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Socialist Party of New Jersey

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Socialist Party of New Jersey
ChairStephanie Gussin
SecretaryPat Noble
Founded1970s
IdeologyDemocratic socialism
Socialist feminism
Multi-tendency
Political positionLeft-wing
National affiliationSocialist Party USA
ColorsRed
Website
njsocialistparty.org

The Socialist Party of New Jersey (SPNJ) is the state chapter of the Socialist Party USA in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

The Socialist Party of New Jersey engages in both electoral politics and non-electoral activism. Some examples of non-electoral activism includes anti-racist actions in cooperation with Residents Against Racism, support for unions and unionization in cooperation with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and other unions, anti-war and anti-imperialist agitation, and support for feminism and women's rights.

In 2014, the SPNJ declared victory in a lawsuit (Noble v. State) against the State of New Jersey over the State preventing the Party from having voter registration rights.[1] The SPNJ joins eight other political parties who have voter registration, six of which are minor/alternative parties and also had to file a lawsuit to receive voter registration abilities.

The Socialist Party of New Jersey has two active locals,[clarification needed] a Northern New Jersey local headquartered in Montclair, and a Central New Jersey local headquartered in Red Bank.

Organization

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The Socialist Party of New Jersey is governed by a State Executive Committee (SEC), elected to two-year terms at a state convention on odd years. The state convention elects one to two State Chairs, as well as a State Secretary and State Treasurer. Additionally, each chartered local is invited to elect one representative to sit on the SEC as a voting member.

Elected officials

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Pat Noble, the SPNJ's only recently elected candidate, in 2015

The SPNJ has only one elected official within living memory, Pat Noble, who, in 2012, at the age of 19, was elected to the Red Bank Regional High School Board of Education serving from 2013 to 2016. Noble's only prior experience was working part-time at a local drug store with his highest level of education being the Monmouth County vocational school. Noble centered his campaign on making "socialist" not be a dirty word anymore, while also running on opposing merit pay for teachers, refusing access to the school to U.S. Army recruiters, introducing mandatory LGBT sex-education for all students, and opposing budget cuts. Noble was not re-elected, and made an unscessful bid to the board of chosen freeholders in Monmouth County, which he would also lose, although he was made the party Secretary from 2011 to 2015 before serving as national co-chair before returning in 2017.[2]

Former candidates

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Gubernatorial candidates

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US Senate candidates

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US House of Representatives candidates

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State Assembly candidates

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County/local candidates

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Presidential nominee results

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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 New Jersey in 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2004 and 2008. The candidate who has received the highest vote total in New Jersey was Willa Kenoyer in 1988.

Year Nominee Result Votes Notes
1900 Eugene V. Debs 4 of 6 4,611 (1.15%)
1904 Eugene V. Debs 3 of 6 9,587 (2.22%)
1908 Eugene V. Debs 3 of 6 10,249 (2.19%)
1912 Eugene V. Debs 4 of 6 15,948 (3.69%)
1916 Allan L. Benson 3 of 5 10,405 (2.10%)
1920 Eugene V. Debs 3 of 7 27,141 (3.00%)
1924 Robert M. La Follette 3 of 8 108,901 (10.03%) Also nominated by the Progressive Party.
1928 Norman Thomas 3 of 6 4,897 (0.32%)
1932 Norman Thomas 3 of 6 42,998 (2.64%)
1936 Norman Thomas 4 of 7 3,931 (0.22%)
1940 Norman Thomas 4 of 6 2,433 (0.12%)
1944 Norman Thomas 5 of 5 3,558 (0.17%)
1948 Norman Thomas 5 of 7 10,521 (0.54%)
1952 Darlington Hoopes 3 of 8 8,592 (0.36%)
1956 Darlington Hoopes N/A N/A Not on ballot; final presidential campaign of Socialist Party of America
1976 Frank Zeidler 12 of 12 469 (0.02%) First nominee of Socialist Party USA
1980 David McReynolds 10 of 13 1,973 (0.07%)
1984 Sonia Johnson 9 of 9 1,247 (0.02%) Also nominated by the Citizens Party.
1988 Willa Kenoyer 7 of 11 2,587 (0.08%)
1992 J. Quinn Brisben N/A N/A (not on ballot)
1996 Mary Cal Hollis N/A N/A (not on ballot)
2000 David McReynolds 7 of 9 1,880 (0.06%)
2004 Walt Brown 7 of 9 664 (0.02%)
2008 Brian Moore 7 of 10 699 (0.02%)
2012 Stewart Alexander N/A N/A (not on ballot)
2016 Mimi Soltysik N/A N/A (not on ballot)
2020 Howie Hawkins 4 of 8 14,202 (0.31%) Also nominated by the Green Party.
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References

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  1. ^ Winger, Richard (March 19, 2014). "New Jersey Election Officials Will Allow Voters to Register into Socialist Party and Will Keep a Tally". Ballot Access News. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  2. ^ Spahr, Rob (5 January 2013). "19-year-old Socialist takes seat on Red Bank Regional's Board of Education". NJ.com. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  3. ^ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/09-official-general-election-gov-lt-gov-tallies-120109.pdf[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Candidates for Governor For November 2005 General Election in New Jersey" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-20.
  5. ^ "Official Results - Gubernatorial general election returns by county for election held November 4, 1997" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-20.
  6. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
  7. ^ "2011 General Election Unofficial Results". Archived from the original on 2011-11-12. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
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