http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Monday, November 10, 2014
This release is online at http://www.gp.org/newsroom/press-releases/details/4/749
Green Party highlights from Election Day 2014
• Green candidates running in 2014 http://gp.org/2014-green-party-candidates
• Election results http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2014/11/04/green-party-2014-election-results and http://gp.org/election-wrapup
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Green Party made several advances in the 2014 general election on November 4, with Green candidates winning 27 seats and ballot lines held for most state Green Parties.
The most closely watched Green races were in Richmond, California, where outgoing Mayor Gayle McLaughlin overcame a $3-million campaign by Chevron to defeat her slate, and New York, where Howie Hawkins challenged incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
"We thank and congratulate all our candidates for running this year and helping the Green Party grow," said Starlene Rankin, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.
A summary of noteworthy results for some state Green Party follows below. For a comprehensive state-by-state list of Green election results, see Green Party Watch (http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2014/11/04/green-party-2014-election-results/).
Repeal of marijuana prohibition, which the Green Party supports, was passed in Oregon and the District of Columbia. The D.C. Statehood Green Party has warned that Congress might exercise its power over D.C. and veto the ballot measure, demonstrating the need for D.C. statehood, which the Green Party endorses.
The Green Party has ballot lines in 19 states as a result of the Nov. 6 election and might add one more if the Green Party fulfills petition requirements in Maryland by the end of 2014. These numbers show an advance over the 14 Green ballot lines after last midterm election in 2010. Greens throughout the U.S. are battling election and ballot access rules enacted by Democratic and Republican officials to obstruct alternative parties and their candidates. (More: http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2014/11/green-party-gains-party-status-in-ma-ny-oh-and-wi/)
• Ballot lines that state Green Parties were guaranteed to hold regardless of Nov. 4 election results: CA, CO, DE, FL, HI, LA, MS, NM, SC, WV
• Ballot lines held: OR, MA, NY, WI, DC, TX, OH, MI, ME
• Ballot lines lost: AR, TN, MN
Green Party Election 2014 Highlights
• CALIFORNIA: Led by three present/former Green Mayors, 23 Green Party members were elected on Nov. 4. In Marina (Monterey County), two-term incumbent Mayor Bruce Delgado was elected to his third two-year term. In Richmond (Contra Costa County), Gayle Mclaughlin was elected to the City Council, after having served two four-year terms as mayor, for which she was unable to run again because of term limits. Ms. McLaughlin and four colleagues faced an aggressive but unsuccessful effort by Chevron to defeat them by pouring $3 million into opponents' campaigns (http://richmondprogressivealliance.net/History.html). Three other Greens were elected to City Council Seats: Paul Pitino (Arcata, Humboldt County), Deborah Heathersone (Pt. Arena, Mendocino County) and John Keener (Pacifica, San Mateo County).
• MAINE: Three Green candidates were elected. Jonathan Ault finished first among six candidates for Gardiner City Council. John Eder was elected to a school board position in Portland. Water rights activist Nickie Sekera was elevated to the Fryeburg Water District.
• MASSACHUSETTS: The Green-Rainbow Party gained ballot status after several statewide nominees drew more than 4%. The state requires at least 3% from one statewide candidate. (See http://www.green-rainbow.org/2014_election_results)
• NEW YORK: Thanks to Howie Hawkins' campaign for Governor, with Brian Jones running for Lt. Governor, the Green Party made history by establishing itself as the third party in a state crowded with alternative parties because of New York's election rules, which allow fusion. Mr. Hawkins received more than 175,000 votes (about 5%), far above the 59,000 he received in his 2010 gubernatorial run and more than triple the 50,000 necessary for party status. Matt Funiciello received about 11% in his third race for Congress in District 21 in upstate New York. Was endorsed by three local papers. See Mr. Hawkins' Nov. 6 guest column in The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/06/election-green-promise-2016).
• OREGON: Measure 90 was defeated; it would have enacted a top-two election system making participation by alternative parties nearly impossible in statewide general elections. (California now has top-two elections.) Michael Beilstein was elected to Corvallis City Council and Matt Donohue was elected to Benton County Circuit Court Judge. Oregon voters legalized marijuana, but a ballot measure requiring labeling of genetically engineered food was defeated by a tiny margin. Greens supported both measures. (More: http://www.pacificgreens.org/pacific_green_party_celebrates_victories)
See also:
Two cheers for New York’s Green Party
Editorial, The New York Post, November 6, 2014
http://www.gp.org/election-wrapup/1165-two-cheers-for-new-york-s-green-party
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191
• Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Ballot Access Page http://www.gp.org/2012/ballot-access.html
• Video Page http://www.gp.org/video/index.php
• Green Papers http://www.greenpapers.net/
• Discussion Forum https://secure.gpus.org/secure/GreenPartyForum
• Google+ http://www.gp.org/google
• Twitter http://twitter.com/GreenPartyUS
• Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
• Facebook page http://www.gp.org/facebook
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog
Green Shadow Cabinet http://greenshadowcabinet.us
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