However, I am always open to God's will." As late as Mar. 25, 2008, Baldwin told The Miller Report, "I am very honored that anyone would suggest that I should be considered as the CP presidential candidate. There are many great people in our party that, in my opinion, are much more qualified than I am. I have always tried to be open to God's will. At this time, however, I have no inclination that this is God's will for me." In late 2007 Baldwin endorsed Ron Paul for the Republican Presidential nomination.

But God must have given him the sign in short order since Baldwin jumped into the race for the CP nomination on Apr. 10, 2008 right before the convention. Other contenders included "Mad Max" Riekse but it was the threat of Alan Keyes grabbing the prize that may have inspired Baldwin to run. Keyes, who had only recently left the Republican Party after continually failing to achieve elected office, was considered acceptably conservative on social and domestic issues but a total pro-war Neocon in terms of foreign policy. Baldwin handily won the nomination and selected Tennessee attorney Darrell Castle as his running-mate.

A major loss for the Constitution Party was in California. In that state the American Independent Party had been an affiliate of the CP since the early 1990s, but in 2008 the AIP split over Baldwin and Keyes. The California Secretary of State and subsequently the court backed Keyes, and Baldwin was forced to run as a write-in in the Golden State.

The CP had a few other stray ends in 2008. The Constitution Party of Montana, like several other state chapters across the nation at the time, had disaffiliated with the national party in 2006. It seems many state groups did not agree with factions of the national Party that abortion was acceptable in cases of rape, incest, or saving the life of the mother. Also in that same year they elected their first member to the Montana State House of Representatives. Meanwhile, across the country in Maryland, another state where the local Constitution Party took a walk, 2004 Constitution Party Presidential nominee Michael Peroutka jumped ship and considered himself part of the American Heritage Party.

Rather than support Chuck Baldwin, the official Constitution Party nominee in 2008, the Montana group on Sept. 5 filed the names of Ron Paul and Michael Peroutka as their ticket of choice. State Party Chair Jonathan Martin told the press, "Ron Paul did not seek it, but he did not oppose it. He allowed it." Ballot Access News reported, "Ron Paul was aware that the party planned to do this, and has said that as long as he can remain passive and silent about the development, and as long as he need not sign any declaration of candidacy, that he does not object."

It seems Rep. Paul had a change of heart and wrote in a letter dated Sept. 10 to the Montana Secretary of State, "It has come to my attention that I was nominated by the Constitution Party of Montana as its presidential nominee. While I certainly appreciate the Constitution Party of Montana’s nomination, and all the hard work of its members, I am writing to respectfully request that you remove my name from the ballot in Montana as I did not seek nor consent to this nomination." Paul's request was denied on Sept. 15 on the grounds he acted too late. Paul/Peoutka won 2.17% of the vote in Montana. Paul himself endorsed Baldwin.

Peroutka had also won write-in votes for President in Georgia, and Castle the same in Indiana.

In Kentucky, Baldwin's running mate was Robert E. Thornsberry.

On the campaign website, every policy essay began with a quote from Baldwin. Here are a few to act as a summation--

The Education of Young Americans
"If I were President, I would disband the Department of Education."

The Second Amendment Protects Our Liberty
"To help keep your family safe and your country free, go buy a gun."

A Free And Sovereign Republic, Not A World Empire!
"We will stop this international meddling...this international empire building. When Chuck Baldwin is sworn in as President of these United States the 'New World Order' comes crashing down!"

Freedom Of Choice In Health Care
"I strongly support the freedom of choice of practitioner and treatment for all citizens for their health care"

There Is Still Hope For America
"I am personally convinced that, as we get out our message is received by the people of America we will find a ready audience for our message of freedom and hope!"

A Strong National Defense For America
"We will have a national defense that is second to none, with armed forces that serve only under our flag, whose mission is to defend these United States of America!"

Personal Freedom In America
"Free people do not have to check in with government officials and show them their papers--that doesn't work in these United States of America!"

Preserving An Independent American Nation
"The globalists, with their ideas of a common currency here in the United State with a North American Union and a NAFTA Superhighway are after our sovereignty, our freedom and our national independence."

The Sanctity of Life
"I will use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to demand that Congress enact Dr. Ron Paul's Sanctity of Life Act which would set forth that every unborn child is a 'person' under the Constitution, entitled to equal protection of the law and therefore, no unborn child could be killed without due process of law."

The United Nations Will Have To Find A New Address!
"When I am President of these United States all funding for the United Nations stops!"

Baldwin's dislike for the Republican Party seemed to be even more passionate than his views on the Democratic Party. Some Baldwin quotes from different sources in 2008 campaign--

Republicans tout themselves as being “pro-life.” Yet, the GOP controlled both houses of Congress and the White House for six years and did absolutely nothing to overturn Roe or end abortion-on-demand. Under my administration, we could end legal abortion in a matter of days, not decades. And if Congress refused to pass Ron Paul’s bill, I would use the constitutional power of the Presidency to deny funds to protect abortion clinics. Either way, legalized abortion ends when I take office.
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “If I Were President” , May 2, 2008

There is absolutely no reason for us to be dependent upon OPEC. There is enough gas and oil under the soil of Alaska (not to mention the Dakotas and the Gulf of Mexico) to meet the energy needs of the United States for the next 150-200 years. There is also no reason that gas should cost more than $1.50 a gallon (which is about what it was before Bush became President) ... We must begin drilling for the domestic oil that we know exists; we must build more refineries and nuclear power plants.
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “If I Were President” , May 2, 2008

As President, I would end foreign aid. I would also end the current infatuation with nation-building, empire-building, and interventionism. America is not the world’s policeman. Neither are our military personnel the personal militia of the United Nations ... Remember that President Bush told the U.N. in 2003 that the reason we invaded Iraq was for the purpose of securing the “peace and credibility of the United Nations.” (I lie not; that is what he said.)
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “If I Were President” , May 2, 2008

The Democrats basically want the illegals to continue to come across the border at will for the sake of getting votes. The Republicans, on the other hand, want the borders to remain open for the purpose of being able to obtain cheap labor. Regardless of the reason, neither major party has any desire to secure our borders.
Source: Charles Geraci in The Herald Journal, Cache Valley, Utah , Jul 5, 2008

Not only does the Bush administration not secure our borders and ports, it wants to provide a “path to citizenship” for illegal aliens. It allows tax dollars to be used to pay for illegal aliens’ education, social services, and medical care. It offers birthright citizenship for illegal aliens. And it prosecutes and imprisons Border Patrol agents for shooting (but not seriously enough to prevent his escape back into Mexico) a known illegal alien and drug trafficker.

No wonder the flood of illegal aliens has skyrocketed since George W. Bush became President. And is there anyone who does not understand that a John McCain Presidency will be more of the McSame? A McCain White House promises continued open borders and ports. Plus, McCain will also push forward with his plans to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. When it comes to illegal immigration, amnesty, etc., there will be no relief from an Obama White House. Both Barack Obama and John McCain are pro-open borders, pro-amnesty twins.
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “Open Borders Prove” , May 23, 2008

Basically, the only difference between the Republicans and the Democrats today is that the Democrats want to tax and spend, and the Republicans want to borrow and spend. But both of them want to spend. They spend like drunken sailors, except that’s an insult to sailors because at least sailors are spending their own money.
Source: Charles Geraci in The Herald Journal, Cache Valley, Utah , Jul 5, 2008

Secret ‘suspicious activity reports’ filed by financial institutions and reviewed by teams of agents spread around the country. The American people are largely unaware that they are now living in a universal surveillance society. Virtually every major financial transaction--as well as much of their travel--is reported and monitored by the federal government. This total surveillance system, that began in earnest under Bill Clinton’s administration, has mushroomed into a ubiquitous and finely tuned science under George W. Bush. Dare I say that Dubya’s neurotic fixation with spying on ordinary citizens rivals Comrade Stalin’s paranoiac obsession with a total surveillance society?

You and I are constantly being watched, listened to, monitored, taped, and stalked by our own government. So, do any of us really believe that we still live in a free country? A Chuck Baldwin Administration will bring an immediate end to the surveillance state.
Source: 2008 Presidential website, baldwin2008.com, “Issues” , May 27, 2008

I opposed the preemptive invasion of Iraq, and I continue to oppose the occupation of that country. I believe the Bush administration was untruthful about the motivations for going to war with Iraq and continues to deceive the American people to this very day.
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “Strictly Personal” , May 9, 2008

Baldwin/Castle placed third in Utah with 1.26%. They were in 4th in Idaho (0.72%), Alaska (0.51%), South Dakota (0.50%), Oregon (0.42%), Nebraska (0.37%), West Virginia (0.35%), and Mississippi (0.20%). They were in 5th place nationally, on the ballot in 37 states where they were one of only six tickets with the theoretical potential of gaining enough Electoral votes to win. Baldwin was also a write-in in the remaining states except for Oklahoma, North Carolina + the District of Columbia. In spite of losing the California ballot placement, 2008 was their highest national popular vote up to that time, and their second highest percentage.

Darrell Castle would be the Constitution Party Presidential nominee in 2016.

Election history:
2012 - Constitution Party nomination for US President - defeated
2016 - US President (Constitution Party) - defeated

Other occupations: US Marine Corps (Vietnam War), attorney, board member of the Conservative Caucus, US Taxpayers Party Elector 1996

Notes:
Personal trivia- Given Mr. Castle's birthplace and surname, it is highly possible we are distant cousins.
Was trained in the Marine Corps by Oliver North.

Rosa Alicia Clemente

 

Rosa Alicia Clemente, April 18, 1972 (New York, NY) -

VP candidate for Green Party of the United States (aka DC Statehood-Green Party aka Mountain Party aka Green-Rainbow Party aka Independent aka Pacific Green Party aka Unaffiliated) (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Cynthia Ann McKinney (b. 1955)
Popular vote: 161,870 (0.12%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

In 2008 the Green Party nominated former US Representative Cynthia McKinney for President. Serving from Georgia 1993-2003, 2005-2007, she found herself frequently operating on the Left side of the Democratic Party. Initially she ruled out running for President but changed her mind in the course of the election season. Her running-mate was Hip-Hop activist Rosa Clemente.

McKinney's political record was a mixed bag for progressives. She took strong positions regarding both domestic and international human rights and was firmly in the anti-war camp. In 2006 she had introduced articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush for abuse of office and unconstitutional actions but it failed to clear the House Judiciary Committee.

But on the other hand McKinney also had some serious baggage. She was inclined to promote various conspiracy theories and by 2008 had been associated with the 9/11 Truthers, a claim that the Dept. of Defense used the chaos of Hurricane Katrina to execute about 5,000 people by a bullet to the head, and was showing the early signs of a mindset that would later accept pizzagate, anti-vaccinations, portions of Holocaust denial, exposing "Zionist shill" operations, and many other alleged plots as fact. She would earn a place in the Encyclopedia of American Loons ("The Democrats' answer to Michele Bachmann, McKinney is really stunningly insane, and despite the good stuff she’s done, she is a real threat to sanity and society"), and Cracked's "The 6 Most Insane People to Ever Run for President." McKinney's supporters responded that painting her as a conspiracy nut was an effort to discredit her and hide the truth.

In 2006 McKinney made national news after she was accused of physically assaulting a Capitol police officer who stopped her entrance to an office building due to her lack of displaying the required credential identification.

Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! interviewed McKinney and Clemente and in her introduction stated, "The Green Party made history last week when it nominated the first all-women-of-color presidential ticket in US history." This is an often repeated claim about the McKinney/Clemente ticket but it is not really accurate. Earlier tickets included: Lenora Fulani with VPs Wynonia Brewington Burke, Mamie L. Moore, and Barbara R. Taylor (New Alliance Party, 1988), Lenora Fulani and Maria Elizabeth Muñoz (New Alliance Party, 1992), Isabell Masters and Shirley Jean Masters (Looking Back Party, 1996), Monica Gail Moorehead and Gloria Estela La Riva (Workers World Party, 1996, 2000), Isabell Masters and Alfreda Dean Masters (Looking Back Party, 2000).

During the Goodman interview, Clemente gave the listeners a little bit of autobiography and her mission--

I mean, thank you for having me, Amy. It’s a humbling experience, first and foremost. But, I mean, I’m a South Bronx Puerto Rican-born girl, 1972. I was in the South Bronx when hip hop, which is still now the voice of multi-racial young people all over the world, began. So I’m humbled, but I’m ready for the work. I’ve been in a great tradition of student activists coming from the State University of New York at Albany in the early ’90s to getting my Master’s at Cornell University under the mentorship of Dr. James Turner and being a community organizer with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, but again under mentorship of the great late Richie Perez.

So I’m humbled, but I’m also excited, because I feel that many African American, indigenous, Asian, Latino youth in this country, mostly working class, are completely disenfranchised and marginalized from a two-party system. There’s over 40 percent of young people that still have not registered to vote, which shows their dissatisfaction with both the Republicans and Democrats. And I really want to bring the face of what hip hop has always been for me, a voice of the voiceless, the mic that speaks truth to power but also uses these elements to act against the status quo or the powers that be.

The Workers World Party endorsed McKinney in this election rather than running their own candidate. She was also endorsed by Roseanne Barr, Noam Chomsky, and Cindy Lee Miller Sheehan.

McKinney/Clemente were on the ballot in 32 states and theoretically could have won enough votes to achieve the magic 270 Electoral number to take office. They were also write-ins in 17 other states. Their strongest percentages on Election Day were in Louisiana (0.47%), Maine (0.40%), West Virginia (0.33%), Arkansas (0.32%), California (0.29%), Oregon (0.25%), and South Carolina (0.23%). They had earned a little more than 40,000 votes over the previous election for the Greens.

Election history: none

Other occupations: journalist, media consultant, speakers bureau

Notes:
In Nov. 2019 McKinney endorsed Adam Kokesh for the 2020 Libertarian Party Presidential nomination.

Steven Bernard Schulin

 

Steven Bernard Schulin, June 20, 1954 (Pennsylvania) -

VP candidate for America's Independent Party (2008)
VP candidate for America's Party (aka Non-affiliated aka Independent aka Life Family Constitution aka American Party) (2016)

Running mate with nominee (2008): Alan Lee Keyes (b. 1950)
Running mate with nominee (2016): Thomas Conrad Hoefling (b. 1960)
Popular vote (2008): 38 (0.00%)
Popular vote (2016): 4,762 (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2008, 2016): 0/538

The campaign (2008):

As an African American Republican Christian Conservative, Alan Keyes was something of an anomaly on the political landscape. Sometimes referred to as a "Theocratic Neocon," the Harvard-educated Dr. Keyes had served as a diplomat in various capacities starting in 1979. In the Reagan years he was Ambassador to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and later Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs from 1985 to 1987. He was subsequently known as former Ambassador Keyes in the media.

By 2008 he had also become known as a perennial candidate. He had made three attempts for the US Senate, 1988, 1992, and 2004 (losing to Obama in that last one), and for US President in the Republican primaries 1996 and 2000. 2008 was his third try.

When Keyes' Republican prospects evaporated he announced on Apr. 15, 2008 he was switching parties and was now a candidate for the Constitution Party Presidential nomination. He said, "I believe people deserve a choice. They certainly deserve a conservative choice — something neither John McCain, Hillary Clinton, nor Barack Obama can offer voters. All they can offer is empty promises based on liberal track records." Constitution Party stalwarts were wary of Keyes' late conversion. He certainly had the evangelical Christian credentials but also a Neocon foreign policy track record was out of step with them. Besides, 2004 VP nominee Chuck Baldwin was already on track to gain the nomination.

Although Baldwin did win the national CP nomination, the American Independent Party which had been affiliate since 1991 was torn apart over the selection. The pro-Constitution Party faction nominated Baldwin, and the anti-Constitution Party faction nominated Keyes. Both held their own conventions regarding the other as an invalid gathering. The California Secretary of State and later the court sided with the Keyes faction and thus the era of the AIP's association with the CP came to an end. Instead, the AIP became an affiliate of the newly invented America's Independent Party which also nominated Keyes. By the time the dust settled it was really too late for Baldwin to gain access to the printed ballot in California but he did register as a write-in.

This chapter of AIP history was interpreted by the victors on their webpage--

History repeated itself after the death of our revered founder, William Shearer in early 2007. Once again outside forces sought to determine the AIP's future, but this time it was the Constitution Party that sought to dominate the American Independent Party of California through surrogates, a misguided rump faction that came to be known as "The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight." Defeating this assault on the independence of the AIP also took three long and costly years from 2008 to 2011. After illegitimate attempts to eject Edward Noonan from the Chairmanship by the daughter of the late founder William Shearer failed, the rump faction she led sought aid from the founder of the Constitution Party, Howard Phillips, to deny the American Independent Party its rightful voice at the Presidential nominating Convention in 2008 by a series of dastardly tricks. After successfully maintaining its right to vote on the Presidential nomination, the AIP was subjected to a further attack when the rump group held its own "Convention" and elected its own officers, entirely without authorization and contrary to both AIP Bylaws and the California Election Code. A legal battle for control of the Party ensued, which was finally resolved in favor of the legitimate party leadership on August 29, 2011.

The curious fact the party of segregationist George Wallace now had an African American standard bearer was not lost on politicos of all stripes.

The Keyes faction of the AIP was viewed as "pro-war" within the ranks of critics on the Right. The platform of America's Independent Party was pretty much the same as the American Independent Party of years past, except perhaps for the America's military plank--

Peace through Strength
We believe in a supremely strong, prepared, and well-equipped civilian-controlled United States military, and a bold, visionary and intelligent program of principled constructive engagement with the rest of the world. For us, "peace through strength" is not a mere slogan. It is the means of survival for our country in a very dangerous and often hostile world. Our friendship should be a sought-after possession of all men and women of good will everywhere in the world. Our enmity should be something that all rightfully fear.

As Ronald Reagan opposed and defeated the designs and desire of the Soviet Union to dominate the world and place it under the tyranny of their Evil Empire, we stand unalterably opposed to all who approve of, plan or commit terrorist acts. Since the first principle of America is the protection of innocent human life, any who would use acts of terrorism targeted at innocent civilians to forward their political, ideological or religious aims incur our effective and determined enmity.

In Virginia, where Keye's was a write-in candidate, his running-mate was Steve Schulin who was also one of the early organizers of America's Independent Party and the Maryland Independent Party affiliate. In Sept. 2010, Schulin provided a political autobiographical summary on the freerepublic.com boards that included the following--

Sept 2010 update

After Bill Clinton left the White House, my blood pressure went back to normal. I supported Alan Keyes for President in 2000 (and he continues to represent my views better than any other presidential candidate in my lifetime). When McCain had won enough delegates to capture the GOP nomination in 2008, I decided to look elsewhere for a political party home. I still consider myself a libertarian, but the Libertarian Party doesn't reflect my view that there are serious implications of the wonderful American perspective that our liberties are God-given. There's other things I disagree with many libertarians about, too -- I'm in favor of strict control of who's entering our national borders, for example. I urge all God-fearing, liberty-loving, sovereignty-conserving Freepers to check out America's Party.

Keyes national vote was 47,941 (0.04%). 38 (0.00%) of those came from the write-in ticket with Schulin. Keyes' other VPs were Wiley Drake in California, Brian Rohrbough the official America's Independent Party VP nationally, and Marvin Sprouse Jr. in Texas. Write-in votes for Keyes were reported in 12 more states where no running-mate was included.

Schulin, who had been an Elector for America's Independent Party, also supported the Obama "birther" challenge launched by Keyes following the election.

The campaign (2016):

In 2016 Tom Hoefling was making his second consecutive run for President under the banner of America's Party. In 2011 the Party had shortened their name from the original America's Independent Party. Hoefling's running-mate was Steve Schulin.

Hoefling had briefly rejoined the Republican Party between the elections in order to run for Governor of Iowa. He lost the primary. Upon returning to the world of third parties for the 2016 election he sought the Presidential nomination of the Constitution and American Independent parties without success, but did gain the nomination of the American Party and America's Party.

The campaign webpage included Hoefling's platform in a nutshell--

Tom Hoefling's Ten Keys to Saving the American Republic

1. Remind the American people that the source of their rights is God, not men, and that those rights are therefore unalienable.

2. Restore governmental protection for the equal right of all innocent persons, including unborn persons, to live.

3. Restore and protect the most fundamental and important civilizing institution of our society, the God-created, God-defined institution of marriage and the natural family.

4. Restore and protect our God-given right to keep and bear arms.

5. Defend the sovereignty, security, and borders of the United States.

6. Restore and protect our republican form of self-government, which is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

7. Restore respect for all of the sacred obligations of the solemn oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

8. Bring about fundamental tax, regulatory, and governmental reforms.

9. Dismantle all governmental programs, agencies or laws which are either immoral, unconstitutional, or unnecessary.

10. Rein in our out-of-control, usurping judiciary.

If you share in these commitments, you should support my efforts, for the sake of our Posterity.

The Hoefling/Schulin ticket could be found on the ballots in Colorado (0.03%), and under the Life, Family, Constitution banner in Louisiana (0.08%). They were also registered write-ins in 25 states, with their best percentages (0.01%) in Indiana, Tennessee, and Texas.

Election history:
2008 - US House of Representatives (Md.) (Independent) - special election - defeated
2008 - US House of Representatives (Md.) (Unaffiliated) - defeated
2013 - North Myrtle Beach City Council, S.C. - defeated

Other occupations: nuclear power industry technician, Dean of Admissions of Cryptocurrency.academy, Nerium International mulitilevel marketing representative, ecommerce

Notes:
Ran as a write-in in the 2008 congressional elections.

Marvin Earl Sprouse Jr.

 

Marvin Earl Sprouse Jr., May 3, 1941 (Alabama) -

VP candidate for America's Independent Party (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Alan Lee Keyes (b. 1950)
Popular vote: 883 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

As an African American Republican Christian Conservative, Alan Keyes was something of an anomaly on the political landscape. Sometimes referred to as a "Theocratic Neocon," the Harvard-educated Dr. Keyes had served as a diplomat in various capacities starting in 1979. In the Reagan years he was Ambassador to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and later Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs from 1985 to 1987. He was subsequently known as former Ambassador Keyes in the media.

By 2008 he had also become known as a perennial candidate. He had made three attempts for the US Senate, 1988, 1992, and 2004 (losing to Obama in that last one), and for US President in the Republican primaries 1996 and 2000. 2008 was his third try.

When Keyes' Republican prospects evaporated he announced on Apr. 15, 2008 he was switching parties and was now a candidate for the Constitution Party Presidential nomination. He said, "I believe people deserve a choice. They certainly deserve a conservative choice — something neither John McCain, Hillary Clinton, nor Barack Obama can offer voters. All they can offer is empty promises based on liberal track records." Constitution Party stalwarts were wary of Keyes' late conversion. He certainly had the evangelical Christian credentials but also a Neocon foreign policy track record was out of step with them. Besides, 2004 VP nominee Chuck Baldwin was already on track to gain the nomination.

Although Baldwin did win the national CP nomination, the American Independent Party which had been affiliate since 1991 was torn apart over the selection. The pro-Constitution Party faction nominated Baldwin, and the anti-Constitution Party faction nominated Keyes. Both held their own conventions regarding the other as an invalid gathering. The California Secretary of State and later the court sided with the Keyes faction and thus the era of the AIP's association with the CP came to an end. Instead, the AIP became an affiliate of the newly invented America's Independent Party which also nominated Keyes. By the time the dust settled it was really too late for Baldwin to gain access to the printed ballot in California but he did register as a write-in.

This chapter of AIP history was interpreted by the victors on their webpage--

History repeated itself after the death of our revered founder, William Shearer in early 2007. Once again outside forces sought to determine the AIP's future, but this time it was the Constitution Party that sought to dominate the American Independent Party of California through surrogates, a misguided rump faction that came to be known as "The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight." Defeating this assault on the independence of the AIP also took three long and costly years from 2008 to 2011. After illegitimate attempts to eject Edward Noonan from the Chairmanship by the daughter of the late founder William Shearer failed, the rump faction she led sought aid from the founder of the Constitution Party, Howard Phillips, to deny the American Independent Party its rightful voice at the Presidential nominating Convention in 2008 by a series of dastardly tricks. After successfully maintaining its right to vote on the Presidential nomination, the AIP was subjected to a further attack when the rump group held its own "Convention" and elected its own officers, entirely without authorization and contrary to both AIP Bylaws and the California Election Code. A legal battle for control of the Party ensued, which was finally resolved in favor of the legitimate party leadership on August 29, 2011.

The curious fact the party of segregationist George Wallace now had an African American standard bearer was not lost on politicos of all stripes.

The Keyes faction of the AIP was viewed as "pro-war" within the ranks of critics on the Right. The platform of America's Independent Party was pretty much the same as the American Independent Party of years past, except perhaps for the America's military plank--

Peace through Strength
We believe in a supremely strong, prepared, and well-equipped civilian-controlled United States military, and a bold, visionary and intelligent program of principled constructive engagement with the rest of the world. For us, "peace through strength" is not a mere slogan. It is the means of survival for our country in a very dangerous and often hostile world. Our friendship should be a sought-after possession of all men and women of good will everywhere in the world. Our enmity should be something that all rightfully fear.

As Ronald Reagan opposed and defeated the designs and desire of the Soviet Union to dominate the world and place it under the tyranny of their Evil Empire, we stand unalterably opposed to all who approve of, plan or commit terrorist acts. Since the first principle of America is the protection of innocent human life, any who would use acts of terrorism targeted at innocent civilians to forward their political, ideological or religious aims incur our effective and determined enmity.

Keye's running-mate in Texas was Dr. Marvin E. Sprouse Jr. who was a conservative Christian author and TV/radio host. Just prior to the election Sprouse had been caught up in the Bio Performance fuel additive MLM/pyramid scheme hoax/scam before the State of Texas shut it down.

Keyes national vote was 47,941 (0.04%). 883 (0.00%) of those came from the write-in ticket with Sprouse, accounting for 0.01% of the vote in Texas. Keyes' other VPs were Wiley Drake in California, Brian Rohrbough the official America's Independent Party VP nationally, and Steve Schulin in Virginia. Write-in votes for Keyes were reported in 12 more states where no running-mate was included.

Election history: none

Other occupations: US Army (Vietnam War), life coach, author, lecturer, publisher, teacher, radio and TV talk show host, Bio Performance fuel additive manager

Notes:
Earned his doctorates at Landmark Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Tex.
Has written several books including: God Sent Me to Love You (2020), Pharoah Obama I: the Christian Response to Tyranny (2014), My 30 day book: published for less than $500 (2012), The Four Minute Sermon (2013), The World's Greatest Motivator (2012), 2013; America’s Year of Catastrophe (2012), Life Coaching (2013), The Hezekiah Prayer (2004), Connecting (A Guide to Great Relationships) (1990), Political Correctness Exposed: A Piranha In Your Bathtub (1994), and The Seven Biblical Principles of Fitness (2005).

Brian Eric Rohrbough

 

Brian Eric Rohrbough, January 18, 1959 (Casper, Wyo.) -

VP candidate for America's Independent Party (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Alan Lee Keyes (b. 1950)
Popular vote: 5,835 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

As an African American Republican Christian Conservative, Alan Keyes was something of an anomaly on the political landscape. Sometimes referred to as a "Theocratic Neocon," the Harvard-educated Dr. Keyes had served as a diplomat in various capacities starting in 1979. In the Reagan years he was Ambassador to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and later Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs from 1985 to 1987. He was subsequently known as former Ambassador Keyes in the media.

By 2008 he had also become known as a perennial candidate. He had made three attempts for the US Senate, 1988, 1992, and 2004 (losing to Obama in that last one), and for US President in the Republican primaries 1996 and 2000. 2008 was his third try.

When Keyes' Republican prospects evaporated he announced on Apr. 15, 2008 he was switching parties and was now a candidate for the Constitution Party Presidential nomination. He said, "I believe people deserve a choice. They certainly deserve a conservative choice — something neither John McCain, Hillary Clinton, nor Barack Obama can offer voters. All they can offer is empty promises based on liberal track records." Constitution Party stalwarts were wary of Keyes' late conversion. He certainly had the evangelical Christian credentials but also a Neocon foreign policy track record was out of step with them. Besides, 2004 VP nominee Chuck Baldwin was already on track to gain the nomination.

Although Baldwin did win the national CP nomination, the American Independent Party which had been affiliate since 1991 was torn apart over the selection. The pro-Constitution Party faction nominated Baldwin, and the anti-Constitution Party faction nominated Keyes. Both held their own conventions regarding the other as an invalid gathering. The California Secretary of State and later the court sided with the Keyes faction and thus the era of the AIP's association with the CP came to an end. Instead, the AIP became an affiliate of the newly invented America's Independent Party which also nominated Keyes. By the time the dust settled it was really too late for Baldwin to gain access to the printed ballot in California but he did register as a write-in.

This chapter of AIP history was interpreted by the victors on their webpage--

History repeated itself after the death of our revered founder, William Shearer in early 2007. Once again outside forces sought to determine the AIP's future, but this time it was the Constitution Party that sought to dominate the American Independent Party of California through surrogates, a misguided rump faction that came to be known as "The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight." Defeating this assault on the independence of the AIP also took three long and costly years from 2008 to 2011. After illegitimate attempts to eject Edward Noonan from the Chairmanship by the daughter of the late founder William Shearer failed, the rump faction she led sought aid from the founder of the Constitution Party, Howard Phillips, to deny the American Independent Party its rightful voice at the Presidential nominating Convention in 2008 by a series of dastardly tricks. After successfully maintaining its right to vote on the Presidential nomination, the AIP was subjected to a further attack when the rump group held its own "Convention" and elected its own officers, entirely without authorization and contrary to both AIP Bylaws and the California Election Code. A legal battle for control of the Party ensued, which was finally resolved in favor of the legitimate party leadership on August 29, 2011.

The curious fact the party of segregationist George Wallace now had an African American standard bearer was not lost on politicos of all stripes.

The Keyes faction of the AIP was viewed as "pro-war" within the ranks of critics on the Right. The platform of America's Independent Party was pretty much the same as the American Independent Party of years past, except perhaps for the America's military plank--

Peace through Strength
We believe in a supremely strong, prepared, and well-equipped civilian-controlled United States military, and a bold, visionary and intelligent program of principled constructive engagement with the rest of the world. For us, "peace through strength" is not a mere slogan. It is the means of survival for our country in a very dangerous and often hostile world. Our friendship should be a sought-after possession of all men and women of good will everywhere in the world. Our enmity should be something that all rightfully fear.

As Ronald Reagan opposed and defeated the designs and desire of the Soviet Union to dominate the world and place it under the tyranny of their Evil Empire, we stand unalterably opposed to all who approve of, plan or commit terrorist acts. Since the first principle of America is the protection of innocent human life, any who would use acts of terrorism targeted at innocent civilians to forward their political, ideological or religious aims incur our effective and determined enmity.

Keyes' official VP in America's Independent Party was Brian Rohrbough, who became an involuntary public figure starting with his son being one of the victims of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. In an effort to make sense of a senseless act, Rohrbough settled on blaming what he calls our "culture of death." This included--

Abortion: "We teach there are no absolutes, no right or wrong. And I assure you the murder of innocent children is always wrong, including by abortion. Abortion has diminished the value of children."

The theory of evolution: "This country is in a moral free-fall. For over two generations, the public school system has taught in a moral vacuum, expelling God from the school and from the government, replacing him with evolution, where the strong kill the weak, without moral consequences and life has no inherent value."

Rohrbough had become a prominent anti-abortion activist by the time he was chosen to be Keyes' running-mate. Siding with the "absolutist" faction as the anti-choice groups in Colorado experienced a major schism, Rohrbough took part in the Right-wing takedown of Mitt Romney during the 2008 Republican primaries ("The evidence is indisputable — Mitt Romney is lying to get Christian votes," said Rohrbough) as well as being highly critical of the National Right to Life Committee.

The Keyes/Rohrbough ticket was on the ballot in Colorado (0.13%) and Florida (0.03%). In addition Rohrbough was considered the write-in running-mate in Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and Utah.

Keyes national vote was 47,941 (0.04%). 5,835 (0.00%) of those came from the ticket with Rohrbough. Keyes' other VPs were Wiley Drake in California, Marvin Sprouse Jr. in Texas, and Steve Schulin in Virginia. Write-in votes for Keyes were reported in 12 more states where no running-mate was included.

Election history: none

Other occupations: car stereo business, president of Colorado Right to Life, president of American Right to Life, author

Notes:
Rohrbough engaged in a flurry of various controversial lawsuits following Columbine.

Wiley Smead Drake Sr.

 

Wiley Smead Drake Sr., November 23, 1943 (Magnolia, Ark.) -

VP candidate for American Independent Party (aka America's Independent Party) (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Alan Lee Keyes (b. 1950)
Popular vote: 40,673 (0.03%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

As an African American Republican Christian Conservative, Alan Keyes was something of an anomaly on the political landscape. Sometimes referred to as a "Theocratic Neocon," the Harvard-educated Dr. Keyes had served as a diplomat in various capacities starting in 1979. In the Reagan years he was Ambassador to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and later Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs from 1985 to 1987. He was subsequently known as former Ambassador Keyes in the media.

By 2008 he had also become known as a perennial candidate. He had made three attempts for the US Senate, 1988, 1992, and 2004 (losing to Obama in that last one), and for US President in the Republican primaries 1996 and 2000. 2008 was his third try.

When Keyes' Republican prospects evaporated he announced on Apr. 15, 2008 he was switching parties and was now a candidate for the Constitution Party Presidential nomination. He said, "I believe people deserve a choice. They certainly deserve a conservative choice — something neither John McCain, Hillary Clinton, nor Barack Obama can offer voters. All they can offer is empty promises based on liberal track records." Constitution Party stalwarts were wary of Keyes' late conversion. He certainly had the evangelical Christian credentials but also a Neocon foreign policy track record was out of step with them. Besides, 2004 VP nominee Chuck Baldwin was already on track to gain the nomination.

Although Baldwin did win the national CP nomination, the American Independent Party which had been affiliate since 1991 was torn apart over the selection. The pro-Constitution Party faction nominated Baldwin, and the anti-Constitution Party faction nominated Keyes. Both held their own conventions regarding the other as an invalid gathering. The California Secretary of State and later the court sided with the Keyes faction and thus the era of the AIP's association with the CP came to an end. Instead, the AIP became an affiliate of the newly invented America's Independent Party which also nominated Keyes. By the time the dust settled it was really too late for Baldwin to gain access to the printed ballot in California but he did register as a write-in.

This chapter of AIP history was interpreted by the victors on their webpage--

History repeated itself after the death of our revered founder, William Shearer in early 2007. Once again outside forces sought to determine the AIP's future, but this time it was the Constitution Party that sought to dominate the American Independent Party of California through surrogates, a misguided rump faction that came to be known as "The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight." Defeating this assault on the independence of the AIP also took three long and costly years from 2008 to 2011. After illegitimate attempts to eject Edward Noonan from the Chairmanship by the daughter of the late founder William Shearer failed, the rump faction she led sought aid from the founder of the Constitution Party, Howard Phillips, to deny the American Independent Party its rightful voice at the Presidential nominating Convention in 2008 by a series of dastardly tricks. After successfully maintaining its right to vote on the Presidential nomination, the AIP was subjected to a further attack when the rump group held its own "Convention" and elected its own officers, entirely without authorization and contrary to both AIP Bylaws and the California Election Code. A legal battle for control of the Party ensued, which was finally resolved in favor of the legitimate party leadership on August 29, 2011.

The curious fact the party of segregationist George Wallace now had an African American standard bearer was not lost on politicos of all stripes.

The Keyes faction of the AIP was viewed as "pro-war" within the ranks of critics on the Right. The platform of America's Independent Party was pretty much the same as the American Independent Party of years past, except perhaps for the America's military plank--

Peace through Strength
We believe in a supremely strong, prepared, and well-equipped civilian-controlled United States military, and a bold, visionary and intelligent program of principled constructive engagement with the rest of the world. For us, "peace through strength" is not a mere slogan. It is the means of survival for our country in a very dangerous and often hostile world. Our friendship should be a sought-after possession of all men and women of good will everywhere in the world. Our enmity should be something that all rightfully fear.

As Ronald Reagan opposed and defeated the designs and desire of the Soviet Union to dominate the world and place it under the tyranny of their Evil Empire, we stand unalterably opposed to all who approve of, plan or commit terrorist acts. Since the first principle of America is the protection of innocent human life, any who would use acts of terrorism targeted at innocent civilians to forward their political, ideological or religious aims incur our effective and determined enmity.

Keyes' American Independent Party running-mate, only in California, was controversial minister Wiley S. Drake. The minister's name had already been in the news several times. On the humanitarian side, he had provided a place for the homeless on his church parking lots and legal assistance for illegal immigrants. On the homophobic side, he called for a ban on Disney for recognizing Gay partnerships as the same as straight marriages in terms of employee benefits. Drake loudly opposed the appointment of an American ambassador strictly based on sexuality.

In 2007 Drake's name was in a letter of support for James Kopp, convicted sniper, terrorist, and murderer with his targets being abortion doctors. Drake claims he did not authorize the use of his name.

Drake campaigned partly from his pulpit. At first for Gov. Huckabee in the Republican primaries but then for Keyes later in the season. The Americans United for Separation of Church and State advocated for an IRS investigation of Drake. Drake's response was to pray for the death of his enemies.

Keyes national vote was 47,941 (0.04%). 40,673 (0.03%) of those came from California with Drake, where they earned 0.30% of the state vote.

Drake went on to, in a very public way, pray for the death of President Obama and of anyone else who displeased him as he urged God to be his hit man. Keyes, Drake and AIP Elector Markham Robinson filed a petition with the Superior Court in California at Sacramento challenging the right of Obama to assume the office of President based on spurious "birther" claims. The action was filed by Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation, an organization characterized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-Muslim hate group.

Election history:
2012 - American Independent Party nomination for President - defeated
2012 - US President (Unaffiliated) - defeated
2016 - American Independent Party nomination for President - defeated
2016 - US President (Unaffiliated) - defeated

Other occupations: US Navy, rodeo rider, Baptist minister, radio host, national chaplain of the Minuteman Project

Notes:
Drake was heavily influenced by his grandfather, Hamp Smead Beasley, who took him to revival meetings.
MSNBC host Keith Olbermann called Drake the "world's worst person" on a broadcast July 2009.

Alyson Kennedy

 

                                                                      Above, 2008 ; Below, 2012

Alyson Kennedy, June 11, 1950 (Indianapolis, Ind.) -

VP candidate for Party for Socialist Workers Party (2008, 2012)

Running mate with nominee (2008): Róger Calero (b. 1969), James Edward Harris Jr. (b. 1948)
Running mate with nominee (2012): James Edward Harris Jr. (b. 1948)
Popular vote (2008): 7,577 (0.01%)
Popular vote (2012): 2,324 (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2008, 2012): 0/538

The campaign (2008):

The Socialist Workers Party launched their national ticket of Róger Calero and Alyson Kennedy in Jan. 2008. There was one slight problem-- Calero, who was born in Nicaragua, was ineligible to hold the office he sought. Many states would not allow him to be listed on their ballots, so the stalwart perennial James E. Harris returned as a stand-in. Kennedy remained the running-mate in all states.

Calero was not only not born a US citizen, but he had nearly been deported stemming from an arrest back in 1988 concerning a felony-level sale of marijuana. This case came up in 2002 when Calero attempted to re-enter the US after a journalistic trip to Cuba.

The Calero/Kennedy ticket made the ballot in Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. They were write-ins in Connecticut. The Harris/Kennedy ticket made the ballot in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, and Washington. They were write-ins in California and Georgia.

In a decline from the previous election, the SWP tickets had their best showings in New York and Vermont (0.05%), Louisiana (0.04%), Minnesota (0.03%), Iowa and Washington (0.02%). Official popular vote tallies vary somewhat depending on the source.

The campaign (2012):

In keeping with what was becoming a tradition of nominating ineligible candidates, the SWP selected James E. Harris with under-35 years of age Maura DeLuca as his running-mate. Kennedy was called in to act as the stand-in VP in a half dozen instances. Kennedy was simultaneously running for Cook County State's Attorney (Ill.).

The SWP appeared to be in sort of a cryogenic holding pattern, not helped by the growing number of ex-members who charged the Party with using cultish methods of manipulation over their dedicated followers.

The Harris/Kennedy ticket won 2,324 popular votes out of the 4,120 cast for the Party as whole. They were on the ballot in Washington (0.04%), Iowa (0.03%), Louisiana (0.02%), and Colorado (0.01%). They were also write-ins for California and Georgia.

Election history:
1977 - Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio (Nonpartisan) - primary - defeated
2000 - US Senate (Mo.) (Independent) - defeated
2012 - Cook County State's Attorney, Ill. (Socialist Workers Party) - defeated
2016 - US President (Socialist Workers Party) - defeated
2019 - Mayor of Dallas, Tex. (Nonpartisan) - defeated
2020 - US President (Socialist Workers Party) - pending

Other occupations: coal miner, teacher, Walmart worker, garment worker

Notes:
Winner of the 1977 election was Dennis Kucinich.
Was a write-in candidate in 2000.
A member of the SWP since 1975.

Eugene Puryear

 

Eugene Puryear, February 28, 1986 (Charlottesville, Va.) -

VP candidate for Party for Socialism and Liberation (aka Independent aka Unaffiliated) (2008)
VP candidate for Party for Socialism and Liberation (aka Liberty Union Party) (2016)

Running mate with nominee (2008, 2016): Gloria Estela La Riva (b. 1954)
Popular vote (2008): 5,921 (0.00%)
Popular vote (2016): 6,204 (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2008, 2016): 0/538

The campaign (2008):

In the middle of campaign 2004, the San Francisco branch of the Workers World Party split and helped form the Party for Socialism and Liberation. To outsiders even within the Left, the difference between the WWP and PSL seemed minuscule as both entities support repressive regimes (e.g. North Korea) and seem to mirror each other in a philosophy frequently described by observers as neo-Stalinist.

In an Aug. 1, 2004 statement from the PSL, the split from WWP reads like it was more about form rather than content--

While we are in the first stage of creating a new revolutionary party, we have a long tradition as leaders and organizers inside the Marxist movement in the United States, as well as in the anti-war and anti-racist movements, in the labor movement, and in the other mass movements inside the United States. As former leaders and members of Workers World Party, we defend that group's historical tradition and mission, particularly that of its founder Sam Marcy. Although we believe that the Workers World Party leadership is no longer capable of fulfilling that mission, we still consider it to be a progressive organization with many honest activists.

The PSL fielded their first Presidential ticket in 2008 with perennial candidate Gloria La Riva as the standard bearer and Eugene Puryear as her running-mate. In order to make a point, political parties on the Left frequently nominate candidates who would legally be unable to assume office in the event of a victory and Puryear, who was under the Constitution-mandated age of 35 to serve as Vice-President, falls into that category. In some states a stand-in was required. Robert Moses fit that bill.

The La Riva campaign posted an abstract of the platform on their webpage--

U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW
End the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Bring all the troops home now.
Stop U.S. blockades & sanctions against Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, Korea, Sudan and everywhere.
End U.S. aid to Israel—Support the Palestinian people’s right of self-determination.
Free Puerto Rico.
International friendship and solidarity, not imperialist domination.

FIGHT THE CORPORATE BOSSES
Full employment—decent jobs for all. Job training for youth & the unemployed.
Raise the minimum wage to $15/hour now.
Free, quality healthcare for all.
Expand and guarantee social security for all retired workers, disabled and unemployed people.
Stop union-busting, expand the right to organize, including card-check recognition.
Free, high quality education from pre-school through college.
Housing is a right—End foreclosures and evictions.
Stop environmental destruction—Make the polluters pay.
Rebuild New Orleans—Right of return for all survivors.

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL
Fight racism and the racist criminal “justice” system.
Defend women’s reproductive rights, including the right to choose.
Full rights for all immigrants.
Reparations now for the African American community.
Eliminate anti-LGBT laws—Equal marriage rights for all.
Equality for disabled people.
Stop police brutality and mass incarceration.
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier, the Cuban 5, Angola 3, S.F. 8 and all political prisoners.

SOCIALISM
End the rule of the billionaires, bankers and militarists—fight for workers’ democracy.
We need a sustainable economy based on meeting people’s needs, not making the rich richer.
We need socialism!

La Riva/Puryear were on the ballot in Arkansas (0.10%), Vermont (0.05%), Florida, Louisiana, New York, and Washington (0.02% each), and New Jersey (0.01%).

The campaign (2016):

The La Riva/Puryear ticket was nominated again for the 2016 election, and again Puryear was still too young to serve if elected. La Riva's substitute running-mates were Dennis Banks (California [Peace and Freedom Party], Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico) and Sarah Sloan (Maryland).

The strength of Bernie Sanders' campaign in the Democratic Party was a mixed issue for the PSL. On their webpage they did not consider him a real socialist--

He does not call for nationalizing the corporations and banks, without which the reorganization of the economy to meet people’s needs rather than maximizing the profits of capitalist investors could not take place … He is clearly seeking to reform the existing capitalist system.

However, in an article by Molly Ball in The Atlantic covering Puryear and the PSL, the VP nominee said there was a positive side to the Sanders movement--

“He has revealed that there are millions of people who not only are progressive on the issues, but in a more holistic way are willing to refer to themselves as socialist,” he said. “It’s exciting to know that young people haven’t lost all hope.” And yet, when it comes to substance, Puryear considers Sanders’s policy ideas inadequate. “Our economy as it’s currently constructed cannot possibly provide enough decent employment for the number of people being born every single day,” Puryear said. The solution, in his view, is to take the aggregate product of society’s labor and, rather than let the market allocate it mostly to the upper classes, divide it to meet everybody’s needs.

... he believes 2016 could be a watershed year for socialists, thanks in part to Sanders. If, as seems likely as of this writing, Sanders falls short of the nomination, Puryear expects to see a large bloc of newly engaged leftist voters seeking a far-left electoral alternative to Hillary Clinton. He hopes they will discover the PSL. “We will make explicit appeals to [Sanders’s] supporters to back our socialist ticket over Secretary Clinton, who we feel is much further from their views than ours,” he said. Which is to say that Bernie Sanders could, in losing, score a win for American socialism.

The La Riva/Puryear ticket could be found on the ballot in Washington (0.12%), Vermont (0.10%), New Jersey (0.04%), and Louisiana (0.02%). They were also write-in candidates in Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, and West Virginia. Of the impressive 74,405 popular votes (0.05%) gained nationally by La Riva in 2016, the ticket with Puryear accounted for 6,204 of them.

Election history:
2014 - District of Columbia Council At-Large (DC Statehood-Green Party) - defeated

Other occupations: author, journalist, editor, member of National Committee of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, talk show host on Sputnik radio network

Notes:
The Workers World Party endorsed Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney in 2008, and did not run Presidential tickets in 2012 or 2020.