- Socialist Party of Florida
The Socialist Party of Florida (SPFL) is the
Florida state section of theSocialist Party of the United States of America (SP USA), ademocratic socialist party. The SPFL is the local organization of the members of the SP USA who live in or claim legal residence in Florida.History
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. [" [http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/parties/spusa/1903/0718-spa-statesecreports.pdf Reports of the State Secretaries] ", "The Appeal to Reason", No. 398, pages 2-5, 18 July 1903 (accessed 17 October 2007).]The current SPFL was founded on March 16, 1998 as part of the SPA's successor organization, the Socialist Party USA.
Political activity
The Socialist Party of Florida is active around several main issues. Currently, the SPFL is 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. In addition, the SPFL is preparing a campaign to overturn so-called "right to work" legislation, and is working on bringing a lawsuit against the State of Florida over violations of minor parties'First Amendment rights.While the party is primarily an activist organization, it is also an official minor party in Florida, which enables it to field candidates for office. The SPFL has run candidates for President in 2000 (
David McReynolds ) and 2004 (Walt Brown ). In 2006, the SPFL attempted to field a write-in candidate for governor, but failed to gain eligibility. SPFL member Brian Moore was nominated to run for President in 2008 by the SP national convention.The SPFL currently has one local in the Tampa Bay area and is also organizing in
Jacksonville , Gainesville, andSouth Florida .Candidates for office
Gubernatorial candidates
:* 1916 — C. C. Allen [ [http://www.floridamemory.com/FloridaHighlights/Lee Letter to Joseph E. Lee Concerning the Florida Gubernatorial Election of 1916] , "The Florida Memory Project", accessed 17 October 2007.]
U.S. Senatorial candidates
:* 1916 — R. L. Goodwin [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/FL/ofc/ussen.html Florida: U.S. Senators] , "The Political Graveyard" (accessed 17 October 2007).] :* 1920 — M. J. Martin
U.S. Representatives candidates
1904:* 2nd District — W. B Wood [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/FL/ofc/usrep1900s.html Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1900s] , "The Political Graveyard" (accessed 17 October 2007).] :* 3rd District — George S. Smith
1906:* 1st District — C. C. Allen:* 3rd District — T. B. Meeker
1908:* 1st District — C. C. Allen:* 2nd District — A. N. Jackson:* 3rd District — C. N. Wood [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F0DE4D9103EE233A25757C0A9679D946997D6CF&oref=slogin Untitled special report] , "The New York Times", 4 November 1908 (accessed 17 October 2007).]
1910:* 1st District — C. C. Allen:* 2nd District — Thomas W. Cox [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/FL/ofc/usrep1910s.html Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1910s] , "The Political Graveyard" (accessed 17 October 2007).] :* 3rd District — Eric Vonaxelson
1912:* 1st District — C. C. Allen] :* 2nd District — J. J. Collins] :* 3rd District — W. N. Lamberry] :* At-large — A. N. Jackson]
1916:* 1st District — Frank L. Sullivan:* 4th District — A. N. Jackson
1920:* 1st District — C. W. Smith [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/FL/ofc/usrep1920s.html Florida: U.S. Representatives, 1920s] , "The Political Graveyard" (accessed 17 October 2007).] :* 2nd District — W. L. Case:* 4th District — Earl Hunt
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