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.
