List of Communist Party USA election results

Last updated

This is a list of members of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) who have run for elected office in the United States .

Contents

Currently, CPUSA does not often field candidates, [1] because it wants to avoid spoiling progressive Democratic candidates. [2] In 2021, CPSUA chair Joe Sims said, "We really can’t be a political party if we don’t run candidates". [3]

CPUSA has run candidates on an explicit Communist ticket, on tickets of third parties (such as the Nonpartisan League), and on Democratic tickets. [1] See also: List of Communist Party USA members who have held office in the United States.

As of 2024, no CPUSA member has been elected to federal office, one has been elected to state office, and several have been elected to local government.

Congressional elections

YearCandidateChamberStateDistrictVotes %ResultNotesRef
1992Denise Winebrenner Edwards House Pennsylvania 183,650
1.44%
Lostran as independent [4]
1992John Rummel House New Jersey 131,525
1.05%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [4]
1988Mark Almberg House Illinois 81,937
1.34%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [5]
1988John Rummel House New Jersey 14442
0.29%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [5]
1984Laura Ross House Massachusetts 815810
8.08%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [6]
1984Ishmael Flory Senate Illinois At-Large4,802
0.1%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [6]
1984Lucille Bieger Senate Kansas At-Large9,380
0.94%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [6]
1984Samuel Webb Senate Michigan At-Large1,196
0.03%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [6]
1982Joelle Fishman House Connecticut 3696
0.38%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [7]
1982Joelle Fishman House Connecticut 3696
0.38%
Lostran as Citizens Party candidate [7]
1980Charles Wilson Senate Illinois At-Large11,453
0.25%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [8]
1980William Scott Senate New York At-Large4,161
0.07%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [8]
1980Frank Kinces Senate Pennsylvania At-Large3,334
0.08%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [8]
1980Rick Nagin Senate Ohio At-Large42,410
1.05%
Lostran as independent [8]
1980Joelle Fishman House Connecticut 32711
1.21%
Lostran as Citizens Party candidate [8]
1978Joelle Fishman House Connecticut 33,068
1.84%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [9]
1976Joelle Fishman House Connecticut 32,947
1.32%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [10]
1976Matt Savola Senate Minnesota At-Large2,214
0.12%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [10]
1976 Herbert Aptheker Senate New York At-Large25,141
0.38%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [10]
1976Frank Kinces Senate Pennsylvania At-Large2,097
0.05%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [10]
1976Margaret Cann Senate Rhode Island At-Large912
0.23%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [10]
1974 Ishmael Flory Senate Illinois At-Large5,873
0.2%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]

Statewide elections

YearCandidateOfficeStateDistrictVotes %ResultNotesRef
1990 Evelina Alarcón Secretary of State California At-Large144,577
1.93%
Lostran as Peace and Freedom Party candidate [12] [13]
1986Helen Kruth Treasurer Minnesota At-Large13,817
1.03%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [14]
1985 George Fishman Governor New Jersey At-Large1,901
0.1%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [15]
1984 Marcia Davis Trustee Illinois At-Large56289
0.44%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3 [11]
1984 Richard Giovanoni Trustee Illinois At-Large50724
0.4%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3 [11]
1984 Elsie Rosado Trustee Illinois At-Large37,311
0.29%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3 [11]
1982 Richard Giovanoni House Illinois 7530
2.08%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]
1982Helen Kruth Treasurer Minnesota At-Large28,131
1.69%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [16]
1980 Barbara Browne Trustee Illinois At-Large46,956
0.39%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3 [12] [11]
1980 Mark Almberg Trustee Illinois At-Large22,793
0.19%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3 [11]
1980 Richard Rozoff Trustee Illinois At-Large22,406
0.19%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3 [11]
1978Helen Kruth Auditor Minnesota At-Large22,576
1.51%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [17]
1976 Ishmael Flory Governor Illinois At-Large10,091
0.22%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]
1976 Theodore Pearson Attorney General Illinois At-Large11,154
0.25%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]
1976 Frances Gabow Secretary of State Illinois At-Large8,271
0.18%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]
1976 Charles Hunter Comptroller Illinois At-Large10,992
0.25%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]
1976 Mark Almberg Trustee Illinois At-Large25,641
0.21%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]
1976 Altherna Medith Trustee Illinois At-Large18,948
0.16%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]
1976 Jack Kling Trustee Illinois At-Large17,414
0.14%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]
1972 Ishmael Flory Governor Illinois At-Large4,592
0.1%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [11]

State legislature elections

YearCandidateOfficeStateDistrictVotes %ResultNotesRef
2006Kenneth Jones Senator Missouri 4559
3.01%
Lost Democratic primary [18]
1996David Mirtz Assembly New York 80265
0.85%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [19]
1994Mark Almberg Senate Illinois 1721
0.08%
Lostwrite-in [11]
1992David Mirtz Assembly New York 71575
2.31%
Lostran as "Tax the Rich" candidate [20]

Local elections

YearCandidateOfficeCityDistrictVotes %ResultNotesRef
2019Denise Winebrenner Edwards Borough Council Wilkinsburg 3922
65.34%
Wonran as Democratic candidate and open Communist Party member [21] [12] [22]
2019Tony Pecinovsky Alderperson St. Louis 14622
47.96%
Lost Democratic primary [23] [24]
2019 Wahsayah Whitebird Alderperson Ashland 652
55.32%
Wonnonpartisan election [25] [26] [27]
2017Denise Winebrenner Edwards Borough Council Wilkinsburg 3613
55.32%
Wonran as Democratic candidate and open Communist Party member; opponent was write-in; 2-year seat [28] [12] [22]
2017Denise Winebrenner Edwards Borough Council Wilkinsburg 3547
23.77%
Lostran as Democratic candidate and open Communist Party member; vote for 2, 3rd place [28] [12] [22]
2013Dominic Giannone III City Council Weymouth 177
9.76%
Lost nonpartisan primary, did not advance to general [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]
2005Denise Winebrenner Edwards Borough Council Wilkinsburg Won [34]
2002 Gary Dotterman City Council Boston 9Lostnonpartisan election [35] [36]
2001Denise Winebrenner Edwards Borough Council Wilkinsburg Won [37]
1999Kenneth Jones Alderperson St. Louis 221,231
58.93%
Wonran as Democratic candidate and open Communist Party member [12] [38] [39]
1997Denise Winebrenner Edwards Borough Council Wilkinsburg Won [37]
1995Kenneth Jones Alderperson St. Louis 22767
55.58%
Wonran as independent [12] [38] [39]
1993 Gary Dotterman City Council Boston At-large5,404
1.81%
Lost nonpartisan primary, did not advance to general [40]
1991Kenneth Jones Alderperson St. Louis 221,501
72.65%
Wonran as independent [12] [38] [39]
1987Kenneth Jones Alderperson St. Louis 221,187
53.93%
Wonran as independent [12] [38] [39]
1983Kenneth Jones [lower-alpha 1] Alderperson St. Louis 221,566
60.07%
Wonran as independent [12] [38] [39]
1977Joelle Fishman Mayor New Haven At-Large417
1.04%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [41]
1975Joelle Fishman Mayor New Haven At-Large811
2.38%
Lostran as CPUSA candidate [42]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Also called Kenny Jones.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Does the CPUSA run candidates for elected office? What is the history of the CPUSA in presidential elections?". Communist Party USA. April 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ Arney, Michael (April 24, 2019). "Communist election strategy, here and now". Communist Party USA.
  3. ↑ "It's time to run candidates: A call for discussion and action". Communist Party USA. April 9, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Federal Elections 92" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. June 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Federal Elections 88" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. May 1989. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Federal Elections 84" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. May 1985. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Federal Elections 82" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. 1983. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of 1980" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. April 1981. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 1, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. April 1979. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 1, 2007.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of 1976" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. April 1977. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 1, 2007.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pecinovsky, Tony (May 8, 2020). "100 years of CPUSA: A critical reply to Jacobin". Communist Party USA. And in 1997, Denise Winebrenner Edwards was elected to the Wilkinsburg, PA, city council.
  13. ↑ "Statement of Vote General Election November 6, 1990" (PDF). California Secretary of State.
  14. ↑ "Treasurer, 1986 Election". University of Minnesota Libraries.
  15. ↑ "Votes Cast for the Office of Governor of the State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1985.
  16. ↑ "Treasurer, 1982 Election". University of Minnesota Libraries.
  17. ↑ "Auditor, 1978 Election". University of Minnesota Libraries.
  18. ↑ "All Results Official Election Returns State of Missouri Primary Election Primary Election Tuesday, August 08, 2006" (PDF). Missouri Board of State Canvassers. August 23, 2006.
  19. ↑ "1996 Nov 5 • General Member of Assembly • State Assembly District 80". New York State Board of Elections.
  20. ↑ "NY Assembly 71". Our Campaigns.
  21. ↑ "2019 General Election". Allegheny County.
  22. 1 2 3 "Ballot Access News". Ballot Access News. December 5, 1997. On November 4, Denise Winebrenner Edwards was elected to the Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania borough council. Although she was a Democratic Party nominee, she is also a leader of the Communist Party, a fact which was well known during the campaign.
  23. ↑ Lynch, Maicol David; Wood, Roberta (March 15, 2019). "Labor-backed candidate Tony Pecinovsky scores 48 percent in St. Louis race". People's World. Communist Party USA.
  24. ↑ "Election Summary Report Primary Municipal Election St. Louis, Missouri March 5, 2019" (PDF). St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners. March 11, 2019.
  25. ↑ Johnson, Earchiel (7 May 2019). "Native American communist topples incumbent council president in Wisconsin town". People's World. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  26. ↑ Winger, Richard (May 7, 2019). "Communist Party Member Elected to City Council of Ashland, Wisconsin". Ballot Access News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021.
  27. ↑ "2019 Spring Election, City & Village" (PDF). County of Ashland. April 2, 2019.
  28. 1 2 "2017 General Election". Allegheny County.
  29. ↑ Schiavone, Christian (August 28, 2013). "Weymouth Town Council Candidate Proud to Be a Communist". The Patriot Ledger.
  30. ↑ Laidler, John (September 12, 2013). "Communist sets his sights on Weymouth Town Council seat". Boston Globe .
  31. ↑ "Dominic Giannone III". Ballotpedia.
  32. ↑ Schiavone, Christian (September 18, 2013). "Haugh, Montanez advance in Weymouth Town Council race". The Patriot Ledger.
  33. ↑ Catinella, Tony (September 18, 2013). "Precinct By Precinct Weymouth Election Results". Archived from the original on 2015-11-21.
  34. ↑ "California voters rebel against corporate agenda". People's World. Communist Party USA. November 11, 2005.
  35. ↑ Dotterman, Gary (November 7, 2002). "Dotterman for Boston City Council". People's World. Communist Party USA.
  36. ↑ Miliard, Mike (July 1–7, 2005). "Mao, more than ever". The Boston Phoenix.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  37. 1 2 "World Editorial Board member wins election". People's World. Communist Party USA. November 10, 2001.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 Pecinovsky, Tony (July 4, 2002). "Union members serving public interest". People's World. Communist Party USA.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kenneth Jones". Our Campaigns.
  40. ↑ Atkins, C.J. (June 22, 2023). "Remembering Gary Dotterman: Anti-racist Oklahoman, Vietnam vet for peace, and irrepressible gay Communist". People's World. Communist Party USA.
  41. ↑ "Mayor of New Haven". Our Campaigns.
  42. ↑ "Mayor of New Haven". Our Campaigns.
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