The “No Party” Party Throughout History:
Then & Now
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Although the “No Party” Party can be traced back to the time of the Civil War, its modern platform as the “No Party” Party of Pennsylvania is molded from the party principles of George Washington. As our country was being founded, our first president warned that the effects of the dissention of one party towards another would lead to the search for absolute power of an individual, threatening the freedoms of our nation when, “ the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.” Mr. Washington also cautioned that dissention caused by party spirit can weaken our domestic security, opening “the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.”
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Listed below are some examples of “No Party” Party news throughout history.
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MASSACHUSETTS, 1867: The “No Party” Party became popular in Massachusetts when Prohibition was a central topic of election debates. Amongst others, members of the Democratic and Republican Parties joined the “No Party” Party to promote licensure over prohibition.
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PENNSYLVANIA, 1881: Charles S. Wolfe campaigned for state treasurer of Pennsylvania as a “no party” candidate in 1881.
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ALASKA, 1992: Ross Perot ran as a “No Party” Party candidate in Alaska to have his name placed on the persidential ballot as a member of a minor party.
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1992: James Mac Warren was listed by The New York Times as a “No Party” Party candidate for president in the 1992 election.
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PENNSYLVANIA, 2008: The “No Party” Party of Pennsylvania was created after candidate Dennis Baylor garnered over 2,000 votes in the general election for the state senate district #29 seat.
