Modern Whig Party
Modern Whig Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Political position | Centrist |
| International affiliation | None |
| Colors | Blue and Buff |
| Seats in the Senate |
0 / 100 |
| Seats in the House |
0 / 435 |
| Governorships |
0 / 50 |
| Seats in State Upper Houses |
0 / 1,921 |
| Seats in State Lower Houses |
0 / 5,411 |
| Website | |
| http://www.modernwhig.org/ | |
The Modern Whig Party is an American political movement founded in 2007. The party describes itself as a mainstream, middle-of-the-road grassroots movement representing voters who do not strictly accept Republican and Democratic positions.[1][2]
The party's general platform supports fiscal responsibility, strong national defense, and integrity and pragmatism in government. Members of the party have won a handful of local elections, but did so either under other party labels or as independents. In recent years the party has not nominated candidates for any major office. The Modern Whig Party underwent a major overhaul of its structure and leadership in late 2014 and re-launched in the spring of 2015.
History
Founding
According to The News & Observer, the Modern Whig Party was founded by U.S. troops while they were in "the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan."[3] The Modern Whig Party was organized as a grassroots movement in the beginning of 2007.
Media coverage
In the spring of 2010 Time magazine rated the Modern Whig Party, the U.S. Marijuana Party, the Pirate Party, the Tea Party movement, and the American Secessionists as among the "top 10 most popular alternative political movements worldwide."[4] Opinion columns in The News & Observer have been favorable toward the party.[3]
Membership
The party has a national headquarters and an executive committee based in Washington, D.C.[5]
In its first authentic electoral test, Gene L. Baldassari running on the Modern Whig ticket sought the 14th District seat in the New Jersey Assembly in the November 2, 2009, general election. He received 738 votes for just over 0.6 percent of the vote.[6]
Immediately after the election of November 4, 2008, a push began to attract moderate and conservative Democrats, and members of the Republican Party (GOP) who felt disenchanted with both the GOP's failings and its perception as moving further to the right.[7]
On December 12–13, 2009, the Modern Whig Party held its first national leadership council meeting in Washington, D.C.; fourteen people were in attendance.[8]
On November 5, 2013, Robert Bucholz, running on the Modern Whig Party ticket, was elected as Judge of Election for the Fifth Division in Philadelphia's 56th Ward. He beat Democrat Loretta Probasco by 36 votes to 24.[9][10] He is the first Whig to be elected to office in any state in nearly 160 years.[11][12]
State and territorial affiliates with ballot access
References
- ↑ "The Modern Whig Party". Modernwhig.info. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ↑ "Whigs Revived". Albuquerque Journal. July 29, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- 1 2 Christensen, Rob (2009-04-26). "Whigs rise again". Politics. The News & Observer. Raleigh, NC: The McClatchy Company. Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
- ↑ "Top 10 Alternative Political Movements". Time. 2010-03-29.
- ↑ WKOB Eyewitness News 4
- ↑
- ↑ "Republicans are Bald, Put on your Whigs" by Kyle Munzenrieder on Nov. 7, 2008 in Miami New Times
- ↑ Dubbins, Andrew (2009-12-14). "America says it wants a third party. Why not the Modern Whigs?". Slate.com. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
- ↑ Alex Wigglesworth, For Philly.com. "Philly elects first Whig in 157 years". Philly.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
- ↑ "Rare Phila. win - for a Whig!". Philly.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
- ↑ Jacobs, Ben. "First Win For Whigs In 150 Years". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
- ↑ "First Whig, Robert Bucholz, elected in Philadelphia in nearly 160 years". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
- ↑ "America says it wants a third party. Why not the Modern Whigs?". Slate. 2009-12-14. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
- ↑ "Modern Whig Party Places a Nominee". Ballot-Access.org. 2014-09-25. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
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