The California Peace & Freedom Party state convention will attract a large attendance, since it will be choosing the party’s presidential candidate. The convention is August 1-3 in Sacramento, at the Hawthorn Suites, 321 Bercut Drive, in the northwest corner of the city. The Sutter Room has enough room for 150 people. Presidential candidates are invited to a forum, Friday evening, August 1. The presidential vote is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 2.

One long-time activist in the party estimates that between 35 and 40 members of the State Central Committee are in favor of Ralph Nader; approximately 25 are in favor of Gloria La Riva; approximately 12 are in favor of Brian Moore; approximately 8 are in favor of Cynthia McKinney. There are 100 elected members of the State Central Committee. This is the largest number of elected members of the PFP State Central Committee since 1992. The 1992 state convention had a spirited contest between Ron Daniels and Lenora Fulani, which Daniels won.

Thanks to blogger Ronald Hardy at www.greenpartywatch.org, as well as http://www.greensforgreens.org, the results of the roll call at the Green Party national convention in Chicago are:

Cynthia McKinney 323
Ralph Nader 78.5
Kat Swift 38.5
Kent Mesplay 35
Jesse Johnson 32.5
Elaine Brown 9
Jared Ball 8
Howie Hawkins 8
uncommitted or undecided 9.5
total votes cast: 542

Rosa Clemente was chosen vice-presidential nominee by a show of hands. She is the first person of Puerto Rican background to run for president or vice-president in a general election.

No votes were cast from these 13 states: Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, or Wyoming. At the 2004 Green national convention, seven states did not participate: Alaska, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming.