Redefining “Winning” as Winning: Running locally, getting elected, and why electoral success should matter more to the left.
Submitted by daybell_m on Mon, 2011-01-03 15:51
Panel Abstract:
The VPP has taken a different route than many other third parties in the US, and has enjoyed electoral success at the local and state level. Currently we are the only party to elect state legislators outside the Republican-Democratic duopoly. But electoral success is not the end-goal; it is a step toward policy success. While there is value in campaigns to raise awareness of issues and highlight the similarities between the two dominant parties, electing one more City Council member is every bit as important as losing a race for president. The panelists, Progressives who serve on school boards, city councils, and in the state legislature, will discuss why they run as third-party candidates, how they got elected, and how they impact policy. Our conversation will cover both the strategic concerns of where the left should focus their electoral efforts, as well as the policy implications of winning locally as opposed to losing nationally.
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- Political and Social Movements
- U.S. Politics
- H. Panel Session 4—Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 6:50 p.m
- Morgan Daybell—Vermont Progressive Party
- Approved
- Anthony Pollina—Vermont State Senator
- Morgan Daybell—Vermont Progressive Party
- Susan Hatch Davis—Vermont State Representative
- Vince Brennan—Burlington City Councilor and School Board Director
- 82
- W613
Panel Abstract:
The VPP has taken a different route than many other third parties in the US, and has enjoyed electoral success at the local and state level. Currently we are the only party to elect state legislators outside the Republican-Democratic duopoly. But electoral success is not the end-goal; it is a step toward policy success. While there is value in campaigns to raise awareness of issues and highlight the similarities between the two dominant parties, electing one more City Council member is every bit as important as losing a race for president. The panelists, Progressives who serve on school boards, city councils, and in the state legislature, will discuss why they run as third-party candidates, how they got elected, and how they impact policy. Our conversation will cover both the strategic concerns of where the left should focus their electoral efforts, as well as the policy implications of winning locally as opposed to losing nationally.
Go Back to Search for Panels by Topic
