Modern Whig Party

Modern Whig Party
Chairperson Michael Burger
Founded 2007 (2007)
Headquarters 1207 Delaware Ave., Suite 499, Buffalo, N.Y. 14209
Ideology Fiscal responsibility
New Federalism
Civil libertarianism
Political position Centrist
Colors Blue and Buff
Seats in the Senate
0 / 100
Seats in the House
0 / 435
Governorships
0 / 50
Seats in State Upper Houses
0 / 1,921
Seats in State Lower Houses
0 / 5,410
Website
http://www.modernwhig.org/

The Modern Whig Party is an American political movement whose stated intention is to be a "party for all of us."[1] Founded by military veterans in 2007, the party describes itself as a mainstream, middle-of-the-road grassroots movement representing voters who do not strictly accept Republican and Democratic dogma.[2][3]

The general platform of the Modern Whig Party relates to fiscal responsibility, strong national defense, and integrity and pragmatism in government. Members of the party have won a handful of local elections, either under other party labels or as independents. In recent years the party has not nominated candidates for any major office. The Modern Whig Party underwent a major overhaul of its structure and leadership in late 2014 and re-launched in the spring of 2015.

History

Founding

According to The News & Observer, the Modern Whig Party was founded by U.S. troops while they were in "the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan."[4] The Modern Whig Party was organized as a grassroots movement in the beginning of 2007. The Florida Whig Party was created two years earlier with a similar goal at the state level, but was not affiliated in any way.[5][6] Among the national Modern Whig Party's founding members were military veterans who had served in Afghanistan and Iraq and become dissatisfied with the deep ideological divide between the Republican and Democratic parties.[7]

Media coverage

In the spring of 2010 Time magazine rated the Modern Whig Party, the U.S. Marijuana Party, the Pirate Party, the Tea Party movement, and the American Secessionists as among the "top 10 most popular alternative political movements worldwide."[8] Opinion columns in The News & Observer have been favorable toward the party.[4]

Name and logo

The leaders of the Modern Whig Party state a desire to connect with the historical Whig values of a government that represents and is responsive to the people, with specific opposition to the two-party system.[9]

The Modern Whig Party logo is an owl, and the party colors are blue and buff.

Political platform

For accurate information on the official platform of The Modern Whig Party of America, please refer to the Platform section of the party's national website. [10]

Membership

The Modern Whigs have a national headquarters and an executive committee based in Washington, D.C.[11] The Modern Whig Party claims about 30,000 members nationally, although that number is known to primarily count those who register on the party's web site.[12]

The Modern Whig Party announced its first electoral victory when one of its members, Ken Belcher, won election as Constable of Lee County, Alabama on the Democratic ticket. In its first authentic electoral test, Gene L. Baldassari sought a seat in the New Jersey Assembly, representing its Fourteenth District, in the November 2, 2009, general election. He received 738 votes for just over 0.6 percent of the vote.[13]

Immediately after the election of November 4, 2008, a push began to attract moderate and conservative Democrats, and members of the Republican Party (GOP) who felt disenchanted with both the GOP's failings and its perception as moving further to the right.[14]

On December 12–13, 2009, the Modern Whig Party held its first national leadership council meeting in Washington, D.C.; fourteen people were in attendance.[12]

On November 5, 2013, Robert Bucholz, running on the Modern Whig Party ticket, was elected as Judge of Election for the Fifth Division in Philadelphia's 56th Ward. He beat Democrat Loretta Probasco by 36 votes to 24.[15][16] He is the first Whig to be elected to office in any state in nearly 160 years.[17][18]

According to the Modern Whigs chairman, Bucholz is the party’s second elected official nationwide after J. Brendan Galligan won a school-board position in Westfield, New Jersey, last year.

The next Modern Whig Party National Convention will take place over May 20-22, 2016, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

State and territorial affiliates with ballot access

References

  1. ↑ "Letter - Modern Whig Party". The Modern Whig Party of America. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "The Modern Whig Party". Modernwhig.info. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  3. ↑ "Whigs Revived". Albuquerque Journal. July 29, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Christensen, Rob (2009-04-26). "Whigs rise again". Politics. The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC: The McClatchy Company). Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  5. ↑ "Florida Whig Party (PTY) - Committee Information - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". election.dos.state.fl.us. Tallahassee, FL: Florida Department of State. Archived from the original on 2008-11-27. Retrieved 2013-12-09. Record of Florida Whig Party at Florida Department of State Division of Elections website
  6. ↑ "Modern Whig Party has Appeal to Some Troops: No Candidates Yet, but with Moderate Stance, it's Starting to Catch On" as published in the Marine Corps Times, Army Times and Air Force Times newspapers in June 2008
  7. ↑ Viewpoints with Lockwood Phillips (radio program). Atlantic, NC: WTKF / Atlantic Ridge Telecasters. Archived from the original (mp3) on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  8. ↑ "Top 10 Alternative Political Movements". Time. 2010-03-29.
  9. ↑ Our story
  10. ↑ "Platform". The Modern Whig Party of America. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  11. ↑ WKOB Eyewitness News 4
  12. 1 2 Dubbins, Andrew (2009-12-14). "America says it wants a third party. Why not the Modern Whigs?". Slate.com. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ "Republicans are Bald, Put on your Whigs" by Kyle Munzenrieder on Nov. 7, 2008 in Miami New Times
  15. ↑ Alex Wigglesworth, For Philly.com. "Philly elects first Whig in 157 years". Philly.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  16. ↑ "Rare Phila. win - for a Whig!". Philly.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  17. ↑ Jacobs, Ben. "First Win For Whigs In 150 Years". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  18. ↑ "First Whig, Robert Bucholz, elected in Philadelphia in nearly 160 years". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  19. ↑ "America says it wants a third party. Why not the Modern Whigs?". Slate. 2009-12-14. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  20. ↑ "Modern Whig Party Places a Nominee". Ballot-Access.org. 2014-09-25. Retrieved 24 February 2016.

External links

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