The Populist Party existed from 1984 through 1994. Although the party ceased to exist in 1994, it continued to publish its monthly newspaper, the Nationalist Times, for another twenty-one years. However, on September 10 the paper announced that it will no longer be published.
The Populist Party’s strongest presidential run was in 1992, when it ran Bo Gritz for President. The Populist Party actually polled a higher share of the vote in the states where it was on the ballot than any other party other than the Democratic and Republican Parties. Gritz polled .31% in the states where he was on the ballot. But because he was only on the ballot in states containing 30% of the electorate that year, he only received 107,014, for fifth place behind Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ross Perot, and Andre Marrou.
Too bad the populists have fallen by the wayside. Their biggest mistake was not having a political name more generic with the times – while still holding to populists values.
These populists were open racists and xenophobes. Good riddance!
Who needs Populists when you have DEMAGOGUES like Trump ???
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P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
Many thoughtful articles and opinion pieces in this paper focusing on immigration, trade and a non-interventionist foreign policy.
Clichés against populists are still commonplace but quite dull.
Richard:
During its 10-year tenure, did the Populist Party ever become ballot qualified in any state?
I remember it qualified in only one state, Utah, in 1992.
Another Third Party bites the dust! When will “We the People” wake up for this duopoly dream world. Every time a third party starts to gain steam one of three things happen: the main candidate or leader jumps ship, people are afraid to vote for change and support thus party, or the other two come along an steal their ideas which makes that party irrelevant. Many other countries have a multi-party system representing more than two views. Is it time that we truly have a more representative democracy here at home?