The Conservative Party of New York has been the minor party that runs candidates in the largest share of its state’s legislative seats, compared to any other minor party. This has been true continuously starting in 1970. The Conservatives hit their peak (for number of legislative nominees) in 1982, when the party had nominees on the ballot in over 92% of New York state’s legislative races (195 nominees out of 211 races).
However, there are signs that the Conservative machine is flagging slightly. In 2008, it had nominees in only 149 legislative races (out of 212 races). That was the lowest number it had run since 1964. Meanwhile, the Working Families Party of New York is gaining. In 2008 it ran nominees in 142 legislative races, its best showing so far.
Of course, since these two New York parties mostly cross-endorse Republican or Democratic nominees, the two New York minor parties have an easier time with candidate recruitment than most minor parties do. Still, it is always a sizeable amount of work to place that many nominees on each party’s primary ballot.
Richard, yoou did not mention the IPNY. as you know the current case(s) before the USCA 2nd Circ attempt to lock-in the IPNY-OTB write-n process for every office (both public and party) being contested each year. The enrollment lock-box issue also being challenged in this litigation attempts to put the 30% of NYS non-enrolled voters in-play for the primary election each year, every
The IPNY of suspect operative Frank MacKay!
Conservative Party’s historical legacy: Bill Buckley’s brother [Robert?] was United States Senator decades ago [early 1960s?]!
James Lane Buckley, a Senator from New York; born in New York City, March 9, 1923; received secondary education at the Millbrook School, Millbrook, N.Y.; graduated Yale University 1943 and received his law degree from the same university in 1949; enlisted in United States Navy in 1942 and was discharged with rank of lieutenant (jg.) in 1946; admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1950 and commenced practice in New Haven; joined the Catawba Corp. of New York as a vice president and director 1953-1970; elected as the candidate of the Conservative Party of New York State to the United States Senate in 1970, and served from January 3, 1971, to January 3, 1977; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1976 and for election from Connecticut in 1980; Under Secretary for Security, Science, and Technology, United States Department of State 1981-1982; president, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc. 1982-1985; federal judge, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit 1985-1996; is a resident of Sharon, Conn.
As the 1968 Conservative Party nominee, James Buckley lost to Republican Sen. Jacob Javits. In 1970, Buckley won a 3-way race. The Republican incumbent was Charles Goodell, who had been appointed by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller after Robert Kennedy’s death. The Democrat was Rep. Richard Ottinger.
In 1976, Buckley got both the Conservative and the Republican nominations but lost to Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Moynihan had barely beaten Bella Abzug for the Democratic nomination.
Buckley lost in 1980 to Chris Dodd.
Bill Buckley was the Conservative nominee for New York mayor in 1965. In a debate, he said that the differences between the Republican John Lindsay and the Democrat Abraham Beame were “biological, not political.” He then proceeded to note that Lindsay was a WASP and Beame was Jewish; Lindsay was tall and Beame was short, etc.
When asked what he would do first if he were elected, Buckley said, “Demand a recount!”
How many of those candidates were actual candidates instead of just endorsements of major parties? As far as I’m concerned, the WFP is still just a democratic political club – outside of Letitia James they don’t run there own candidates, just the lesser of two evils. As far as I have been able to determine, the Green party runs more 3rd party candidates that the WFP.