American Independent Party

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The American Independent Party is a California political party founded by Bill Shearer. The party was established in 1968 by former Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, Sr. Wallace was on every state ballot. Wallace and his running mate Curtis E. LeMay received 13.5 percent of the popular vote and 46 electoral votes. The party opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and welfare programs.

In 1969, representatives from 40 states established the American Party as the successor to the American Independent Party. The official party flag adoption took place on August 30, 1970. The flag depicts an eagle holding a group of arrows in its left talons, over a compass rose, with a banner which reads "The American Independent Party" at the eagle's base. In 1972, the party nominated former Congressman John G. Schmitz of California for president. In 1976, the American Party split into the more moderate American Party [1], which included more northern conservatives and Schmitz supporters, and the more extreme American Independent Party, which focused on the deep South. Both of the parties have nominated candidates for the presidency and other offices. Neither the American Party nor the American Independent Party has had much national success.

The American Independent Party has had ballot status in the state of California since 1968 and is still active there. Since 1992, the A.I.P. has been the California affiliate of the national Constitution Party, formerly the U.S. Taxpayers Party. Many political analysts have theorized that the Party, which has received very few votes in recent California elections, maintains its state ballot status because people join the Party mistakenly believing that they are registering as an "independent.".^[1]

Its current Chairman is Ed Noonan, while its Vice-Chairman is Mark Seidenberg. As of November 2006, AIP's registration total is 315,151. [2]

Contents 1 Presidential Candidates 2 California gubernatorial candidates 3 See also 4 External links 5 Notes

[edit] Presidential Candidates

• 1968 George C. Wallace
• 1972 John G. Schmitz
• 1976 Lester Maddox - American Independent Party
• 1976 Thomas J. Anderson - American Party
• 1980 John Rarick - American Independent Party
• 1980 Percy Greaves - American Party
• 1984 Delmar Dennis - American Party
• 1988 Delmar Dennis - American Party
• 1992 Howard Phillips -- U.S. Taxpayers Party
• 1992 Robert J. Smith -- American Party
• 1996 Diane Beall Templin - American Party
• 1996 Howard Phillips -- U.S. Taxpayers Party
• 2000 Don Rogers - American Party
• 2000 Howard Phillips -- Constitution Party
• 2004 Diane Beall Templin - American Party
• 2004 Michael A. Peroutka -- Constitution Party

[edit] California gubernatorial candidates

The American Independent Party has nominated the following candidates for governor of California since becoming the California affiliate of the Constitution Party:

• 1994 Jerome McCready
• 1998 Nathan E. Johnson
• 2002 Reinhold Gulke
• 2003 Diane Beall Templin
• 2006 Edward C. Noonan

[edit] See also

• List of political parties in the United States

[edit] External links

• American Independent Party
• American Independent Party at JoinCalifornia

California political parties
California Democratic Party • California Republican Party • American Independent Party • Libertarian Party of California • Reform Party of California

[edit] Notes