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The '''Working Class Party''' (WCP) is a [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] [[political party]] in the [[United States]], based in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. WCP first gained ballot access in 2016. WCP supports [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]], [[pro-labor]] and [[socialist]] policies and candidates.
The '''Working Class Party''' (WCP) is a [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] [[political party]] in the [[United States]], based in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. WCP first gained ballot access in 2016. WCP supports [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]], [[pro-labor]] and [[socialist]] policies and candidates.


The party was created by [[Trotskyist]] newspaper ''[[Spark (U.S. organization)|The Spark]]'' and its supporters,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Tristan |title=What Is the Michigan Working Class Party? |url=https://www.leftvoice.org/who-is-the-michigan-working-class-party/ |work=Left Voice |date=9 November 2022}}</ref> which continues to support the party.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Working People Need Our Own Party, Our Own Candidates, Organizers, Agitators, and Fighters — The Spark #1116|url=https://the-spark.net/np1116601.html|access-date=2020-11-02|website=The Spark|archive-date=2020-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127024102/https://the-spark.net/np1116601.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The party was initially organized by [[Trotskyist]] newspaper ''[[Spark (U.S. organization)|The Spark]]'' and its supporters.


== History ==
== History ==
The party can be traced back to a campaign carried out by people around the [[Trotskyism|Trotskyist]] newspaper ''[[Spark (U.S. organization)|The Spark]]'' between 2011 and 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Tristan |title=What Is the Michigan Working Class Party? |url=https://www.leftvoice.org/who-is-the-michigan-working-class-party/ |work=Left Voice |date=9 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dupuis |first1=Mary |title=What's the WC on the Ballot? Mary Anne Hering Explains the Working Class Party |url=https://oaklandcounty115.com/2022/10/31/whats-the-wc-on-the-ballot-mary-anne-hering-explains-the-working-class-party/ |work=Oakland County Times |date=31 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Working People Need Our Own Party, Our Own Candidates, Organizers, Agitators, and Fighters — The Spark #1116|url=https://the-spark.net/np1116601.html|access-date=2020-11-02|website=The Spark|archive-date=2020-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127024102/https://the-spark.net/np1116601.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Who are Gary Walkowicz and the Working Class Party?|url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/11/02/walk-n02.html|access-date=2020-11-03|website=World Socialist Web Site|date=2 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Note6">{{Cite web|url=https://the-spark.net/campaign.html|title=The Spark Marketplace Leaflets|website=the-spark.net|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002520/https://the-spark.net/campaign.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That campaign focused on the need for the working class to organize independently. Five of the people active in that campaign ran for office in 2014 (although they were on the ballot as [[Independent politician|non-party]] candidates). The candidates ran for [[United States House of Representatives|Congress]], for the [[Dearborn School District|Dearborn School Board]] and for the [[Wayne County Community College District|Wayne County Community College Trustee]]. The latter was elected due to his only opponent, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent, being disqualified before the election.<ref name="Note7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/2014-election-results/|title=2014 Election Results, Michigan &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-date=2018-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906013938/https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/2014-election-results/|url-status=live}}</ref>
From 2011 to 2013, ''[[Spark (U.S. organization)|The Spark]]'' conducted a campaign to encourage the working class to organize independent of the [[Democratic Party (U.S.)|Democratic Party]].{{cn}} In 2014, five people active in that campaign ran for office as [[Independent (U.S.)|Independent]] candidates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dupuis |first1=Mary |title=What's the WC on the Ballot? Mary Anne Hering Explains the Working Class Party |url=https://oaklandcounty115.com/2022/10/31/whats-the-wc-on-the-ballot-mary-anne-hering-explains-the-working-class-party/ |work=Oakland County Times |date=31 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Who are Gary Walkowicz and the Working Class Party?|url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/11/02/walk-n02.html|access-date=2020-11-03|website=World Socialist Web Site|date=2 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Note6">{{Cite web|url=https://the-spark.net/campaign.html|title=The Spark Marketplace Leaflets|website=the-spark.net|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002520/https://the-spark.net/campaign.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Four candidates lost. David Roehrig won his campaign for [[Wayne County Community College District|Wayne County Community College Trustee]], due to his only opponent (the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent) being disqualified before the election.<ref name="Note7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/2014-election-results/|title=2014 Election Results, Michigan &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-date=2018-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906013938/https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/2014-election-results/|url-status=live}}</ref>


⚫
Michigan has harsh [[ballot access]] laws. In 2016, several dozen WCP volunteers turned in more than 50,000 signatures, above the required 31,566, which enabled WCP candidates to appear as party candidates on Michigan ballots.<ref name="Note8">{{Cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2016/08/18/working-class-party-petition-in-michigan-has-enough-valid-signatures/|title=Working Class Party Petition in Michigan Has Enough Valid Signatures &#124; Ballot Access News|access-date=2017-01-25|archive-date=2017-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024859/http://ballot-access.org/2016/08/18/working-class-party-petition-in-michigan-has-enough-valid-signatures/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.michiganradio.org/post/michigan-s-newest-political-party-gets-certified-today|title=Michigan's newest political party gets certified today|first=Stateside|last=Staff|website=www.michiganradio.org|date=22 August 2016 |access-date=2021-06-01|archive-date=2021-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225222744/https://www.michiganradio.org/post/michigan-s-newest-political-party-gets-certified-today|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Working Class Party competed in the [[2016 Michigan elections|2016 Michigan election]], presenting three candidates. The party filed twelve candidates in the [[2020 Michigan elections|2020 election]], five for the [[2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan|U.S. Congress]], two for the [[Michigan State Board of Education]], and five for the Michigan [[Michigan House of Representatives|House of Representatives]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Working Class Party Chooses Its 2020 Michigan Candidates {{!}} Working Class Fight|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/working-class-party-chooses-its-2020-michigan-candidates/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=www.workingclassfight.com|archive-date=2020-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817121023/https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/working-class-party-chooses-its-2020-michigan-candidates/|url-status=live}}</ref> As of November 2022, the party has ballot access in [[Illinois]], [[Maryland]] and [[Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Working Class Party on the Ballot in Illinois, Maryland & Michigan {{!}} Working Class Fight |url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/working-class-party-on-the-ballot-in-illinois-maryland-and-michigan/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.workingclassfight.com}}</ref>

⚫
Other candidates who shared many of the same ideas as the Working Class Party appeared as "non-partisan" (independent) candidates on the ballot in [[Chicago]] in 2015; in [[Baltimore]] in 2016 and 2020; and in [[Los Angeles]] in 2018.<ref name="Note3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/chicago-2015/i-stand-for-a-working-class-fight/|title=I Stand for a Working Class Fight &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-date=2018-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905214906/https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/chicago-2015/i-stand-for-a-working-class-fight/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note4">{{cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/baltimore-2016/|title=David Harding, Working Class Candidate|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035312/https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/baltimore-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note5">{{cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/los-angeles-2018/|title=Juan Rey: A Worker for Congress|access-date=2018-06-19|archive-date=2018-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001453/https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/los-angeles-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref>

⚫
Despite the harsh [[ballot access]] laws in Michigan, the people active in the 2014 campaign managed to put a party on the ballot in 2016. With several dozen others joining the voluntary effort, they turned in more than the required 31,566 petition signatures. In the end they turned in more than 50,000.<ref name="Note8">{{Cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2016/08/18/working-class-party-petition-in-michigan-has-enough-valid-signatures/|title=Working Class Party Petition in Michigan Has Enough Valid Signatures &#124; Ballot Access News|access-date=2017-01-25|archive-date=2017-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024859/http://ballot-access.org/2016/08/18/working-class-party-petition-in-michigan-has-enough-valid-signatures/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.michiganradio.org/post/michigan-s-newest-political-party-gets-certified-today|title=Michigan's newest political party gets certified today|first=Stateside|last=Staff|website=www.michiganradio.org|date=22 August 2016 |access-date=2021-06-01|archive-date=2021-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225222744/https://www.michiganradio.org/post/michigan-s-newest-political-party-gets-certified-today|url-status=live}}</ref> The Working Class Party fielded two candidates for [[United States House of Representatives|Congress]] and one for the [[Michigan State Board of Education|State Board of Education]] in [[Michigan]].

⚫
The WCP candidate for the State Board of Education polled 2.7%, many more than the 22,133 votes needed for the Working Class Party to retain [[Ballot access|ballot status]] in the [[2018 Michigan elections|Michigan 2018]] elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=STATE OF MICHIGAN POLITICAL PARTY STATUS AUGUST 4, 2020 PRIMARY NOVEMBER 3, 2020 GENERAL ELECTION|url=https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|website=Michigan State Bureau of Elections|access-date=August 30, 2018|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309021801/https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|title=Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2021-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309021801/https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note10bis">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/2016-election-results-working-class-party/|title=Post Election Statement by Working Class Party &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-date=2018-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905214822/https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/2016-election-results-working-class-party/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Similar campaigns in other states included for [[alderman]] in [[Chicago]] in the [[Wards of Chicago|25th ward]]. Candidate Ed Hershey received 614 votes (8.23%).<ref name="Note10ter">{{Cite web|url=https://chicagoelections.gov/en/election-results.asp|title=Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago|website=chicagoelections.gov|access-date=2021-06-01|archive-date=2021-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202131617/https://chicagoelections.gov/en/election-results.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, David Harding was on the ballot for Baltimore's City Council elections, running in the 14th district. He received 1,426 votes, (8.3%).<ref name="Note10qtr">{{Cite web|url=https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/EL45A_Election%20Summary.pdf|title=Baltimore City Board of Elections, 2016 General Election Results - Election Summary Report|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-date=2018-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014049/https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/EL45A_Election%20Summary.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Juan Rey ran as a candidate in [[California's 29th congressional district]] for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]. He received 944 votes (1.45%).<ref name="Note10cqu">{{cite web |url=http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-primary/sov/82-congress.pdf |title=California Secretary of State, Statewide Direct Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 5, 2018 - United States Representative in Congress by District, see page 10 in the 82-congress.pdf file |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906052556/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-primary/sov/82-congress.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[United States elections, 2018|2018 midterm elections]], the Working Class Party ran eleven candidates in Michigan; five for the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]], four for the [[Michigan Senate|Michigan state senate]] and two statewide candidates for the Michigan [[Michigan Department of Education|State Board of Education]]. Most candidates were fielded in districts in and around [[Detroit]], but the party was also contesting districts in [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]], [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]] and [[Saginaw, Michigan|Saginaw]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/candlist/2018GEN_CANDLIST.html|title=2018 Michigan Official General Candidate Listing - 11/06/2018|website=miboecfr.nictusa.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-04|archive-date=2018-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003140912/https://miboecfr.nictusa.com/election/candlist/2018GEN_CANDLIST.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The party won between 1.2% and 11.4% of the votes.

In the [[2020 United States elections|2020 elections]], the Working Class Party ran twelve candidates in [[Michigan]]; five candidates for the [[United States House of Representatives|US House of Representatives]], five candidates for the [[Michigan House of Representatives|State House]] and two candidates for [[Michigan Department of Education|State Board of Education]] and David Harding for [[2020 Baltimore mayoral election|the mayor of Baltimore]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Working Class Party Chooses Its 2020 Michigan Candidates|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/michigan-2020/|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Working Class Party|archive-date=2020-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031144948/https://www.workingclassfight.com/michigan-2020/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WCP Maryland Chooses Candidate {{!}} Working Class Fight|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/wcp-maryland-chooses-candidate/|access-date=2020-07-21|website=www.workingclassfight.com|archive-date=2020-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721215822/https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/wcp-maryland-chooses-candidate/|url-status=live}}</ref> The party gained between 0.6% and 4.8% of the votes in the seats contested.

⚫
As of December 2020, 2,102 voters were affiliated with the WCP in Maryland.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Maryland State Board of Elections Summary of Voter Registration Activity Report December 2020|url=https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2020_12.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127220249/https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2020_12.pdf|archive-date=2021-01-27|access-date=|website=[[Maryland State Board of Elections]]}}</ref>


== Ideology ==
== Ideology ==
The party supports broad positions such as putting an end to [[unemployment]]<ref name="Note14">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/to-put-an-end-to-unemployment/|title=To Put an End to Unemployment... &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2017-01-25|archive-date=2017-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202190131/https://www.workingclassfight.com/to-put-an-end-to-unemployment/|url-status=live}}</ref> and stopping the decline of [[pension]]s and social security.<ref name="Note15">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/to-stop-the-decline-in-our-standard-of-living/|title=To Stop the Decline in Our Standard of Living... &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2017-01-25|archive-date=2017-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202190305/https://www.workingclassfight.com/to-stop-the-decline-in-our-standard-of-living/|url-status=live}}</ref> They call for workers to look into the books of businesses.<ref name="Note16">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/to-protect-ourselves/|title=To Control the Economy... &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2017-01-25|archive-date=2017-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202190423/https://www.workingclassfight.com/to-protect-ourselves/|url-status=live}}</ref> They call for the unity of workers against the divide created by the bosses.<ref name="Note17">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/gary-walkowicz-main-speech-of-the-working-class-party-convention/|title=Gary Walkowicz: Main Speech of the WCP Convention &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035323/https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/gary-walkowicz-main-speech-of-the-working-class-party-convention/|url-status=live}}</ref> The party also supports the formation of a [[Vanguardism|vanguard]] party for the working class, as they maintain that both the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], as well as the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic party]], are controlled by [[Big business|big capital]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Juan Rey: Workers Need to Build Their Own Party {{!}} Working Class Fight|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/los-angeles-2018/la-campaign-speech-workers-need-to-build-their-own-party/|access-date=2020-07-22|website=www.workingclassfight.com|archive-date=2020-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711084916/https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/los-angeles-2018/la-campaign-speech-workers-need-to-build-their-own-party/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The WCP argues that no working class party exists, because both the Democrats and the Republicans are controlled by [[Capitalists|the bosses]].<ref name="Note17">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/gary-walkowicz-main-speech-of-the-working-class-party-convention/|title=Gary Walkowicz: Main Speech of the WCP Convention &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035323/https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/gary-walkowicz-main-speech-of-the-working-class-party-convention/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the WCP's party program, it supports a [[living wage]] tied to [[inflation]] and [[full employment]] through [[Four-day workweek|reductions in working time]].<ref name=Program>{{cite web |title=A Working Class Program To Combat the Crisis of Capitalism |publisher=Working Class Party |date=2022 |url=https://workingclassfight.com/blog/a-working-class-program-to-combat-the-crisis-of-capitalism/ |url-status=live |archive-date=November 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113125214/https://workingclassfight.com/blog/a-working-class-program-to-combat-the-crisis-of-capitalism/}}</ref> The WCP holds that the working class "won't change our situation with an election", but can "use this election" to say that "tens of thousands of people [....] agree with this program for the crisis".<ref name=Program />


== Election results ==
== Election results ==
Line 61: Line 47:


No WCP candidate has yet won a contested election. One WCP candidate won an uncontested election.
No WCP candidate has yet won a contested election. One WCP candidate won an uncontested election.

⚫
As of November 2022, the party has ballot access in [[Illinois]], [[Maryland]] and [[Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Working Class Party on the Ballot in Illinois, Maryland & Michigan {{!}} Working Class Fight |url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/blog/working-class-party-on-the-ballot-in-illinois-maryland-and-michigan/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=www.workingclassfight.com}}</ref> As of December 2020, 2,102 voters were affiliated with the WCP in Maryland.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Maryland State Board of Elections Summary of Voter Registration Activity Report December 2020|url=https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2020_12.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127220249/https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2020_12.pdf|archive-date=2021-01-27|access-date=|website=[[Maryland State Board of Elections]]}}</ref>


=== Congressional elections ===
=== Congressional elections ===
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| {{no2}} Lost
| {{no2}} Lost
|
|
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=DDHQ Election Results |url=https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=results.decisiondeskhq.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=DDHQ Election Results |url=https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=results.decisiondeskhq.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Note10ter">{{Cite web|url=https://chicagoelections.gov/en/election-results.asp|title=Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago|website=chicagoelections.gov|access-date=2021-06-01|archive-date=2021-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202131617/https://chicagoelections.gov/en/election-results.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan|2020]]
| [[2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan|2020]]
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| {{no2}} Lost
| {{no2}} Lost
| [[Nonpartisan blanket primary]]
| [[Nonpartisan blanket primary]]
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement of Vote JUNE 5, 2018 STATEWIDE DIRECT PRIMARY ELECTION |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-primary/sov/2018-complete-sov.pdf}}</ref>
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement of Vote JUNE 5, 2018 STATEWIDE DIRECT PRIMARY ELECTION |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-primary/sov/2018-complete-sov.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Note10cqu">{{cite web |url=http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-primary/sov/82-congress.pdf |title=California Secretary of State, Statewide Direct Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 5, 2018 - United States Representative in Congress by District, see page 10 in the 82-congress.pdf file |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906052556/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-primary/sov/82-congress.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan|2016]]
| [[2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan|2016]]
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| {{Percentage bar|2.66|hex=FF0000}}
| {{Percentage bar|2.66|hex=FF0000}}
| {{no2}} Lost
| {{no2}} Lost
⚫
| enough votes for WCP to keep [[ballot access]] in [[2018 Michigan elections|2018 elections]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=STATE OF MICHIGAN POLITICAL PARTY STATUS AUGUST 4, 2020 PRIMARY NOVEMBER 3, 2020 GENERAL ELECTION|url=https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|website=Michigan State Bureau of Elections|access-date=August 30, 2018|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309021801/https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|title=Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2021-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309021801/https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|

| <ref name=Michigan2016 />
| <ref name=Michigan2016 />
|}
|}
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| {{no2}} Lost
| {{no2}} Lost
|
|
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2016/results/general/gen_results_2016_4_by_county_030.html |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=elections.maryland.gov}}</ref>
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2016/results/general/gen_results_2016_4_by_county_030.html |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=elections.maryland.gov}}</ref><ref name="Note10qtr">{{Cite web|url=https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/EL45A_Election%20Summary.pdf|title=Baltimore City Board of Elections, 2016 General Election Results - Election Summary Report|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-date=2018-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014049/https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/EL45A_Election%20Summary.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
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| [[2015 Chicago aldermanic election#25th Ward|2015]]
| [[2015 Chicago aldermanic election#25th Ward|2015]]
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| <ref name=Wayne2014 />
| <ref name=Wayne2014 />
|}
|}

⚫
Other candidates who shared many of the same ideas as the Working Class Party appeared as "non-partisan" (independent) candidates on the ballot in [[Chicago]] in 2015; in [[Baltimore]] in 2016 and 2020; and in [[Los Angeles]] in 2018.<ref name="Note3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/chicago-2015/i-stand-for-a-working-class-fight/|title=I Stand for a Working Class Fight &#124; Working Class Fight|website=www.workingclassfight.com|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-date=2018-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905214906/https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/chicago-2015/i-stand-for-a-working-class-fight/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note4">{{cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/baltimore-2016/|title=David Harding, Working Class Candidate|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-date=2018-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035312/https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/baltimore-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Note5">{{cite web|url=https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/los-angeles-2018/|title=Juan Rey: A Worker for Congress|access-date=2018-06-19|archive-date=2018-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001453/https://www.workingclassfight.com/elections/los-angeles-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 05:54, 20 June 2024

Working Class Party
AbbreviationWCP
Founded2014; 10 years ago (2014)
IdeologyProgressivism
Socialism
Political positionLeft
US House of Representatives
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US Senate
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Michigan House of Representatives
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Michigan Senate
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Michigan statewide offices
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Website
workingclassfight.com

The Working Class Party (WCP) is a left-wing political party in the United States, based in Detroit, Michigan. WCP first gained ballot access in 2016. WCP supports progressive, pro-labor and socialist policies and candidates.

The party was created by Trotskyist newspaper The Spark and its supporters,[1] which continues to support the party.[2]

History

From 2011 to 2013, The Spark conducted a campaign to encourage the working class to organize independent of the Democratic Party.[citation needed] In 2014, five people active in that campaign ran for office as Independent candidates.[3][4][5] Four candidates lost. David Roehrig won his campaign for Wayne County Community College Trustee, due to his only opponent (the Democratic incumbent) being disqualified before the election.[6]

Michigan has harsh ballot access laws. In 2016, several dozen WCP volunteers turned in more than 50,000 signatures, above the required 31,566, which enabled WCP candidates to appear as party candidates on Michigan ballots.[7][8]

Ideology

The WCP argues that no working class party exists, because both the Democrats and the Republicans are controlled by the bosses.[9] In the WCP's party program, it supports a living wage tied to inflation and full employment through reductions in working time.[10] The WCP holds that the working class "won't change our situation with an election", but can "use this election" to say that "tens of thousands of people [....] agree with this program for the crisis".[10]

Election results

The WCP has fielded electoral candidates in the United States for local, state, and federal offices. WCP candidates usually run as official WCP candidates on their own ballot line.

No WCP candidate has yet won a contested election. One WCP candidate won an uncontested election.

As of November 2022, the party has ballot access in Illinois, Maryland and Michigan.[11] As of December 2020, 2,102 voters were affiliated with the WCP in Maryland.[12]

Congressional elections

Year Candidate Chamber State District Votes % Result Notes Ref
2024 Juan Rey House California 37th 8,910
10.3%
 Advanced to general election Nonpartisan blanket primary [13]
2022 Simone R. Coleman House Michigan 13th 8,811
3.8%
 Lost [14]
2022 Gary Walkowicz House Michigan 12th 8,046
2.9%
 Lost [14]
2022 Andrea L. Kirby House Michigan 10th 5,905
1.8%
 Lost [14]
2022 Jim Walkowicz House Michigan 9th 6,570
1.8%
 Lost [14]
2022 Kathy Goodwin House Michigan 8th 9,077
2.7%
 Lost [14]
2022 Louis Palus House Michigan 3rd 4,192
1.3%
 Lost [14]
2022 Liz Hakola House Michigan 1st 5,480
1.4%
 Lost [14]
2022 Ed Hershey House Illinois 4th 4,503
3.4%
 Lost [15][16]
2020 Philip Kolody House Michigan 14th 2,534
0.7%
 Lost [17]
2020 Sam Johnson House Michigan 13th 5,284
1.8%
 Lost [17]
2020 Gary Walkowicz House Michigan 12th 11,147
2.9%
 Lost [17]
2020 Andrea Kirby House Michigan 9th 8,970
2.2%
 Lost [17]
2020 Kathy Goodwin House Michigan 5th 8,180
2.3%
 Lost [17]
2018 Philip Kolody House Michigan 14th 4,761
1.8%
 Lost [18]
2018 Sam Johnson House Michigan 13th 22,186
11.3%
 Lost [18]
2018 Gary Walkowicz House Michigan 12th 6,712
2.3%
 Lost [18]
2018 Andrea Kirby House Michigan 9th 6,797
2.2%
 Lost [18]
2018 Kathy Goodwin House Michigan 5th 12,646
4.6%
 Lost [18]
2018 Juan Rey House California 29th 944
1.4%
 Lost Nonpartisan blanket primary [19][20]
2016 Sam Johnson House Michigan 13th 8,835
3.4%
 Lost [21]
2016 Gary Walkowicz House Michigan 12th 9,183
2.8%
 Lost [21]
2014 Gary Walkowicz House Michigan 12th 5,039
2.4%
 Lost [22]
2014 Sam Johnson House Michigan 13th 3,466
2.1%
 Lost [22]

State elections

Year Candidate Office State District Votes % Result Notes Ref
2022 Mary Anne Hering State Board of Education Michigan 135,442 At-Large
1.6%
 Lost [14]
2022 Kimberly Givens State Senate Michigan 6th district 3,396
3.1%
 Lost [14]
2022 Linda Rayburn State Senate Michigan 3rd district 10,214
14.3%
 Lost [14]
2022 Larry Darnell Betts State Senate Michigan 2nd district 1,636
2.6%
 Lost [14]
2022 David Harding Governor of Maryland Maryland At-Large 17,154
0.86%
 Lost [23]
2020 Louis Palus State House of Representatives Michigan 75th district 1,234
3.0%
 Lost [17]
2020 Larry Darnell Betts State House of Representatives Michigan 15th district 970
2.4%
 Lost [17]
2020 Simone R. Coleman State House of Representatives Michigan 14th district 1,937
4.7%
 Lost [17]
2020 Kimberly Givens State House of Representatives Michigan 7th district 1,224
3.5%
 Lost [17]
2020 Linda Rayburn State House of Representatives Michigan 4th district 1,023
3.3%
 Lost [17]
2020 Mary Anne Hering State Board of Education Michigan 147,345 At-Large
1.4%
 Lost [17]
2020 Hali McEachern State Board of Education Michigan At-Large 82,700
0.8%
 Lost [17]
2018 Louis Palus State Senate Michigan 29th district 1,445
1.2%
 Lost [18]
2018 Thomas Repasky State Senate Michigan 18th district 2,954
2.3%
 Lost [18]
2018 Larry Betts State Senate Michigan 5th district 3,944
4.4%
 Lost [18]
2018 Hali McEachern State Senate Michigan 3rd district 2,095
2.9%
 Lost [18]
2018 Mary Anne Hering State Board of Education Michigan At-Large 125,693
1.7%
 Lost [18]
2018 Logan Smith State Board of Education Michigan At-Large 91,077
1.3%
 Lost [18]
2016 Mary Anne Hering State Board of Education Michigan At-Large 224,392
2.66%
 Lost enough votes for WCP to keep ballot access in 2018 elections[24][25] [21]

Local elections

Year Candidate Office Area District Votes % Result Notes Ref
2020 David Harding Mayor Baltimore, MD At-Large 3,973
1.7%
 Lost [26]
2016 David Harding Baltimore City Council Baltimore 14th district 1,426
8.3%
 Lost [27][28]
2015 Ed Hershey City Council Chicago 25th ward 614
8.2%
 Lost [29]
2014 Mary Anne Hering School Board Dearborn, MI At-Large 5,153
9.93%
 Lost 3 seats to be filled [30]
2014 Kenneth Jannot School Board Dearborn, MI At-Large 2,431
4.69%
 Lost 3 seats to be filled [30]
2014 David A. Roehrig Community College Board Wayne County, MI 2nd 15,661
96.5%
 Won ran unopposed [30]

Other candidates who shared many of the same ideas as the Working Class Party appeared as "non-partisan" (independent) candidates on the ballot in Chicago in 2015; in Baltimore in 2016 and 2020; and in Los Angeles in 2018.[31][32][33]

See also

References

  1. ^ Taylor, Tristan (9 November 2022). "What Is the Michigan Working Class Party?". Left Voice.
  2. ^ "Working People Need Our Own Party, Our Own Candidates, Organizers, Agitators, and Fighters — The Spark #1116". The Spark. Archived from the original on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  3. ^ Dupuis, Mary (31 October 2022). "What's the WC on the Ballot? Mary Anne Hering Explains the Working Class Party". Oakland County Times.
  4. ^ "Who are Gary Walkowicz and the Working Class Party?". World Socialist Web Site. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  5. ^ "The Spark Marketplace Leaflets". the-spark.net. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  6. ^ "2014 Election Results, Michigan | Working Class Fight". www.workingclassfight.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  7. ^ "Working Class Party Petition in Michigan Has Enough Valid Signatures | Ballot Access News". Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  8. ^ Staff, Stateside (22 August 2016). "Michigan's newest political party gets certified today". www.michiganradio.org. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  9. ^ "Gary Walkowicz: Main Speech of the WCP Convention | Working Class Fight". www.workingclassfight.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  10. ^ a b "A Working Class Program To Combat the Crisis of Capitalism". Working Class Party. 2022. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022.
  11. ^ "Working Class Party on the Ballot in Illinois, Maryland & Michigan | Working Class Fight". www.workingclassfight.com. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  12. ^ "Maryland State Board of Elections Summary of Voter Registration Activity Report December 2020" (PDF). Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-01-27.
  13. ^ "Juan Rey: A Worker on the Ballot! | Working Class Fight". www.workingclassfight.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "2022 Michigan Unofficial General Election Results - 11/08/2022". mielections.us. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  15. ^ "DDHQ Election Results". results.decisiondeskhq.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  16. ^ "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago". chicagoelections.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "2020 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/03/2020". mielections.us. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "2018 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/06/2018". mielections.us. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  19. ^ "Statement of Vote JUNE 5, 2018 STATEWIDE DIRECT PRIMARY ELECTION" (PDF).
  20. ^ "California Secretary of State, Statewide Direct Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 5, 2018 - United States Representative in Congress by District, see page 10 in the 82-congress.pdf file" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  21. ^ a b c "2016 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/08/2016". mielections.us. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  22. ^ a b "2014 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/04/2014". mielections.us. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  23. ^ "Official 2022 Election Results". elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  24. ^ "STATE OF MICHIGAN POLITICAL PARTY STATUS AUGUST 4, 2020 PRIMARY NOVEMBER 3, 2020 GENERAL ELECTION" (PDF). Michigan State Bureau of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  25. ^ "Political_Party_Status_482649_7.pdf" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  26. ^ "2020 Election Results". elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  27. ^ "2016 Election Results". elections.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  28. ^ "Baltimore City Board of Elections, 2016 General Election Results - Election Summary Report" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  29. ^ "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago". chicagoelections.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  30. ^ a b c "November 4, 2014 General Election Results | Clerk". www.waynecounty.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  31. ^ "I Stand for a Working Class Fight | Working Class Fight". www.workingclassfight.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-05. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  32. ^ "David Harding, Working Class Candidate". Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  33. ^ "Juan Rey: A Worker for Congress". Archived from the original on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2018-06-19.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.chped.com/w/index.php?title=Working_Class_Party&oldid=1230034298"