On November 8, 2016, Green Party nominee Mark Salazar easily set a new record for a Green Party nominee for U.S. Congress. He ran in the Arizona 8th district, which is centered on the western suburbs of Phoenix. His only ballot-listed opponent was incumbent Republican Congressman Trent Franks. Salazar received 93,954 votes, 31.43%. Salazar is a Green Party leader and the state party treasurer.
The last time the Democrats ran in this district, they didn’t do much better than Salazar. A Democrat ran in 2012 and got 35.06%.
No other Green Party nominee for Congress had ever polled as much as 25% of the vote. The previous highest percentages for Green nominees for U.S. House were: (1) in Arkansas in 2008, 23.22%; (2) in Pennsylvania in 2002, 22.32%. Also an Independent Green Party nominee in Virginia in 2006 polled 23.54%.
Thank you for this news! We Arizona Greens know and love our homey Mark Salazar! I, personally, am SO proud that it is he who has set this nation-wide record. Mark is a humble, diligent public servant of utmost integrity and goodwill. A model Green candidate and shining light in these dark political times.
What are the records for the highest percentage of the vote ever cast for a Green Party candidate for US Senate, and the highest total number of votes ever cast for a candidate for US Senate?
As of December 2023, Mark Salazar’s 31.43% remains the all-time high for a Green in U.S. House race. Here are the top Green percentages in all two-way races in U.S. history:
https://www.gpelections.org/election-history/top-results-us-house-two-way-races/
Nifty site. Other third parties may want to do something similar.