Socialist Party of Florida

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Socialist Party of Florida
ChairpersonState Executive Committee
Founded1902
HeadquartersZephyrhills, FL
IdeologyDemocratic socialism
National affiliationSocialist Party USA
ColorsRed
Seats in the Upper House
0 / 40
Seats in the Lower House
0 / 40
Website
spflorida.blogspot.com

The Socialist Party of Florida (SPFL) is the Florida state chapter of the Socialist Party USA, a democratic socialist party.[1] The SPFL appeared on ballots during the 2012 US presidential election in Florida and 2014 Florida gubernatorial election.[2][3] It is no longer a registered political party in the state.[4]

History and political activity[]

The first Socialist Party of America (SPA) local in Florida was founded in Orlando on November 18, 1901, a few months after the national party was founded.[5] The original Socialist Party of Florida was founded as a part of the SPA, in July 1902. By 1904, it had more than fifty chapters.[5][6] The Socialist Party of America voted 73:34 to change its name to Social Democrats, USA in December 1972.[7] SPUSA was founded in 1973, after which the SPFL was founded on March 16, 1998.[citation needed]

The SPFL became inactive in about June 2011 and on December 20, 2011, the revoked the status of the SPFL as a registered party in the State of Florida.[8]

While the party was primarily an activist organization, it was also an official minor party in Florida, which enabled it to field candidates for office.[9] The SPFL ran candidates for President in 2000 (David McReynolds)[10] and 2004 (Walt Brown).[11] In 2006, the SPFL attempted to field a write-in candidate for governor, but failed to gain eligibility.[12] SPFL member Brian Moore was nominated to run for President in 2008 by the SP national convention.[13] In 2010, SPFL member, David Maynard, was elected to the Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation Board.[14]

The SPFL had locals in the county of Broward and the Tampa Bay Area.[15]

Platform[]

The SPFL is a democratic socialist organization. In 2004, the party described its position as:

We believe the economy should be transformed into a socialist economy that is publicly owned and democratically controlled. The production of goods and services are created by the people and the benefits should be shared by everyone equitably. Our economy should focus on meeting people's basic needs such as healthcare, education, food and shelter, rather than profits. A small percent of the public controls our resources and political power, while the rest of society is oppressed and excluded. Discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, gender, age, class, religion, ability/disability and sexual orientation prohibits us from working cooperatively for the benefit of the community.[1]

The SPFL endorsed the positions of anti-racism and socialist feminism, saying:

As socialist-feminists, we differ from both those on the left who fail to recognize feminism as an essential aspect of human liberation, and from those parts of the feminist movement that believe that women's liberation can be achieved without a fundamental change in the economic system... We support independent organization by people of color to fight oppression. Racism will not be eliminated merely by eliminating capitalism.[16]

In the "Principles of the Socialist Party", the party says that it considers a socialist planned economy a way to solve ecological crises. The SPFL endorses full employment and cooperatives.[17]

The SPFL was involved in the anti-war movements around Iraq and Afghanistan, working on behalf of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and opposing the anti gay marriage amendment effort.[18] In addition, the SPFL worked on bringing a lawsuit against the State of Florida over violations of minor parties' First Amendment rights.[19]

Elected officials[]

Formerly and currently elected Florida Socialists:

  • Andrew Jackson Pettigrew, State Representative, Manatee County, 1907-1909[20][6]
  • C.C. Allen, State Representative, Pinellas County, 1909-1911[20]
  • John Dobler, Mayor, Gulfport, 1909-1911[20]
  • James Love, Mayor, Lake Worth, 1914-1916[20]
  • David Maynard, Hillsborough County Soil & Water Conservation Board, Seat 5 2010-[21][1]

Candidates for office[]

Gubernatorial candidates[]

  • 1916 — C. C. Allen[22]

U.S. Senatorial candidates[]

  • 1916 — R. L. Goodwin[23]
  • 1920 — M. J. Martin[23]

U.S. Representatives candidates[]

1904

  • 2nd District — W. B Wood[24]
  • 3rd District — George S. Smith[24]

1906

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen[24]
  • 3rd District — T. B. Meeker[24]

1908

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen[24]
  • 2nd District — A. N. Jackson[24]
  • 3rd District — C. N. Wood[25]

1910

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen[24]
  • 2nd District — Thomas W. Cox[26]
  • 3rd District — Eric Vonaxelson[26]

1912

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen[24]
  • 2nd District — J. J. Collins[26]
  • 3rd District — W. N. Lamberry[26]
  • At-large — A. N. Jackson[26]

1916

  • 1st District — Frank L. Sullivan[26]
  • 4th District — A. N. Jackson[26]

1920

  • 1st District — C. W. Smith[27]
  • 2nd District — W. L. Case[27]
  • 4th District — Earl Hunt[27]

2008

  • 20th District — Marc Luzietti[28]

Election results[]

Presidential nominee results[]

Since 1976, the Socialist Party USA has run a candidate for President of the United States. The party's nominee has been on the ballot in Florida in each election since 2000. The candidate who has received the highest vote total in Florida and nationally was former Oregon State Senator Walt Brown.

Year Nominee Votes
1976 Frank Zeidler (write-in) 8 (0%)
1980 David McReynolds (write-in) 212 (0.01%)
1984 Sonia Johnson (write-in) 58 (0%)
1988 Willa Kenoyer (write-in) 14 (0%)
1992 J. Quinn Brisben (write-in) 16 (0%)
1996 Mary Cal Hollis (write-in) 21 (0%)
2000 David McReynolds 622 (0.01%)
2004 Walt Brown 3,502 (0.05%)
2008 Brian Moore 405 (0%)
2012 Stewart Alexander 799 (.01%)
2016 Mimi Soltysik NA

Logos[]

The Socialist Party of Florida near the end of its life had four official logos.[citation needed] The linked hands over the world is the official logo of the Socialist Party USA, while the red carnation is the former logo of the SPUSA.[citation needed] The use of both logos was approved by the State Executive Committee of the SPFL in July 2007.[citation needed] In May, 2008, the SEC approved the use of the Red Star Over Florida.[citation needed] In February, 2010, the SEC approved yet another new logo, based on the linked hands over the world and the red star over Florida.[citation needed]

Notes[]

1.^ Despite the Socialist Party of Florida becoming inactive in 2011, Maynard is apparently still a member of the Socialist Party USA, and in office as of the fall of 2016.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "SPFL Website". Socialist Party of Florida. 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-06-07. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  2. ^ "Florida's packed presidential ballot includes Roseanne Barr". The Ocala Star–Banner. 2012-09-17. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  3. ^ "On Politics: Races, campaign rhetoric begin heating up". Florida Today. 2014-05-10. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  4. ^ "Political Parties - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Florida Division of Elections. Archived from the original on 2019-11-09. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Reports of the State Secretaries" (PDF). The Appeal to Reason. Marxist Internet Archive. July 18, 1903. pp. 2–5. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Griffin, R. Steven (2008). "Workers of the Sunshine State Unite!: The Florida Socialist Party during the Progressive Era, 1900-1920". The Florida Historical Quarterly. 86 (3): 346–379. ISSN 0015-4113 – via JSTOR.
  7. ^ Anonymous (31 December 1972). "Socialist Party now the Social Democrats, U.S.A." New York Times. p. 36. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  8. ^ Florida Division of Elections website, at http://election.dos.state.fl.us/PublicRecordsBER/wfPublicImagesBER.aspx?account=27751 .
  9. ^ "Socialist Party of Florida". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  10. ^ "2000 General Election: David McReynolds". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  11. ^ "2004 General Election: Walter F. Brown". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  12. ^ "Florida Elections - Governor".
  13. ^ Kruse, Michael (April 25, 2008). "Life tests Socialist Party presidential candidate's principles". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  14. ^ "Socialist Party Member Elected to Non-Partisan Office in Florida". Ballot Access News. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
  15. ^ "Socialist Party of Florida". Socialist Party USA. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  16. ^ "Who We Are". Socialist Party of Florida. 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-06-12. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  17. ^ "Principles of the Socialist Party". Socialist Party of Florida. 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-06-12. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  18. ^ "Socialist Party of Florida opposes Marriage Protection Amendment". MySpace. July 29, 2007. pp. 2–5. Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  19. ^ "THE REFORM PARTY (OF FLORIDA); RALPH NADER; and PETER CAMEJO vs. HARRIET JANE BLACK; ROBERT RACKLEFF, WILLIAM CHAPMAN; and TERRY ANDERSON" (PDF). Florida State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-05. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Ross, Jack (15 April 2015). The Socialist Party of America: A Complete History. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 9781612344911.
  21. ^ "Socialist Party Member David Maynard, Green Anita Stewart Win Election to Non-Partisan Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation Board in Florida". 4 November 2010.
  22. ^ "Letter to Joseph E. Lee Concerning the Florida Gubernatorial Election of 1916". Florida Memory State Library & Archives of Florida. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b "Florida: U.S. Senators". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1900s". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  25. ^ "Article 9 - No Title" (PDF). The New York Times. November 4, 1908. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1910s". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1920s". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  28. ^ "2008 General Election: Marc Luzietti". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved February 27, 2010.

Further reading[]

  • Griffin, R. S. (2008). Workers of the sunshine state unite!: The Florida Socialist Party during the Progressive Era, 1900-1920. The Florida Historical Quarterly, 86(3), 346-379.

External links[]

Platform:

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