The Peace Party became a ballot-qualified party in 2008 in Oregon. It was formed for the purpose of placing Ralph Nader on the ballot in Oregon. At the time, it was significantly easier to qualify a new party in Oregon than to get an independent candidate on the ballot (thanks to good legislative action in 2009, the independent procedures are now easier than they had been in 2008).
Because the Peace Party polled over 1% of the vote for president, it retained its ballot status, and is ballot qualified for 2010. On September 17, it filed paperwork with the Secretary of State to change its name to the Progressive Party. Oregon permits qualified parties to change their names. However, voters who had been registered in the Peace Party will need to change their registration, if they wish to continue being a member of the party under its new name.
Oregon and Vermont are now the two states that have a ballot-qualified party named the Progressive Party.
“Ask and you shall receive,” said Jesus Christ. Just recently, on these pages, I wrote that I had hoped that the Peace Party of Oregon would change its name to the Progressive Party of Oregon. Now, they have done it. That is wonderful!
Is the Progressive Party related to the Oregon Reform Party? Or is it a seperate group?
That is a question that I do not know the answer to. I did not even know that the Reform Party of Oregon was still around. Of course, the Reform Party of California is still here (without ballot access, though), so I should not be surprised.
This coalition of Progressive Parties is growing monthly, and I am very pleased by this. I dream of the day we have a strong Progressive Party in every state.
(Naturally if a grown has ballot access under another name and has the same basic principles, that would be good too.)
Early in October of 1976, in Madison, Wisconsin, I was one of the members of the national convention of electors for independent presidential candidate, Eugene J. McCarthy. Some of us held a separate meeting that was designed to create a new, continuing, progessive organization. We formed the Progressive Coordinating Council and the basic plan was that the Council would be turned into the Progressive Party when we became strong enough. The Council lasted for a couple of years but there just were not enough people who wished to help us. Consequently, PCC died off. It was very sad.
Naturally, it warms my heart to see that now, thirty-three years later; there are two state parties, with the name Progressive, that have ballot access. I am 62 years old and I have waited a long time to see this. I am very happy that the Lord has allowed me to live long enough to be a witness to this wonderful event.
Although I am now registered “I Decline to State a Political Party,” I certainly would sign up with the Progressive Party if there was a state chapter in California!
I’m glad. I support peace but the name was for the party seemed way too narrow.
If the Progressive party can stay true to its name then it will be very positive. I take Progressive to mean standing up against concentrated wealth and power in whatever form it maybe. Its very different then modern day conservatism and liberalism. I think it can represent a lot of people that are not being represented by the two major parties now, or even the Green Party for that matter.