The Rochester City Newspaper has this critical story about the Independence Party. It is accurate, but incomplete. It would have been better if it had explained the history of the party. It was formed in 1994 by the type of people who were supportive of Ross Perot’s 1992 independent presidential candidacy. When Perot founded the national Reform Party in 1995, the New York Independence Party functioned as the New York state affiliate of the Reform Party. However, it never named itself the Reform Party; it kept the name “Independence”.
In presidential elections, it has continued to be mostly independent of the major parties. In 2000 it nominated John Hagelin (Natural Law Party nominee) for president. In 2004 it nominated Ralph Nader. In 2008 it nominated John McCain, the only time the party ever nominated a major party presidential nominee. In 2012 it did not nominate anyone for president. In 2016 it nominated Gary Johnson for president.
Interesting article. Although, The Natural Law Party was kinda silly.
I think the Independence Party would do well without fusion voting. If they run local candidates, firm campaigns for State Assembly seats, they can win races that they deserve.
Edward Brown- I did not see any reference to the Natural Law Party in the article.
The only reference to the NLP is running their candidate in 2000. To my knowledge, the only state where it still has ballot access is Michigan.
They ran Natural Law Party nominee John Hagelin in 2000 because he was also seeking the Reform Party nomination, and the Reform Party had a split with factions meeting across the street from each other at their 2000 Convention in Long Beach. Supporters of Pat Buchanan controlled the main hall and old guard Reform Party members went across the street and nominated John Hagelin. The NYIP was affiliated with the Reform Party at the time. You can see the video of all this on C-Span’s web site.