The Independent Party of Connecticut has been organized on a statewide basis since 2008. In 2010, as in 2008, most of its nominees have been its own members. But, both in 2008, and continuing this year, the party has also cross-endorsed the nominees of other parties. Its choices of which nominees of other parties to cross-endorse shows an unusual approach to politics.
In 2008, the Independent Party nominated Ralph Nader for President, and cross-endorsed six Republican nominees for the state legislature. It also ran its own nominees for one seat in the U.S. House, and nine of its own members for the legislature. One of its members who ran for the legislature, Cicero Booker, who was also cross-endorsed by the Working Families Party, had such a strong campaign that he became the only minor party nominee to qualify for full public funding.
This year, the Independent Party is again eclectic. It has its own nominees for most statewide offices, headed by its gubernatorial nominee, Thomas E. Marsh. But it cross-endorsed the Green Party nominee for Attorney General, Stephen Fournier. It cross-endorsed a Democrat for State Senate in the 14th district; it cross-endorsed the Republican nominee for U.S. House in the 5th district; it cross-endorsed three Republican nominees for state legislature; and it even cross-endorsed the nominee of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party in State House district One.
The party’s cross-endorsed nominee in State House district 100, John Szewczyk, himself has an unusual set of nominations. He is the nominee of the Republican, Libertarian, Connecticut for Lieberman, and Independent Parties.
In 2010, the Independent Party is also running its own nominees for nine legislative seats. It is running more of its own members for state and federal office than any other minor party in Connecticut this year. Here is the party’s web page.
The race that that qualified for public funding was a two candidate race. The Independent Party’s objectives seem to be more pragmatic than ideological. In 2006 they cross-endorsed the opponent of Sam Caliguri in the 16th state senate district in 2008 they ran their own candidate against Sam. In 2010 Sam is running for US Congress and they have cross-endorsed him. I am not sure what made him a bad candidate for two election and now they like him as far as I can see he has been consistent.
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Fusion – as the Independent Party of Connecticut is using – shows the power to reward a good candidate, and punish him or here when they’ve been bad.
This is why we need fusion in all 50 states. 3rd parties would accomplish more of their respective goals, if they would come to understand this.
But egos often get in the way of pragmatism.
Any idea how they select their cross-nominations? That is a very vibrant mix of political parties they are cross endorsing.
As a casual observer of US politics, I really wish Working Families would do something like this, standing more of their own candidates and giving the Democrats a bit of a run for their money by selecting Republicans (or others) more often. I know they have had elected representative(s?) in the past but they seem to have periods where they shy away from standing their own members in virtually everything.
The power of Fusion will only work if they are dynamic, cross endorsing the same party all the time is only diluting resources and creating unnecessary waste. Its good to see Fusion being used at a high level such as Connecticut’s Independent Party.
The Independent Party of Connecticut, like all ballot-qualified minor parties in that state, nominates by convention. Primaries in Connecticut are only for parties that got 20% in the last gubernatorial election, or parties that have 20% of the registration.