Leonard Peltier

 

Leonard Peltier, September 12, 1944 (Belcourt, N.D.) -

VP candidate for Party for Socialism and Liberation (aka Peace and Freedom Party) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Gloria Estela La Riva (b. 1954)
Popular vote: 9,506 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

2020 was the 4th national election for the young party, and in three of those the standard bearer was Gloria La Riva. Her running-mate was Leonard Peltier.

Peltier, a Turtle Mountain Chippewa who was previously active in the American Indian Movement (AIM) had been in prison since 1977. He was convicted of aiding and abetting the 1975 shooting at point blank range of a couple of FBI agents at the Pine Ridge Reservation, SD. Peltier became a fugitive but was arrested a couple months later in Alberta. His case quickly drew controversy while gaining supporters contending he is a political prisoner and the "Free Leonard Peltier" movement was born.

In 2004 Peltier was the Presidential nominee of the Peace and Freedom Party.

La Riva ran on a platform of 10 points, as she did in 2016--

The PSL’s 2020 Ten Point
Socialist Campaign Program

★ 1 |  Make the essentials of life into constitutional rights
The U.S. has more than enough so that all the essentials of life — food, housing, water, education, health care and a job or basic income can be guaranteed rights — rather than distributed only for profit. Create a completely free and public healthcare system. Make education free—cancel all student debt. Fully fund rebuilding of the infrastructure in transport, water and utility systems. Stop all foreclosures and evictions. End all discrimination based on ability/disability.

★ 2 |  For the Earth to live, capitalism must be replaced by a socialist system
Global warming, pollution, acidified and depleted oceans, fracking, critical drought, plastics choking the seas, nuclear weapons and waste — it is clear that capitalism and production for profit are destroying the planet and threatening all life. The crisis is already here, with the most vulnerable and oppressed areas of the U.S. and Global South bearing the brunt. Using truly sustainable energy and seizing the oil and coal companies to stop fossil fuel pollution, are urgent steps needed to reverse climate change. Ultimately, only the socialist reorganization of society can assure the future of the people and the planet.

★ 3 |  End racism, police brutality and mass incarceration-Pay reparations to the African American community
Mass incarceration and racist policing are symptomatic of the 400 years of brutal repression meted out to African-descended peoples in the U.S. and the genocide committed against the Native nations. Reparations must be paid to the African American and Native communities! More than 2.2 million people are behind bars in the largest prison complex in the world. End mass incarceration of oppressed and all working class people. Fully prosecute all acts of police brutality and violence. Free Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners!

★ 4 |  Full rights for all immigrants
Abolish all anti-immigrant laws. Stop the raids and deportations and demonization of immigrants. Shut down ICE and the concentration camps and reunite families. The government’s war on immigrants must end. The border wall must be dismantled. Amnesty and citizenship for those without documents. Full rights for all!

★ 5 |  Shut down all U.S. military bases around the world—bring all the troops, planes & ships home
U.S. foreign policy uses the pretext of national security to enforce the imperialist interests of the biggest banks and corporations. That is what is behind the endless wars and occupations. Use the $1 trillion military budget instead to provide for people’s needs here and worldwide. Abolish nuclear weapons. Stop U.S. aid to Israel. Self-determination for the Palestinian people, including the right of return. End the U.S. blockade of Cuba and sanctions against Venezuela, Iran and all countries. Independence for Puerto Rico and cancel its debt!

★ 6 |  Honor Native treaties. Free Leonard Peltier now
Both major parties have continued to allow the destruction of Native lands by mining and corporate agricultural interests in blatant disregard of indigenous sovereign rights. 33% of Native children live in poverty and many of America's poorest counties are reservations. The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and the over-incarceration of Native peoples shows the bankruptcy of capitalism from its earliest inception in the Americas until today.
 
★ 7 |  Full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people
Fight back against anti-LGBTQ discrimination and violence. Defend marriage equality. Full equality in all matters governed by civil law, including employment, housing, healthcare and education. No to “religious exemption” laws that allow discrimination against LGBTQ people!
 
★ 8 |  Equality for women and free, safe, legal abortion on demand
Stop the attack on women’s reproductive rights and defend Roe v. Wade. Women must have the fundamental right to choose & control their own bodies. Women still earn 22 percent less than men, and the gap is even more severe for Black and Latina women. Close the wage gap and end the gender division of labor.

★ 9 |  Defend and expand our unions
Support the right of all workers to have a union. Fight back against the attacks on collective bargaining. Require employers to recognize card check union votes. Repeal the Taft-Hartley Act. Focusing on low-wage worker organizing, rebuild a fighting labor movement.

★ 10 |  Takeover the stolen wealth of the giant banks and corporations – Jail Wall St. criminals
The vast wealth of the giant banks and corporations is created by workers labor and the exploitation of the world’s diminishing natural resources. The billionaires looted and destroyed the economy. It is time to seize their assets and use those resources in the interests of the vast majority. Power must be taken out of the hands of the super rich, and Wall Street criminals must be jailed.
    
In May 2020 the ticket was also nominated by the Liberty Union Party in Vermont. LU had also selected La Riva in 2016. On the negative side one can find chatter from other Leftist groups who consider PSL to be "tankies" (i.e. Stalinists) in love with despotic regimes as well as being an undemocratic, nontransparent political party to the point of being a cult. There have been allegations for years that PSL has harbored and protected sexual predators and abusers within their ranks.

Peltier withdrew from the ticket on July 20, 2020. The Party's website ran this statement--

Leonard Peltier regretfully withdraws as vice-presidential candidate

The Gloria La Riva for President 2020 Campaign announced today that Leonard Peltier has been compelled to withdraw as our vice–presidential candidate. Leonard’s health has seriously deteriorated in recent weeks and the maximum security prison where he is confined in Florida does not have the medical facilities he requires. He urgently needs compassionate release or commutation of his sentence that has now stretched for 44 years, as well as immediate transfer to a medical facility for proper medical treatment. His legal team -- and we -- believes that all focus must be directed toward his health situation and legal matters before him.

The Party for Socialism and Liberation is deeply honored that Leonard accepted our vice-presidential nomination to run on a ticket with presidential candidate Gloria La Riva. From the start last September, Leonard, a true people’s hero, was enthusiastic about the campaign and remained so until his health and legal circumstances has forced him to withdraw.

The La Riva for President 2020 Campaign and the Party for Socialism and Liberation hold Leonard Peltier in the highest esteem and pledge to continue the struggle for his freedom and the medical attention he urgently needs.

In a message regarding his withdrawal to Gloria La Riva on July 29, 2020, Leonard wrote: 

I know this is a huge disappointment to you as it is mine, that I have to drop out of the campaign with Gloria La Riva. My medical problems are not getting any better. I need to try to get home or at least closer. If so, it would be easier to get out. So please, forgive me if I have disappointed any of you. I did not intend to. Nor was I dropping out because I did not believe in it. I'm seriously hurting. Just know I love you young people who support me. You're awesome. Thank you for your support and love.

"Doksha, Leonard Peltier”

The PSL 2020 vice-presidential candidate will be Washington DC-based long-time activist and fighter for justice Sunil Freeman.

For the second time in a row the Peace and Freedom Party in California nominated La Riva for President, soundly defeating Howie Hawkins' bid.

Ever since the 2008 election the Party's popular vote result has been steadily rising. Their combined 2020 vote was 86,239, finishing in 6th place after the Libertarian, Green, and Alliance parties. 9,506 of those votes were for the La Riva/Peltier ticket in Illinois (0.13%), Minnesota (0.04%) where his name remained in the ballot, and in Texas (0.00%) as the official write-in VP.

The La Riva/Freeman ticket saw their strongest percentages in California (0.29%), District of Columbia (0.25%), New Mexico (0.18%), Rhode Island (0.16%), Washington (0.12%), and Arkansas (0.11%).

Election history:
2004 - US President (Peace and Freedom Party) - defeated

Other occupations: welder, construction worker, auto body shop, activist, author

Notes:
Washington State trivia alert!!!-- Peltier was co-owner of an auto body shop in Seattle ca1965-1972.
 In July 2000 the Washington State Democratic Party passed a resolution in support of executive
 clemency for Peltier.

Sunil K. Freeman

 

Sunil K. Freeman, January 28, 1955 (Raleigh, N.C.) -

VP candidate for Party for Socialism and Liberation (aka Peace and Freedom Party aka Independent aka Unaffiliated aka Liberty Union Party) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Gloria Estela La Riva (b. 1954)
Popular vote: 76,733 (0.05%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

2020 was the 4th national election for the young party, and in three of those the standard bearer was Gloria La Riva. Her running-mate was Leonard Peltier.

La Riva ran on a platform of 10 points, as she did in 2016--

The PSL’s 2020 Ten Point
Socialist Campaign Program

★ 1 |  Make the essentials of life into constitutional rights
The U.S. has more than enough so that all the essentials of life — food, housing, water, education, health care and a job or basic income can be guaranteed rights — rather than distributed only for profit. Create a completely free and public healthcare system. Make education free—cancel all student debt. Fully fund rebuilding of the infrastructure in transport, water and utility systems. Stop all foreclosures and evictions. End all discrimination based on ability/disability.

★ 2 |  For the Earth to live, capitalism must be replaced by a socialist system
Global warming, pollution, acidified and depleted oceans, fracking, critical drought, plastics choking the seas, nuclear weapons and waste — it is clear that capitalism and production for profit are destroying the planet and threatening all life. The crisis is already here, with the most vulnerable and oppressed areas of the U.S. and Global South bearing the brunt. Using truly sustainable energy and seizing the oil and coal companies to stop fossil fuel pollution, are urgent steps needed to reverse climate change. Ultimately, only the socialist reorganization of society can assure the future of the people and the planet.

★ 3 |  End racism, police brutality and mass incarceration-Pay reparations to the African American community
Mass incarceration and racist policing are symptomatic of the 400 years of brutal repression meted out to African-descended peoples in the U.S. and the genocide committed against the Native nations. Reparations must be paid to the African American and Native communities! More than 2.2 million people are behind bars in the largest prison complex in the world. End mass incarceration of oppressed and all working class people. Fully prosecute all acts of police brutality and violence. Free Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners!

★ 4 |  Full rights for all immigrants
Abolish all anti-immigrant laws. Stop the raids and deportations and demonization of immigrants. Shut down ICE and the concentration camps and reunite families. The government’s war on immigrants must end. The border wall must be dismantled. Amnesty and citizenship for those without documents. Full rights for all!

★ 5 |  Shut down all U.S. military bases around the world—bring all the troops, planes & ships home
U.S. foreign policy uses the pretext of national security to enforce the imperialist interests of the biggest banks and corporations. That is what is behind the endless wars and occupations. Use the $1 trillion military budget instead to provide for people’s needs here and worldwide. Abolish nuclear weapons. Stop U.S. aid to Israel. Self-determination for the Palestinian people, including the right of return. End the U.S. blockade of Cuba and sanctions against Venezuela, Iran and all countries. Independence for Puerto Rico and cancel its debt!

★ 6 |  Honor Native treaties. Free Leonard Peltier now
Both major parties have continued to allow the destruction of Native lands by mining and corporate agricultural interests in blatant disregard of indigenous sovereign rights. 33% of Native children live in poverty and many of America's poorest counties are reservations. The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and the over-incarceration of Native peoples shows the bankruptcy of capitalism from its earliest inception in the Americas until today.
 
★ 7 |  Full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people
Fight back against anti-LGBTQ discrimination and violence. Defend marriage equality. Full equality in all matters governed by civil law, including employment, housing, healthcare and education. No to “religious exemption” laws that allow discrimination against LGBTQ people!
 
★ 8 |  Equality for women and free, safe, legal abortion on demand
Stop the attack on women’s reproductive rights and defend Roe v. Wade. Women must have the fundamental right to choose & control their own bodies. Women still earn 22 percent less than men, and the gap is even more severe for Black and Latina women. Close the wage gap and end the gender division of labor.

★ 9 |  Defend and expand our unions
Support the right of all workers to have a union. Fight back against the attacks on collective bargaining. Require employers to recognize card check union votes. Repeal the Taft-Hartley Act. Focusing on low-wage worker organizing, rebuild a fighting labor movement.

★ 10 |  Takeover the stolen wealth of the giant banks and corporations – Jail Wall St. criminals
The vast wealth of the giant banks and corporations is created by workers labor and the exploitation of the world’s diminishing natural resources. The billionaires looted and destroyed the economy. It is time to seize their assets and use those resources in the interests of the vast majority. Power must be taken out of the hands of the super rich, and Wall Street criminals must be jailed.
    
In May 2020 the ticket was also nominated by the Liberty Union Party in Vermont. LU had also selected La Riva in 2016. On the negative side one can find chatter from other Leftist groups who consider PSL to be "tankies" (i.e. Stalinists) in love with despotic regimes as well as being an undemocratic, nontransparent political party to the point of being a cult. There have been allegations for years that PSL has harbored and protected sexual predators and abusers within their ranks.

Peltier withdrew from the ticket on July 20, 2020 citing ill health. He was replaced by Sunil Freeman. Freeman's biography was provided on the campaign website--

Sunil Freeman is a lifelong activist and cultural worker. He is the child of parents who met as workers at the refugee camp in Kurukshetra during the time of India's independence and partition. Growing up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington D.C., Sunil, along with his family, were active participants in the mass anti-Vietnam War movement, formative experiences that brought Sunil into solidarity with all the movements of the oppressed sweeping the world during that time.

Sunil, a poet and essayist, has contributed to and edited major literary journals. He joined the PSL in 2005 after becoming an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition in the anti-Iraq War movement. Sunil has participated in and organized dozens of events in opposition to US wars abroad, against the US blockade of Cuba, and against criminal sanctions levied by the US against a range of countries.

Sunil is also a disability rights activist working to make all aspects of society accessible to all. Sunil currently resides in Maryland and continues to be active in social justice issues of all kinds.

For the second time in a row the Peace and Freedom Party in California nominated La Riva for President, soundly defeating Howie Hawkins' bid.

Ever since the 2008 election the Party's popular vote result has been steadily rising. Their combined 2020 vote was 86,239, finishing in 6th place after the Libertarian, Green, and Alliance parties. 9,506 of those votes were for the La Riva/Peltier ticket in Illinois (0.13%) and Minnesota (0.04%) where his name remained in the ballot, and in Texas (0.00%) as the official write-in VP.

The La Riva/Freeman ticket saw their strongest percentages in California (0.29%), District of Columbia (0.25%), New Mexico (0.18%), Rhode Island (0.16%), Washington (0.12%), and Arkansas (0.11%).

Election history: none

Other occupations: poet, author, Assistant Director of the Writer's Center

Notes:
Freeman's father was an American Quaker, his mother born a citizen of India.

Karla Marie Ballard

 

Karla Marie Ballard, April 21, 1971 (Philadelphia, Penn.) -

VP candidate for Independent (aka American Shopping Party aka Unaffiliated aka No Party aka Freedom and Prosperity Party aka Independence Party of New York) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Brock Jeffrey Pierce (b. 1980)
Popular vote: 49,720 (0.03%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Until Brock Pierce had announced his Presidential run I had never heard of him before. And once I started to read about how the former child movie actor became a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist I realized why. You see, I'm a guy who still uses a flip phone that cannot connect to Internet or even accept emojis as valid characters. I belong to no social networks. Most of my vast movie collection is in VHS format. Until recently my car was from the 20th century (now I drive a 2002 Honda which can still play my cassette audio tapes!). I have no tattoos or piercings (obscure pun not intended). The world of Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and internet gaming is beyond the comprehension of my caveman brain.

Using the slogan "Brock the Vote," Pierce announced his intention to run and filed with the FEC as an Independent in early July, 2020. Karla Ballard was added in the FEC filing later in the month as his VP.

The Philadelphia-based Ballard was a fellow entrepreneur with an interesting family backstory, claiming to be related to the infamous US Vice-President Aaron Burr. As Ballard explained to one reporter, "For many years there was talk that we were related to Burr. When the show 'Hamilton' came out, we did DNA testing, and the findings confirmed that we are in fact related to him. The family is now comfortable with it, and the Aaron Burr Association has been welcoming. We even have his family bible!" I'm not sure that being related to Burr is the best salesmanship, but it is the kind of trivia I enjoy.

Pierce was not without political baggage. He had past ties with toxic criminals and con artists such as Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein. Pierce had survived and was cleared of allegations of child sexual abuse. He was also the subject of investigations on other legal matters. Most of his substantial political monetary contributions up to this point had been to Republicans such as Sen. Rubio, Sen. McCain, Gov. Perry, and tens of thousands to Trump's re-election effort as well as the Republican National Committee and National Right to Life Political Action Committee. This led to charges by some that Pierce was a ringer for Trump and his centrist Left rhetoric was designed to peel votes away from Biden.

In an interview with Pierce by The Daily Beast Sept. 23, 2020, the candidate inadvertently revealed he knew a lot more about technological innovation than he did about politics or government.

Pierce's platform as presented on his campaign webpage--

Re-legalizing Cannabis
We will pardon all individuals who have been charged with non-violent offenses related to cannabis and expunge their records.
We will work to end the prohibition of cannabis and fully legalize it.
We will reschedule cannabis to remove it from the DEA list of scheduled drugs and substances.
We will sign an executive order barring all federal agencies, particularly the Department of Justice, from pursuing any cases for crimes related to cannabis possession, use, or distribution.
We will renegotiate international treaties to facilitate the international and domestic legalization of cannabis.

Fiscal Policy
We will re-architect America’s economic and fiscal policies to benefit all Americans, rather than borrowing for the benefit of the elite.
We will balance America’s budget for the benefit of future generations.
We will implement regulations that open the financial markets to innovation that will provide alternative lending solutions.
We will work to end deficit spending and begin the process of eliminating the federal debt.

Universal Earned Income
We will establish a Universal Earned Income (UEI) for all Americans.
Universal Earned Income will be provided in equal amounts to every American as a monthly stipend.
Universal Earned Income will be funded by restructuring government programs and changing the structure of federal taxation to address the current gross misallocation of resources at the national level.
Universal Earned Income guarantees that all Americans will have their essential needs met as members of America’s political and economic system.
UEI will allow Americans to pursue work and careers that inspire them while increasing the value of their work and creating further abundance for all.

Healthcare
We will ensure affordable and effective healthcare for all Americans.
We will redesign America’s healthcare system to create win-win scenarios for companies and people through preventive care and treatments at reduced cost.
We will provide government grants for the development of technologies that allow our society to protect human life and prevent the unnecessary spread of Covid-19 and other diseases.
We will provide ethical and moral regulatory frameworks for the development of tools serving the interests of national healthcare, such as mental health reporting and contact tracing.
We will provide a non-emergency national mental health support line to make mental health services and support accessible to all Americans.

Criminal Justice Reform
We will end the “War on Drugs”
We will end asset forfeiture without a court order.
We will require police departments to have more transparent recruiting, longer, and more thorough training programs, as well as malpractice insurance.
We will require the use of body-cams by police while on duty.
We will require alternative emergency response options for non-violent incidents.

Technology & AI
We will ensure that America’s government is effectively educated in and able to govern current technologies for the benefit of all Americans.
We will use automation and AI to benefit all Americans.
We will ensure that suitable consumer devices and network access are provided to those who otherwise could not access the Internet.
We will ensure network neutrality and bar providers from blocking or slowing Internet content or offering “fast lanes”.
We will give Americans the right to opt out of non-essential, commercial uses of their data.

U.S. Currency Strategy
We will engage in actions to increase America’s economic liquidity.
We will ensure the highest level of transparency possible in our financial systems.
We will improve relations with all nations, including China and Russia.
We will ensure that the United States keeps pace with the emergence of digital currencies, including those from abroad.
We will ensure the healthy growth of America’s economy to the benefit of all Americans.

Your Body is Yours
We will ensure that adults have the sole right to grant or withhold consent to add things to their bodies.
We will ensure that adults have the sole right to grant or withhold consent to remove things from their body.
We will work to ensure that both explicit and implicit slavery are made illegal.

In the course of the campaign Pierce received the endorsement and/or nomination of the American Shopping Party and the Independence Party of New York.

On the ballot in 16 states with some added registered write-ins, the Pierce/Ballard ticket had their strongest results in Wyoming (0.79%), Idaho (0.32%), New York (0.26%), Alaska (0.23%), District of Columbia and Hawaii (0.20% each), Arkansas and Utah (0.18% each), Kentucky and Minnesota (0.17% each), and Oklahoma (0.16%). In Wyoming they finished in 4th place. Nationally they were 9th, behind the rapidly declining Constitution Party and ahead the equally rapidly rising American Solidarity Party.

In the fall of 2020 Pierce announced his intention to start a future new third party. In May 2021 he reflected, "I achieved everything that I was attempting to achieve: to understand the mechanics of the system. I didn't have a political background. There are a lot of ways to enter politics, a lot of ways that are probably safer and cheaper. But I chose to do the most accelerated version, which is to just go run for an elected office on a national platform, to understand what it takes. I viewed it as basic training."

Election history: none

Other occupations: entrepreneur, Co-Founder and CEO of YING, board member of Alliance for Women in Media, board member of Northern Virginia Community College, speaker, president of the National Urban League Young Professionals

Notes:
aka Karla Ballard Williams.

Darcy George Richardson

 

Darcy George Richardson, December 6, 1955 (Pittsburgh, Penn.) -  

VP candidate for Alliance Party (aka Independent aka Independent Republican aka Reform Party of the United States of America aka Natural Law Party aka Independence Party) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Roque De La Fuente Guerra (b. 1954)
Popular vote: 28,098 (0.02%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Perennial candidate Rocky De La Fuente had an interesting year in 2020. He initially ran for the Republican Presidential nomination and at the same time entered the Republican primary for the 21st congressional district in California. In the latter race, his son was running in the primary as a Democrat. In all of these cases, victory proved elusive.

Although De La Fuente had initially filed with the FEC as a Republican on May 16, 2019 he went on to gain the Presidential nomination of the Alliance Party on Apr. 25, 2020. On June 20, 2020, the Reform Party also nominated De La Fuente, just as they had in 2016. The Natural Law Party jumped on board and backed his candidacy as well. His 2020 running-mate in each of these cases was Darcy Richardson.

Richardson has a long history with third parties, both as a candidate, political operative, and historian. He is the author of A Nation Divided: The 1968 Presidential Campaign (2002) as well as several works on the history of third parties in US politics. I must say I have consulted his research several times in the course of constructing this blog.

Richardson's fascinating career has included working with Eugene McCarthy during the former US Senator's final two runs for the Presidency in 1988 and 1992. Darcy was the National Chair of The New Democrats during that same time period. He has been a consistent champion and activist for challenging the Republican/Democratic duopoly. In 2018 he was the Reform Party's nominee for Governor of Florida. On July 15, 2019 he had filed with the FEC for President as a Reform Party candidate, but later withdrew as other options surfaced.

More than any other person in my generation, Richardson's political journey is basically the history of third parties in late 20th/early 21st century America. No doubt I am missing a few entities here, he has also been linked as candidate or campaign worker with the Democratic Party, Citizens Party, Consumer Party, New Democrat, Boston Tea Party, Reform Party of the United States of America, Peace and Freedom Party, just plain Independent, Alliance Party, Socialist Party of the United States of America, Independent Republican, Independence Party, Natural Law Party, and Minnesota Progressives. It is possible he holds the record in this regard among third party VPs.

Although the Alliance Party was a new entity it was comprised of several older political parties now operating under one name. The Party's website offered a summary of their genealogy--

How the Alliance Formed

America’s growing dissatisfaction with a failing, polarizing two-party system and recognizing there is strength in numbers and a deep desire to put people and country over politics and greed, eleven independent political parties merged under one banner - The Alliance Party.

On October 14, 2018, in Denver, Colorado, three political parties - the American Moderates Party, the Modern Whig Party and the American Party of South Carolina - agreed to merge to create The Alliance Party.  On January 4, 2019, the Alliance Party officially registered with the Federal Elections Commission.

The following parties merged into the Alliance after the merger of the original three.

    Independence Party of Minnesota (2019)
    American Alliance Party (2019)
    Independent Party of Connecticut (2020)
    American Delta Party (2020)

Prior to the 2018 meeting, six independent parties had merged into the Modern Whig Party between 2008 and 2016.

    USA Party (2008)
    Veterans Party (2008)
    American Centrist Party (2010)
    Center Party (2010)
    National Centrist Party (2011)
    American Moderate Party of California (2016)

Discussions are under way with other independent, grassroots parties and organizations to join the Alliance.

Rather than issuing a platform the Party released a "Manifesto" with a message they viewed as pragmatic and centrist. Instead of picking through this long document, I'll focus on two items that seem to get to the core of their philosophy as it relates to the issues of 2020. First, their requirements in order to be a candidate under their banner, as found in the Nov. 2020 website--

All Alliance candidates are held to high expectations and requirements, because public service by way of elected office is among the highest of callings.

We require, monitor and enforce term limits for all of our federal and state legislative offices.

In addition, we require transparency from candidates when running for office and while serving in office. Requirements for federal and state legislative include fully disclosing all contributions during campaigns and while in office; providing redacted copies of their 1040 personal tax returns from the most recent three years; providing annual disclosure of all income received while in office during the preceding year, including the source and amount.

We expect all Alliance candidates and elected officials to demonstrate civility, honesty, tolerance and humility in their interactions with others. Each candidate enters into a written agreement with the Alliance with regards to these expectations. You may find the State and Federal Agreement HERE, and the Local Agreement HERE. [I did not include hot links here--SW]

We expect all Alliance candidates and elected officials to function as pragmatic problem solvers. Functionally, this requirement means country over party; progress over ideology; with an emphasis on constituent concerns and needs.

The second item I found to be pertinent in regard to the peculiar state of the union in 2020 and the Alliance Party's standpoint came from Richardson's Vice-Presidential nominee acceptance speech on Apr. 25, 2020--

Hello everyone. It’s an honor and a privilege to be addressing the inaugural national convention of the Alliance Party, a party — as fate would have it — emerging on the American political scene in one of our nation’s darkest moments, an uncertain period in which the United States may be facing its greatest challenge in modern history.

The deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which has already claimed more than 53,000 American lives while exposing the inadequacies of the U.S. health care system, coupled with what will almost certainly be an ensuing deep recession or, more likely, a depression from which we are unlikely to soon recover, presents a most unpredictable future for all of mankind.

As national chairman James Rex — I love Jim, he’s great — has eloquently pointed out, the twin crises facing this country demonstrates just how ill-prepared the special interest-​dominated duopoly was in preparing for the kind of pandemic the country is now facing. Knowing that the kaleidoscopic impacts of climate change multiplies the threats of infectious diseases, and given the SARS, the Zika virus, MERS and Ebola outbreaks in recent decades and the very real possibility of a more widespread global pandemic in the near future, both parties share in the blame for this country’s unforgivable lack of preparedness.

As Jim has said repeatedly, the United States had ample warnings — decades, actually — yet our leaders had done little or nothing to prepare the country for the kind of pandemic we’re now tragically experiencing. How pathetic that the United States, once the manufacturing marvel of the world, had to rely on life-saving ventilators, masks and other basic Personal Protective Equipment from counties like China and South Korea at the outset of this deadly crisis.

Making matters worse, President Trump squandered at least eight weeks at the ​beginning of this health crisis calling the coronavirus a “hoax” — and that was only four months after he shuttered the U.S. Agency for International Development’s PREDICT program, which was responsible for identifying and combating new emerging viruses. The President’s slash-and-burn approach to the scientific wing of the federal government also includes trying repeatedly —and sometimes with success — to cut funding for the CDC’s unit for fighting global pandemics. Shame on him.

But the Democrats, who have been reduced to second-guessing the Republicans in recent years, also share in the blame. They, too, have neglected science and research as federal funding for basic research in these critical areas has shrunk markedly over the past two decades during Democratic and Republican administrations alike. The Democrats controlled the House for half that period and, likewise, held a working majority in the U.S. Senate for ten of those twenty years.

​The forthcoming campaign will undoubtedly be a difficult one, but I am deeply honored and humbled to be part of this much-needed effort. I know that Rocky — the favorite son of all fifty states and of every country that still looks to the United States for leadership — feels the same way.

Following a steady forty-year decline, one in which our middle class was virtually hollowed out through misguided trade deals such as NAFTA, the Alliance Party, in my view, is the party this country has been waiting for — a party determined to end, once and for all, the hyper-partisanship and extreme polarization of American politics and, most importantly, a party capable of returning the United States to its historic, independent and positive role as a force for good around the globe.

We should once again be a beacon to the rest of the world, especially at a time when most nations are gripped with fear and uncertainty. We’re Americans, after all.

This is our moment. Let the Bloodless Revolution of the year Two Thousand and ​Twenty begin, ushering in a new and creative approach to the myriad issues facing our country which will once again make the United States of America a Gold Medalist nation in education, the environment and a world-class health care system while creating an innovative economy for the 21st Century that works for everyone, not just the investor class, or the so-called one percent.

Thank you and keep the faith. And stay safe everybody.

Something unexpected happened to the campaign on Aug. 15, 2020.  

The far Right and Christian-based American Independent Party in California, which had nominated Trump/Pence in 2016, chose De La Fuente as their nominee. But Richardson was bumped as the VP and replaced with Kanye West. Apparently this VP choice was accomplished without input from any of the nominees. De La Fuente said, "I was not consulted to see if I wanted Mr. West as my running mate ... Obviously, we're a weird— and I wanted Mr. Richardson as my running mate— but it was their decision and their decision only."

De La Fuente had entered the AIP primary in Mar. 2020, but came in second to Phil Collins, who was also the Prohibition Party nominee for President.

The Independent Political Report quoted Darcy Richardson--

“Please let Rocky know that if he runs with the unstable, bi-polar Trump-loving Kanye West in California that I will withdraw as his vice-presidential running mate nationally,” Richardson declared in a text message to [AIP official Mark] Seidenberg earlier today. “I’ve spent my entire adult life battling the duopoly and certainly DO NOT want my name associated with a candidacy that peripherally includes a Trump/GOP plant like the unhinged rapper….Bill Shearer must be rolling over in his grave.”

It should be noted that Richardson did remain in the race, or at that was my impression when I posted our interview Oct. 6, 2020. In it he said--

Rocky and I are on the ballot in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont.  We also hope to be official write-in candidates in a couple of dozen states.

Rocky is also on the ballot in populous California where --- much to my chagrin --- he's paired with unhinged, pro-Trump rapper Kanye West on the American Independent Party ticket, a remnant of segregationist George Wallace's 1968 presidential campaign.

https://thirdpartysecondbananas.blogspot.com/2020/10/darcy-richardson-2020-vp-alliance-party.html

West was also not pleased with being nominated VP, calling the AIP "deceitful" and issued a statement that included, "I am campaigning to be the next president of our great country — not vice president ... The political party in California that listed my name as its VP candidate has done so without my knowledge ... Californians, I ask for your vote for president and urge you to write in ‘Kanye West.’"

The De La Fuente/West ticket placed 5th out of the 6 positions on the California ballot with 0.34% of the vote in that state. It was by far De La Fuente's largest bloc of votes nationally.

The ticket with Richardson as the VP made the ballot in 14 states and registered write-ins in at least 5 more. The strongest results (with party listing) were in Rhode Island 0.18% (Alliance) -- Minnesota 0.17% (Independence/Alliance) -- Idaho 0.17% (Independent) -- Maine 0.14% (Alliance) -- Arkansas 0.11% (Independent).

Election history:
1979 - Cheltenham Township Commission, Montgomery County, Penn. (Democrat) - defeated
1980 - Pennsylavania State Auditor General (Consumer Party) - defeated
1983 - Cheltenham Township Commission, Montgomery County, Penn. (Democrat) - defeated
1985 - Cheltenham Township Finance Officer, Montgomery County, Penn. (Democrat) - defeated
1988 - US Senate (Penn.) (Consumer Party) - defeated
1990 - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Democratic) - primary - withdrew
1990 - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Independent) - defeated
1991 - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Consumer Party) - special election - replaced by party
1992 - Independent Voters Primary (Mass.) - defeated
2010 - Lt. Governor of Florida (No Party Affiliation) - defeated
2012 - Democratic nomination for US President - defeated
2012 - Reform Party of the United States of America nomination for US President - defeated
2016 - Reform Party of the United States of America nomination for US President - defeated
2018 - Florida House of Representatives (Reform Party of the United States of America) - withdrew
2018 - Governor of Florida (Reform Party of the United States of America) - defeated
2020 - Reform Party of the United States of America nomination for US President - withdrew

Other occupations: steamship industry worker, manufacturing manager for an industrial heat treating equipment firm, financial analyst and operations manager, historian, author, campaign manager, political party executive

Notes:
Winner of the 1988 election was H. John Heinz III.

William Alan Mohr

 

William Alan Mohr, May 23, 1959 (Grand Rapids, Mich.) -

VP candidate for Constitution Party (aka American Constitution Party aka U.S. Taxpayers Party aka Independent American Party aka Conservative USA Party) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Donald Leon Blankenship (b. 1950)
Popular vote: 60,148 (0.04%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

In 2020 the Constitution Party was somewhat diminished from it's former self. It was no longer affiliated with California's American Independent Party and since the 2016 election a number of states walked out of the national organization. Plus, the party of Trump had co-opted and attempted to mainstream several of the Constitution Party's platform planks at least through rhetoric if not in action, stealing away potential voters from the third party.

West Virginia coal CEO Don Blankenship was nominated for President on the second ballot. This was seen as a mixed blessing by some. On the positive side he was a well known figure and had deep pockets, but on the negative side the reason he was well known was not exactly complimentary. He served a year in the Taft Federal Correctional Institution in California, convicted of conspiring to violate safety standards that led to the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in 2010, killing 29 workers.

In marketing his book entitled An American Political Prisoner, Blankenship wrote on his website--

Over the past thirty years I have been threatened with death several times: had urine thrown on me: had eleven bullet holes shot into my office: had two cars smashed with ball bats and clubs while I was in them: been continually lied about: been the subject of several false books: been branded with multiple derogatory names: been sued numerous times: been slandered on national television many times: been subjected to continued ridicule by newspapers: been falsely accused of causing the Upper Big Branch (UBB) tragedy: been falsely arrested: endured a trial where I faced thirty years in prison for made up charges, and been put in federal prison for a misdemeanor.

Describing himself as "Trumpier than Trump," Blankenship had also made national headlines in his 2018 candidacy in West Virginia for the U.S. Senate due to his behavior some considered unprofessional and comments that were interpreted as crude.

There is probably some kind of metaphoric significance with the fact Blankenship filed for President with the FEC on Halloween, 2019 but I'll leave it to others to define it.

The Party's 40-page platform is too long to reproduce here, but their webpage does list their "Twelve Key Issues"--

States’ Powers
Everything not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government, nor prohibited by the Constitution to the states, is reserved to the states or to the people.

Education
Since the Constitution grants the Federal Government no authority over Education, the 10th Amendment applies. This includes funding.

Gun Rights
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Foreign Policy, Defense, & Terrorism
American government committed to the protection of the borders, trade, and common defense of Americans, with no entanglement in foreign alliances, is paramount. Any and all wars must be declared by Congress.

Veterans
We vigorously resist the attempt by any government agency to nullify or reduce earned benefits to veterans and their survivors, including but not limited to, compensation, pensions, education, and health care.

Immigration
The Constitution Party has long been the only national political party to stand firmly against the proposals for a “Pathway to Citizenship/Comprehensive Immigration Reform/Amnesty” that come out of Washington.

Treaties & Trade Deals
We believe firmly that any so-called free trade deals and/or treaties that usurp American Sovereignty and/or the Constitution are unconstitutional and we should withdraw from them immediately.

United Nations, Agenda 21, & Global Organizations
We vehemently oppose Agenda 21 and feel we should part ways with the UN and any other global agency that attempts to subvert American Sovereignty.

Religious Freedom
All Americans have equal right to worship according to their beliefs. Government is to be kept out of the religious realm.

Healthcare & Social Security
We believe in the privatization of Healthcare and Social Security, with Social Security being phased out.

Judiciary
We reject the notion that the Supreme Court’s decisions are binding as law beyond those parties to whom the case pertained. Activist Judges should be impeached, as permissible by the Constitution.

Drugs
The federal government’s only responsibility in preventing drug abuse is to control our borders. Drugs are a state issue.

Running-mate Bill Mohr had been an active Republican until 2005 when he joined the U.S. Taxpayers Party in Michigan, the local Constitution Party affiliate.

In one interview during the campaign Mohr shared his thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic--

The COVID pandemic is an opportunity for corrupt governors to grab power and money, and it's happening. I wish people could understand what’s happening. And although there is a virus, the actions being taken are not about the virus.

You don’t quarantine the innocent, you quarantine the sick and that didn’t happen here. We shut our government down, our country down. The mask thing should have been done a long, long time ago.

One more thing, the idea that you can’t buy and sell without a mask, that resembles the mark of the beast. That will be an easy step from the silly mandate to wear a mask into if you don’t have the mark of the beast you won't be able to buy or sell, this needs to be stopped here.

Blankenship/Mohr finished in 8th place nationally. They were on the ballot in 18 states and registered write-ins in several more. Strongest showings were in Utah (0.37%), Alaska (0.31%), Nevada and Idaho (0.22% each). It was by far the most dismal Presidential election result for the Party since their debut election in 1992.

Election history:
2006 - Michigan House of Representatives (U.S. Taxpayers Party) - defeated
2008 - Michigan House of Representatives (U.S. Taxpayers Party) - defeated
2010 - Michigan House of Representatives (U.S. Taxpayers Party) - defeated
2012 - Michigan House of Representatives (U.S. Taxpayers Party) - defeated
2014 - Michigan House of Representatives (U.S. Taxpayers Party) - defeated
2016 - Grand Rapids (Mich.) City Commissioner Ward 2 (Nonpartisan) - defeated
2018 - Village of Martin (Mich.) Board of Trustees At-large (Nonpartisan) - defeated

Other occupations: state chair of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, home maintenance and improvement

Notes:
Mohr's son, Bill Mohr II also ran for public office in Michigan under the US Taxpayer's Party for university regent positions. The "Our Campaigns" website has blended the two into one politician.

Danny Zelaya

 

Danny Zelaya, April 13, 1981 -

VP candidate for Independent (2016, 2020)

Running mate with nominee (2016, 2020): Jesus (Spirit) (ca. 4 BC–ca. AD 30/33 / spirit form: ca. AD 30/33- present)
Popular vote (2016, 2020): 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2016, 2020): 0/538

The campaign (2016):

The Spirit of Jesus has appeared in Presidential campaigns before. He ran for President in 2008 with VP Christopher Michael Padgett as an Independent. He was also a third party VP at least three times: 1972 with Billy Joe Clegg (Loyal USA Party), 1988 with Basil Tellou (Independent) and 2008 with Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian (Independent). In 2016 and 2020 he ran again as a Presidential candidate with VP Danny Zelaya.

On Nov. 25, 2015 Zelaya of Miami, Fla. made the following statement on Facebook regarding his Presidential campaign--

So my dad told me I should explain on facebook what my plans are should I become President The Politically Correct thing to say is strengthen our economy reduce crime balance our budget and expand our global war on terrorism But The Real Plan cannot be discussed because the opposition will win based on the fact that most Americans believe what they are told in the media and the media is run by individuals who don't want to advance America because they thrive on bad news They would have nothing to talk about if everything was going well but that's what we all want If we are going to do this we are going to get organized and realize we are fighting an enemy here at home and it is called fame and greed Let me expand everything you hear is true the plan it to keep it just that people giving there opinions on social media and nothing more they don't want you to know the truth I am here to liberate this country from the oppressive machine that has been holding it hostage since it's inception wether I achieve that or not I will at least be able to open the mind of a few individuals to get the ball rolling in the right direction Nobody wanted me to run for President I am everyone's nightmare and there only hope is that my opinions never get the light of day and the truth is never exposed this puts my life at risk so be it for the good of the people My only hope is to advance the Kingdom of God That is the Only Thing That will last All These Other Kingdom's Will Be Crushed By This One With Good Reason

He filed with the FEC as an Independent on Jan. 28, 2016.

Zelaya later shifted his focus to running for Vice President, with Jesus as the standard bearer--

Aug. 6, 2016
Only one guy worthy of being the president it's me and if Jesus were here vice president

Oct. 17, 2016
vice-president is enough for me I'm following Jesus' lead to the glory of god

No votes were reported for the ticket.

The campaign (2020):

On July 3, 2020 Danny Zelaya of announced on Facebook he was running for President again.

However, he had also started a Danny Zelaya for Vice President Facebook page in Apr. 2020. Perhaps I am in error but it seems a safe assumption that Jesus is once again the Presidential half of that ticket.

Zelaya's 2020 campaign was almost invisible compared to his 2016 effort.

Election history:
2016 - US President (Independent) - defeated
2020 - US President (Independent) - defeated

Other occupations: athlete

Notes:
Zelaya's father immigrated from Honduras.

Sheila Marie Cannon

 

                                                                       Rouse

Sheila Marie Cannon

VP candidate for Independent (aka Non Affiliated aka No Affiliation) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Deborah Ann Rouse (b. 1960)
Popular vote: 15 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Deborah Rouse of Athens, Tenn. jumped in extra early with the FEC to run in the 2020 election. Before the previous election was completed, she filed as an Independent on Sept. 26, 2016. On Aug. 1, 2017 she changed her affiliation to "Write-In" and named her running-mate, Tammie Jane Landreth. On Jan. 16, 2018 the VP was changed to Sheila Cannon.

A couple years ago or so I had engaged in a friendly email correspondence with the Presidential candidate in order to request an interview with Sheila Cannon of Michigan, which was refused for reasons unknown. We parted amiably. I recall there was a lot more information online back then than I can find today regarding the Rouse campaign, especially on Youtube. But if memory serves, Cannon was someone Rouse was acquainted with through her occupational life via phone contact.

I also seem to remember Rouse was a Christian who felt, regardless of the outcome of the election, she had been directed to run by God and/or Jesus.

Rouse's campaign website is still available but only offers a series of now defunct links and this very brief mission statement--

My only promise is, that I will not make any promises. As your President, I will enter the position with zeal and excitement, to better serve the people of the United States of America. "Hope" let's bring it back to America! God Bless The United States of America!

Rouse/Cannon were registered write-ins in at least 11 states.

Election history: ?

Other occupations: ?

Notes:
Another mystery VP.

Kendra Ann Bryant

 

Kendra Ann Bryant, August 1966 -

VP candidate for Independent Republican (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Barbara Ruth Bellar (b. 1947)
Popular vote: 53 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Dr. Barbara Ruth Bellar of Burr Ridge, Ill. filed as a candidate for US President as a Republican with the FEC on July 14, 2019. It appears she was something of a perennial candidate for a variety of local and state elective offices over the years. Bellar was described as a former nun, Army Reserve major, college professor, lawyer, and medical doctor.

Her running-mate was Kendra Bryant of Plainfield, Ind.

Bellar seemed to be a Tea Party type conservative Republican. Since her Presidential campaign was sort of under the radar, I find myself at a loss for information and wondering why she was not supporting President Trump's re-election bid.

At the same time Bellar was running for President as a write-in she was also on the ballot in her jurisdiction as a Republican for Clerk of the Circuit Court (she was unsuccessful in that race).

Bellar was registered as a write-in in at least 11 states. Almost half of her reported votes came from Maryland.

Election history: ?

Other occupations: ?

Notes:
Another mystery third party VP candidate.

Jeremy Cohen

 

Jeremy Cohen, June 28, 1982 (Baltimore, Md.) -

VP candidate for Libertarian Party (aka Independent) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Joanne Marie Jorgensen (b. 1957)
Popular vote: 1,865,724 (1.18%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Jeremy "Spike" Cohen was a protégé of perennial performance artist candidate Vermin Supreme. Unlike the mainstream two parties, Libertarian candidates frequently name their selection for Vice-President well ahead of the nomination process. Vermin's choice was Spike Cohen.

Cohen had written on Supreme's website--

My name is Spike Cohen, and I’m running for the Libertarian nomination for Vice President.  My beliefs lines up solidly with the Libertarian Party Platform, with the only exceptions being when I think it doesn’t go quite far enough in promoting maximum freedom.  I understand that the Platform is an attempt to compromise between different positions and I completely respect that, but as an individual candidate my policy is anarchy.

With that said, I realize as that as Vice President I will not be able to simply snap my fingers and make government go away.  For that reason, I am willing and eager to compromise as hard as I absolutely need to in order to change government from the inside.  As we all know, compromising on principle with sociopaths who want to enslave the world is a surefire way to achieve positive change.

To that end, I am unleashing my Verbal Agreement For An Even Better America, which builds upon Vermin’s 4 Point Platform of Free Ponies, Mandatory Tooth Brushing, Zombie Power and Killing Baby Hitler to create the greatest world any of us could possibly imagine.

I pledge that all of these things will happen in the first 100 days of our administration, or else I will resign and be replaced with Baby Yoda:

Early in his campaign with Supreme, Cohen told one reporter, "We've been accused of doing this as some kind of satirical campaign. That we're trying to shed light on the fact that that this entire system is a joke. This is a ridiculous accusation. I reject it entirely. We're of course perfectly serious about our entire platform ... The chips are stacked against us from the president down to the congress to most major media ... It's the system that's a joke and it treats us as a joke and it treats the idea of having more than two options as a joke. We're changing the punch line by trolling the system."

Although Supreme's quest for the nomination was not a success (he finished in third place), Cohen narrowly won the VP nod on the third ballot by defeating John Monds. The latter was the first choice of Presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen. She had been the 1996 Libertarian running-mate and the first woman to run for President under the Party's banner.

The selection of Cohen for the second spot drew some negative reaction from certain politicos. The New York Intelligencer ran an article entitled, "Libertarians Decide to Become a Joke in 2020" by Ed Kilgore, including the following--

But the effort to make the Libertarian Party a viable option without celebrity leadership will perhaps be tested the most by Cohen’s presence on the national ticket. He appears to have completely internalized Supreme’s troll-ish approach to politics, as indicated in an interview earlier this year:

    “It’s the system that’s a joke and it treats us as a joke and it treats the idea of having more than two options as a joke.” he explained. “We’re changing the punch line by trolling the system.”

And so, when running for the veep nomination, Cohen trumped Supreme’s free-pony promise (politicians promise people everything, you see) with an extra offer of free cheesy bread and Waffle Houses on every corner. He also added to Supreme’s long-standing pledge to fund time-travel research and then go back to kill Baby Adolf Hitler with a pledge to kill Baby Woodrow Wilson, too.

Let’s just stipulate that Spike Cohen, like Vermin Supreme, is at best an acquired taste. Aside from all the aggressive trolling, he self-identifies as an anarchist. On the positive side, from a seriousness point of view, he does not wear a boot on his head.

However from what I observed, Cohen rose to the occasion after his VP nomination and waged a relatively serious campaign clearly articulating the Libertarian positions in a professional manner. He was even occasionally seen wearing a necktie. He did travel on a bus tour late in the campaign, but due to COVID-19 it seems many of his public appearances were online with podcasters.

Jorgensen's final popular vote tally was the highest of any female third party Presidential candidate in U.S. history. The Libertarian ticket, as usual saw their strongest results in the West: South Dakota (2.63%), North Dakota (2.60%), Utah (2.58%), Montana (2.53%), Alaska (2.47%), Kansas (2.23%), Nebraska (2.12%), and Wyoming (2.08%). They finished with over 1% and just under in more than 30 additional states.

The 2020 results ended with the second highest number of popular votes and percentage (after 2016) in the history of the Party. It was only the third time the Libertarian Presidential candidate cracked 1% nationally and likewise for exceeding a million votes.

If one accepts the debatable premise the Libertarians were spoilers who hurt Trump and helped Biden, then Jorgensen/Cohen would possibly have made a difference in favor of the Democrats in Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin. But even so, Trump winning all three would still have put him under the 270 Electoral votes needed to win.

Since both Libertarian candidates were residents of South Carolina there would have been a potential legal snag in the event of their victory per the Constitution.

Election history: none

Other occupations: web designer, podcaster

Notes:
One of Cohen's final stops on his bus tour was in Olympia, Wash. on the Capitol Campus on the site of the original Governor's house, in fact. His rally was held across the street from the old Thurston County Courthouse, where I registered to vote the day I turned 18 back in 19[*cough!* *cough!*] not long after 18 year olds were granted the right to vote. Wish I had known he was appearing here, I would have attended for pure academic interest.
Washington State trivia alert about that courthouse regarding third party Presidential candidate and also VP candidate (with Eugene McCarthy) Dick Gregory-- Dick Gregory was a ground-breaking African American comedian who became better known as a political activist than as an entertainer. I first became aware of Gregory in the 1960s when he protested in favor of the Nisqually Indians treaty fishing rights. For his trouble he was tossed into the Thurston County jail in Olympia, Washington where he engaged in a fast. In those days the jail was in the old courthouse across the street from the Capitol campus. The Nisqually people had set up a camp across the street on the Cap campus lawn in a show of support for Gregory. Talking with them was a political education for me and left a deep impression, so in that sense Gregory was successful in communicating his message to at least one individual. 

Dawn Neptune Adams

 

Dawn Neptune Adams, 1974 -

VP candidate for Progressive Party (aka Independent aka Progressive Party of Oregon aka Green Party of the United States and Independent Green Party) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Dario David Hunter (b. 1983)
Popular vote: 5,408 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Dario Hunter of Youngstown, Ohio initially filed with the FEC for US President on Feb. 18, 2019 as a member of the Green Party.

On Mar. 8, 2020 Hunter changed his FEC filing to reflect his campaign HQ had relocated to Walnut, Calif. and his running-mate was Darlene Elias of Massachusetts. In his quest for the nomination he placed second in the primaries with 20.5% behind Howie Hawkins (35.06%) and also finished as a formidable runner-up at the Green convention, July 9-11, 2020.

On July 16, 2020, having been unsuccessful in obtaining the nomination of the Green Party, Hunter changed his party designation to Independent in his FEC filing and continued his campaign. In the process he and Elias had been highly critical of the Green Party's leadership and what he contended was an unfair selection method biased in favor of eventual nominee Howie Hawkins.

On Aug. 15, 2020 his filing was amended yet again to reflect his VP was now Dawn Neptune Adams and they were running under the Progressive Party label. The reasons for the switch in running-mates was not given.

Hunter's autobiography from the campaign website--

Born April 21, 1983 in Livingston, New Jersey USA.

Raised in Jersey City and in Newark, New Jersey.

I was born in New Jersey to an African-American mother and a Persian father. We were a working poor family and for us life was a constant struggle to make ends meet. I held on to my goals, getting into Princeton and through three law degrees. I know what it’s like to come from a hard life, but I also know what it’s like to make good on little more than faith and hard work.

I've previously taught as a high school English teacher, served as a K-8 school administrator and as a community college instructor. I enjoy giving back through education and I believe that it is the key to our advancement as a country, just as it has been key to my own personal upliftment. I formerly practiced law in Canada and more recently as an international environmental lawyer at a firm in Haifa.

In Youngstown, OH, I served as a member of the Youngstown Board of Education (2016-2020), fighting the predatory effort of the State of Ohio to take over our district and trap our children in a CEO-run corporate failure. I fought to ban fracking and successfully took on local and state governments in court to uphold the public's right to public records.

Raised at the intersection of multiple cultural experiences, I have taken a very liberal and open-minded approach to spiritual leadership - converting to Judaism and becoming the first born-Muslim ordained as a rabbi. I was previously the campus rabbi for the College of Wooster (Wooster, OH) as well as a pulpit rabbi to a local congregation in Youngstown, Ohio.

Adams also had a biography on the campaign website--

Dawn Neptune Adams is a member of the Penobscot Nation and a journalist with Sunlight Media Collective. Her grassroots environmental activism began with protecting Indigenous Sacred sites in Huntington Beach, CA in 1998 and continues into the present with Indigenous advocacy at Penobscot Tribal, local, state, and national levels.

An activist for Indigenous rights, Dawn’s personal childhood story of Indigenous child removal was featured in the Emmy-winning documentary Dawnland.

Dawn is a Racial Justice Consultant to the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, an active member of Racial Equity & Justice of Bangor, and a former Indigenous Peoples' Policy Advisor for the Hunter/Elias 2020 Presidential campaign. Dawn is directly involved in politics for change, serving as the Wabanaki Liason to the Maine Independent Green Party as well as the current Vice Presidential Candidate to the Dario Hunter 2020 Presidential campaign.

When not battling polluters, plutocrats, and patriarchy, Dawn spends her time raising a pre-teen and building fine furniture. She dreams of a day when we can all eat Salmon from the Penobscot River and live together in peace.

Their platform in summarized form--

Employment

Together we will fight for the human right to food, water, housing and essential utilities.

We will fight for the right to a living wage job with wages indexed to cost of living and inflation (but never less than $15/hr).

Under the REAL Green New Deal there will be full employment – with public works jobs and green jobs.

We will protect workers rights and protect unions - ending firings without just cause.

We will achieve equal pay and equal rights for women, finally passing the Equal Rights Amendment.

Education

There will be tuition free education from grade school through to college.

And we will overcome the educational racism that plagues our schools, subjecting children of color to lessened educational opportunities and the racism of lowered expectations.

We will fight to keep local voice and choice in education – and keep privatization out of our educational system. Our children are not to be used as pawns for corporate profit.

Environment

We will secure clean air, water and soil for future generations and end the environmental racism that plagues minority communities with pollution. We will transition away from fossil fuels, ending their harmful extraction.

And we will set clear achievable goals to transition to 100% renewable energy.

Economy

Bought and paid for Republican and Democratic leaders will tell you that some banks are ‘too big to fail.’ There is no such thing. Break them up. And make corporations and rich pay their fair share. Corporations are not people - and we will no longer allow their interests to outrank the public good.

We shall give grants to green businesses and support community coops in minority communities.

We will democratize monetary policy, giving the public control of the money supply and the creation of credit.

Healthcare

There will be single payer health care for all Americans (i.e. Medicare for All), with no copays, deductibles or restrictions against pre-existing illness.

We will end racism in healthcare that causes a lack of resources and access for minority communities.

Immigration

We will halt the unwarranted deportations and detentions, night raids and the abusive separation of undocumented immigrant families.

We will create a path to citizenship for immigrants that is reasonable, achievable and appreciates the value immigrants bring to our country.

Democracy

Through ranked choice voting, proportional representation and open debates we will seek to perfect the revolution this country's founders started by bringing real democracy and real choice to America’s voters. We will remove the ballot access barriers put in place by the Republicans and Democrats (and their corporate masters).

Equal Rights

We will bring an end to the senseless killing of people of color by law enforcement – supporting the efforts of Black Lives Matter.

We will affirm tribal sovereignty, affirm all treaties, and restore tribal lands to our indigenous peoples – protecting their sacred sites and fighting racism.

Through targeted legislation, we will protect the rights and the lives of LGBTQIA+ persons.

We will stand up against colonialism in Puerto Rico, supporting Puerto Rico's self determination and independence.

We will fight for reparations for Americans of African descent who have been subjected to centuries of slavery and discrimination.

Policing/Prisons/Justice

We will end the war on drugs that feeds into our shameful system of mass incarceration – the new plantation system for African-Americans and people of color.

In response to the ongoing genocide by police, we will demilitarize, defund, disestablish and devolve power to local communities in law enforcement.

We will establish community oversight of public safety and end the quotas for enforcement actions that create a for profit law enforcement model.

We will end the abusive surveillance, spying and violation of our free speech that has occurred under Republican and Democratic administrations alike.

We will protect whistleblowers and publishers like Julian Assange from malicious prosecution with federal level legal protections.

Military/Wars

We will end the war budget and stop funding interventionist activities and wars, closing over 700 military bases abroad. And we will stop aiding and abetting human rights abusers around the world – such as Saudi Arabia and Israel.

We will fund instead a Department of Peace. Our best defense is the pursuit of diplomacy, a strong educational system (i.e. a well educated public) and a strong infrastructure.

And yet we will ensure the quality of veterans' health programs, and honor our military by dealing with the ongoing impact of the military sexual crime crisis outside of the broken military judicial system.

Hunter/Adams could be found on the ballots in Oregon (0.21%) and Colorado (0.01%). They were also registered as write-ins in at least half a dozen states, some of them under the Green Party designation. Nationally they finished in 15th place. Oregon gave them the lion's share of their popular vote.

Election history: none

Other occupations: activist, filmmaker, journalist

Notes:
aka Donna May Adams.