In New York State, there is fusion. So, a major party candidate can also appear on the ballot line of an alternative party or independent body. Below are two stories from Elizabeth Benjamin’s Daily News blog about major party candidates who are enjoying third party support.
Benjamin reports, “The Working Families Party endorsed Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown for re-election.” Link to full story is: here.
Benjamin wrote, “Democratic Westchester County Executive Andy Spano landed the Conservative Party line, which Phil Reisman thinks could ensure his re-election this fall.” Link to full story is: here.
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Related story at IPR: Party for Socialism and Liberation and Socialist Party each have candidates for Mayor of NYC.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Eric Sundwall // Jun 7, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Joseph Dobrian is the Libertarian candidate for mayor of NYC. No fusion sought.
2 Kimberly Wilder // Jun 8, 2009 at 6:34 am
And, also, Reverend Billy Talen is the Green Party candidate for Mayor of NYC. So, the NYC race will have a vast array of third party candidates. Pretty interesting, actually.
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In response to Eric:
Yes, many people dislike fusion. It can be a way for the big fish to swallow the little fish. And, that often happens with the Conservative/Independence/and Working Families Party in NY. They rarely run their own candidates, just endorse others.
On the other hand, when some Democratic leaders have proposed to end fusion in NY, I think that is a way to stifle one strategy that puts some pressure on the majors.
I kind of like it the way it is. Fusion is there, to be a “threat” to the major parties that a whole bunch of little parties could team up and overthrow them. But, parties such as the Green Party and Libertarian Party who are genuinely trying to build their own constituency and stick to their own ideals, resist the constant pressure to merge, and run their own candidates.
The local Green Party has cross-endorsed in very strategic ways. But, I am not sure I ever believe Greens should cross endorse. Greens do not take corporate funds, and cross-endorsed candidates probably would.
3 Third Party Revolution // Jun 8, 2009 at 11:48 am
By the way there is an error on this article. The candidate for Mayor of NYC is not with the Socialist Party but the Socialist Workers Party.
4 d.eris // Jun 8, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I don’t recall there being so much third party activity in the last few NYC mayoral elections. Anyone know the numbers off hand?
5 Gene Berkman // Jun 8, 2009 at 2:12 pm
The various minor parties always run candidates for Mayor in New York City. You just don’ t hear about them and they get very few votes. So this year’s crop of third party candidates is not unusual.
6 Catholic Trotskyist // Jun 8, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Interesting that a Democrat got the Conservative Party endorsement. Is it because he is pro-life or something?
7 Sean Scallon // Jun 8, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I wish more states would adopt Fusion besides New York. You guys are lucky.
8 Chris Cole // Jun 8, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I seem to remember a Libertarian candidate also running on the ballot line of the now-defunct Right to Life Party. County legislative race, maybe?
9 Trent Hill // Jun 8, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Howard Phillips, CP Presidential candidate in 1992, 1996, and 2000, got the Right to Life Party ballot line in…1996, I think. He recieved 25,000 votes if memory serves.
10 Gene Berkman // Jun 8, 2009 at 8:39 pm
New York Libertarians have run on multiple lines in the past.
A few years ago the Chair of the Manhattan LP ran for Assembly on Libertarian & Republican lines in safe Democrat district.
In 1974, 3 New York Libertarians ran for State Assembly on the Conservative & Libertarian lines – one got 17% running against the Republican leader of the Assembly.
I don’t think New York Libertarians oppose the idea of seeking other nominations – but since there is little possibility in this years New York City elections, why bother?
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