Green Party racks up Election Day 2008 victories, new percentage records

Green Party racks up Election Day 2008 victories, new percentage records

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Brent McMillan, National Political Director, 202-319-7191, brent@gp.org

Richard Carroll elected to Arkansas statehouse; new Green records set in congressional races; third Green mayor elected in California

Running tally of Green election victories:
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html

Green candidate news: http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green Party elections database: http://www.gp.org/elections/candidates/index.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party's 2008 candidates for the US House doubled the number of votes they received collectively from the number received in 2006, while over one million US voters voted for at least one Green candidate in the 2008 election.

The total number of votes for Green US House candidates (568,791 so far; compared to 252,550 in 2006) will rise further after the December 6 postponed election in New Orleans, Louisiana, where Green candidate Malik Rahim is running in District 2 (http://www.votemalik.com) for a seat currently held by William Jefferson, who is under federal indictment. The Green Party is still awaiting final vote counts in some races around the US.

A new record was set for a Green candidate running for the US House, when Deb McFarland finished second in an Arkansas District 2 race with 64,622 votes or 23.33%. Rebekah Kennedy apparently set a new percentage record for a Green running for the US Senate, with 202,016 votes or 20.59% (results not official) in her Arkansas race. Along with Richard Carroll's state legislature victory (see below), Arkansas Greens showed the most dramatic electoral growth of any state Green Party (http://www.arkgreens.org).

The Illinois Green Party ran 54 candidates, the most of any state Green Party in 2008 (http://www.ilgp.org). 2008 is the first year in which the West Virginia Mountain Party (http://www.mtparty.org) competed in elections as an affiliate of the Green Party of the United States, with Jesse Johnson's run for Governor (http://www.jesse4wvgov.org).

Mr. Johnson's 4.5% is the highest percentage for an alternative party candidate for Governor of West Virginia since 1912, when the Socialist Party polled 5.6% (http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/11/07/west-virginia-green-gubernatorial-showing-the-best-for-a-minor-party-since-1912/).

Green Party leaders thanked and congratulated all 245 Green candidates who ran for public office in the November 4 general election, including the party's presidential ticket, Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=137).


Some significant Green victories on Election Day, November 4, 2008:

Richard Carroll was elected to the Arkansas State Legislature, representing District 39 (http://www.newmenu.org/richardcarroll).

Bruce Delgado was elected Mayor of Marina City, Monterey County, California (pop. 25,000) (http://www.delgado4mayor.org). Mr. Delgado joins California Green mayors Gayle McLaughlin of Richmond and Craig Litwin of Sebastopol. The Green Party of California announced at least five victories statewide in 2008 (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=135).

Ross Mirkarimi was reelected to his District 5 seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in California, with 77% of the vote. This is the seat that was occupied in 1978 by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.

Art Goodtimes was reelected to his San Miguel County Commissioner seat in Colorado (District 3).

Cara Jennings was reelected as Lake Worth Commissioner, Palm Beach, Florida.

James Nicita was elected Oregon City Commissioner (Position 3) in Clackamas County, Oregon

Michael Beilstein was reelected to the Corvallis City Council (Ward 5) in Oregon.

The District of Columbia had the greatest number of Green victories on November 4, with seven DC Statehood Green Party candidates elected to Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats:
Philip Blair, Jr, Single Member District 5A10
Dave Bosserman (incumbent), SMD 1D05
Chris Otten, SMD 1C02
Nancy Shia (incumbent), SMD 1C06
Carolyn Steptoe, SMD 5A07
Rick Tingling-Clemmons (incumbent), SMD 7D05
Bryan Weaver (incumbent), SMD 1C03

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
2008 Green candidates to watch http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php

Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente 'Power to the People' Campaign for the White House
http://www.runcynthiarun.org
http://votetruth08.com
http://www.rosaclemente.com