Reform Party of Florida

The Reform Party of Florida is the state party organization for Florida of the Reform Party of the United States of America.

2000 campaign controversy

After a great deal of infighting conservative presidential candidate Pat Buchanan was granted the party's ballot line.^[1] Due to confusion over the ballot, many residents miscast their vote for Buchanan, believing they were casting their vote for Al Gore. Thus, Buchanan received an unexpected 3,407 votes in Palm Beach County.^[2] Many accused Buchanan of being a "spoiler."

2004 election controversy

In 2004, the party gained national attention when efforts were made by local Democrats to keep Ralph Nader, the Reform Party presidential candidate, off Florida's ballot.^[3]

The affair garnered a great deal of media attention, with moderate Senator John McCain publicly condemning the attempts to keep Nader off the ballot.^[4]

The courts eventually sided with Nader, and his name appeared on the ballot. Nader's spokesperson, Kevin Zeese, criticized the ordeal, saying: "We hope Democrats engage on issues and stop anti-democratic efforts to prevent voters from having a choice." ^[5]

Nader received 32,971 votes in Florida.^[6]

2006 gubernatorial campaign

Despite his unorthodox media blitz, Linn gained most of his notoriety among the Florida electorate for an emergency landing he made on an Orlando, Florida highway in October 2006 when a plane he rented had engine difficulties. Linn was not hurt, although he spent a day in the hospital under observation.

Recent events

In 2008, Jim Brown ran for Polk County, Florida commissioner; his campaign received some press as he was the first Reform candidate ever to run for local office in the state. ^[7]

The party's presidential candidate, Ted Weill, did not appear on the ballot.

References