Socialist Party of Florida

Socialist Party of Florida
Chairperson State Executive Committee
Founded 1902, became inactive in 2011
Headquarters Zephyrhills, FL
Ideology Democratic socialism
National affiliation Socialist Party USA
Colors Red
Politics of the United States
Political parties
Elections

The Socialist Party of Florida (SPFL) was the Florida state chapter of the Socialist Party of the United States of America (SPUSA), a democratic socialist party. The SPFL was the local organization of the members of the SPUSA who lived in or claimed legal residence in Florida.

History and political activity

The first Socialist Party of America (SPA) local in Florida was founded in Orlando on November 18, 1901, a few months after the national party was founded. The original Socialist Party of Florida was founded as a part of the SPA, July 14, 1902.[1] The Socialist Party of America voted 73:34 to change its name to Social Democrats, USA in December 1972.[2] SPUSA was founded in 1973, after which the SPFL was founded on March 16, 1998.

The SPFL became inactive in about June 2011 and on December 20, 2011, the Florida Division of Elections revoked the status of the SPFL as a registered party in the State of Florida.[3]

SPFL was active around several main issues. The SPFL was involved in the anti-war movements around Iraq and Afghanistan, working on behalf of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and opposing the anti gay marriage amendment effort.[4] In addition, the SPFL worked on bringing a lawsuit against the State of Florida over violations of minor parties' First Amendment rights.

While the party was primarily an activist organization, it was also an official minor party in Florida, which enabled it to field candidates for office.[5] The SPFL ran candidates for President in 2000 (David McReynolds)[6] and 2004 (Walt Brown).[7] In 2006, the SPFL attempted to field a write-in candidate for governor, but failed to gain eligibility.[8] SPFL member Brian Moore was nominated to run for President in 2008 by the SP national convention.[9] In 2010, SPFL member, David Maynard, was elected to the Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation Board.[10]

The SPFL had locals in the county of Broward and the Tampa Bay Area.[11]

Candidates for office

Gubernatorial candidates

  • 1916 — C. C. Allen[12]

U.S. Senatorial candidates

  • 1916 — R. L. Goodwin[13]
  • 1920 — M. J. Martin[13]

U.S. Representatives candidates

1904

  • 2nd District — W. B Wood[14]
  • 3rd District — George S. Smith[14]

1906

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen[14]
  • 3rd District — T. B. Meeker[14]

1908

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen[14]
  • 2nd District — A. N. Jackson[14]
  • 3rd District — C. N. Wood[15]

1910

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen[14]
  • 2nd District — Thomas W. Cox[16]
  • 3rd District — Eric Vonaxelson[16]

1912

  • 1st District — C. C. Allen[14]
  • 2nd District — J. J. Collins[16]
  • 3rd District — W. N. Lamberry[16]
  • At-large — A. N. Jackson[16]

1916

  • 1st District — Frank L. Sullivan[16]
  • 4th District — A. N. Jackson[16]

1920

  • 1st District — C. W. Smith[17]
  • 2nd District — W. L. Case[17]
  • 4th District — Earl Hunt[17]

2008

  • 20th District — Marc Luzietti[18]

Logos

The Socialist Party of Florida near the end of its life had four official logos. The linked hands over the world is the official logo of the Socialist Party USA, while the red carnation is the former logo of the SPUSA. The use of both logos was approved by the State Executive Committee of the SPFL in July 2007. In May, 2008, the SEC approved the use of the Red Star Over Florida. In February, 2010, the SEC approved yet another new logo, based on the linked hands over the world and the red star over Florida.

References

  1. ↑ "Reports of the State Secretaries". The Appeal to Reason (398). Marxist Internet Archive. July 18, 1903. pp. 2–5. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  2. ↑ Anonymous (31 December 1972). "Socialist Party now the Social Democrats, U.S.A.". New York Times. p. 36. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  3. ↑ Florida Division of Elections website, at http://election.dos.state.fl.us/PublicRecordsBER/wfPublicImagesBER.aspx?account=27751 .
  4. ↑ "Socialist Party of Florida opposes Marriage Protection Amendment". MySpace. July 29, 2007. pp. 2–5. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Socialist Party of Florida". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  6. ↑ "2000 General Election: David McReynolds". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  7. ↑ "2004 General Election: Walter F. Brown". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Florida Elections - Governor".
  9. ↑ Kruse, Michael (April 25, 2008). "Life tests Socialist Party presidential candidate's principles". The St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Socialist Party Member Elected to Non-Partisan Office in Florida". Ballot Access News. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Socialist Party of Florida". Socialist Party USA. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Letter to Joseph E. Lee Concerning the Florida Gubernatorial Election of 1916". Florida Memory State Library & Archives of Florida. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Florida: U.S. Senators". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 "Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1900s". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Article 9 - No Title" (PDF). The New York Times. November 4, 1908. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 "Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1910s". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1920s". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  18. ↑ "2008 General Election: Marc Luzietti". Florida Division of Elections. Retrieved February 27, 2010.

External links

Platform: