American Solidarity Party
American political party From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Solidarity Party (ASP) is an American Christian democratic political party.[4][5][8] It was founded in 2011 and officially incorporated in 2016. The party has a Solidarity National Committee (SNC) and has numerous active state and local chapters.[8][10] Peter Sonski was the party's nominee in the 2024 United States presidential election.
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American Solidarity Party | |
|---|---|
| |
| Chairperson | Patrick Harris[1] |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Newspaper | The American Commons[2] (unofficial) |
| Youth wing | Young Americans for Solidarity |
| Ideology | Christian democracy[3][4][5] |
| Political position | Syncretic Fiscal: Center-left[6][7] Social: Center-right[6] |
| Colors | Orange |
| Slogan | "Common Good, Common Ground, Common Sense."[8] |
| Seats in the Senate | 0 / 100
|
| Seats in the House | 0 / 435
|
| Governorships | 0 / 50
|
| State Upper House Seats | 0 / 1,972
|
| State Lower House Seats | 0 / 5,411
|
| Other elected officials | 3[9] |
| Website | |
| www | |
The American Solidarity Party has been characterized as socially conservative while supporting government intervention in economic matters.[11] The ASP encourages social development along the lines of subsidiarity and sphere sovereignty, with a stated emphasis on "the importance of strong families, local communities, and voluntary associations".[12] It favors fiscally progressive policies,[8][13][14] as well as a social market economy with a distributist character,[15][16] which seeks "widespread economic participation and ownership",[16] and providing a social safety net program.
In the 2024 United States presidential election, it was on the ballot in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ohio.
History
The American Solidarity party was founded in 2011 as the Christian Democratic Party USA (CDPUSA) by founders David "Frost" Harris, Kirk Morrison, and Jack Quirk.[8][17] The party's original name was inspired by its European counterparts, the Polish trade union known as Solidarity,[18] and the current one reflects its more developed ideology and focus in the years since.[8] The ASP mascot is the pelican, a traditional symbol of charity.[19]
In 2012, the CDPUSA endorsed the independent candidacy of Joe Schriner for president.[20]
In December 2020, the American Solidarity Party joined the board of the Coalition for Free and Open Elections (COFOE).[21]
Ideology
Summarize
Perspective
The American Solidarity Party largely adheres to the ideology of Christian democracy, which has been influenced by Catholic social teaching, Neo-Calvinist theology and the social teachings espoused by other traditions of Christianity in various parts of the world.[3][22][23][4][5] As such, the ASP looks to the Christian democratic movements in Europe and the Americas.[24]
The American Solidarity Party has been characterized as conservative on social issues while supporting government intervention in economic matters, making it communitarian.[11][25]
Political stances
Social issues
The American Solidarity Party opposes abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment on the basis of the sanctity of human life. It views the traditional family as being central to society.[14]
The American Solidarity Party advocates for a sympathetic approach to immigration. They believe in balancing the need for secure borders with a commitment to human dignity. This involves addressing the root causes of migration, such as the impact of the country's military, political, and economic power abroad.[14]
Economic issues
The American Solidarity Party supports a universal healthcare system as well as an economy containing widespread distribution of productive property, in particular increased worker ownership and management of their production.[26][27][28]
Foreign policy issues
The American Solidarity Party is non-interventionist in its foreign policy, using peace as its guiding principle. It supports foreign aid and nonviolent diplomacy, while opposing violent military action as a means to resolve conflicts.[14]
Electoral reform
The American Solidarity Party advocates for electoral reform, aiming to combat what they call a "political oligarchy" and gridlock. They propose proportional representation for the House of Representatives, endorse ranked-choice voting or approval voting in all elections, and support easy voter registration. The party also emphasizes fair access for independent candidates, access to impartial information, and pilot programs for electronic voting with consideration for security concerns.[14]
Influences
Daniel Silliman writes that the American Solidarity Party, as with other Christian-democratic political parties, draws from Catholic social teaching and Neo-Calvinist theology.[3] In the same vein, David McPherson says that the American Solidarity Party "affirm[s] ... the full spectrum of Catholic social teaching (namely, the teachings regarding the sanctity of human life, the common good, subsidiarity, religious freedom, solidarity, etc.)," contrasting the ASP to both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, each of which recognizes only some of these items.[29] Its strongest support is in California and Texas, according to the Madera Tribune (of Madera, California).[24]
On social media, ASP members use the orange heart emoji to denote their "whole-life ethic" and Christian democratic influences. Members of the American Solidarity Party use the demonym "Solidarist" to refer to themselves.[30]
Elections
Summarize
Perspective
2016
Presidential election
During the 2016 presidential election season, the American Solidarity Party held an online convention on July 9, 2016, which nominated Amir Azarvan of Georgia for president and Mike Maturen of Michigan for vice-president.[31][32][33][19] However, Azarvan subsequently withdrew, and in response the ticket was revised, with Maturen running for president and Juan Muñoz of Texas running for vice-president.[29][24][31][34][19]
For the 2016 election, the American Solidarity Party was listed on the ballot in Colorado.[35] It was a certified write-in option in Alabama,[36] California,[37] Georgia,[38] Iowa,[36] Kansas,[39] Kentucky,[40] Maryland,[41] Michigan,[42] Minnesota, New Hampshire,[36] New Jersey,[36] Ohio,[43] Oregon,[36][44] Pennsylvania,[36] Rhode Island,[36] Texas,[45] Vermont,[36] and Washington.[46] Maturen received 6,697 reported votes, not including states that did not report votes for him.[47]
2017
For the November 2017 off-year elections, the American Solidarity Party ran a candidate for New Jersey legislature, Monica Sohler, in the 6th district. She received 821 votes.[48]
2018
Desmond Silveira, a software engineer, was a national committee member of the American Solidarity Party, served as the campaign manager for the Maturen-Muñoz 2016 campaign, the vice chair of the ASP, and the director of operations for the party. In 2018, he ran for governor, receiving 4,633 votes in the primary election.[49][50][note 1]
Brian T. Carroll ran against Devin Nunes for California's 22nd congressional district receiving 1,591 votes in the primary election.[51][52][note 1]
2020
Shane Ian Hoffman ran as the ASP's candidate in Ohio's 15th Congressional District. He did not make the ballot and was a write-in candidate.[53]
Presidential election
In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Brian Carroll, Joe Schriner, and Joshua Perkins announced their candidacies for the ASP nomination. Carroll was declared the winner of the nomination on September 9, 2019.[54][55]
For the 2020 election, the American Solidarity Party was on the ballot in Arkansas,[56] Colorado,[57] Guam, Illinois,[58] Louisiana,[59] Mississippi,[60] Rhode Island,[61] Vermont[62] and Wisconsin.[63]
It was a certified write-in option in Alabama,[64] Alaska,[65] California,[66] Connecticut,[67] Delaware,[68] Florida,[69] Georgia,[70] Idaho, Indiana,[71] Iowa,[64] Kansas, Kentucky,[72] Maryland,[73] Massachusetts,[74] Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire,[64] New Jersey,[64] New York, North Dakota, Ohio,[75][76] Oregon, Pennsylvania,[64] Tennessee, Texas,[77] Utah,[78] Virginia,[79] Washington, and Wyoming.
2021
Benjamin Schmitz ran for state senate in the Wisconsin 13th state senate district in the April 6th legislative special election.[80] Stephen Hollenberg ran for a state house seat in the Merrimack, New Hampshire special election on April 13, 2021.[81]
California gubernatorial recall election
Dr. James G Hanink was endorsed by the American Solidarity Party for the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election.[82] He hosts the Open Door podcast and is the president of the American Maritain Association.[83][84] Dr. Hanink is a frequent contributor to the New Oxford Review and spent four decades dedicated to teaching at Loyola Marymount University and published papers in the areas of metaphysics, epistemology, and social thought.[85][86][87][note 1] Hanink received 7,193 votes, 0.01% of all votes, an increase in both raw votes and percentage from Silveira's 2018 gubernatorial run.[88]
2022
Dr. James G. Hanink ran again for governor of California in 2022.[89][90] He received 10,110 votes.
Dr. Mark A. Ruzon ran as a write-in candidate for U.S. Senate in California,[90] receiving 206 votes.[91]
Desmond A. Silveira ran as a write-in candidate for California Secretary of State,[90] receiving 235 votes.[92]
Erskine L. Levi ran for U.S. Congress as a write-in candidate in California's 31st congressional district,[90] receiving 17 votes.[93]
Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy ran for governor of Texas as a write-in candidate,[94][95] receiving 1,326 votes.[96]
Solidarity National Committee member Dr. Tyler Martin ran for governor of Nebraska.[97] Nebraska does not report write-in votes separately.[98]
Oliver Black ran for U.S. Congress in Washington's 3rd congressional district,[99][100] receiving 451 votes.[101]
The party endorsed Democratic candidate and And Campaign co-founder Pastor Chris Butler for U.S. Congress in Illinois's 1st congressional district. He was eliminated in the Democratic primary, receiving 3,707 votes.[102]
2024
Presidential election
On June 2, 2023, Peter Sonski won the nomination of the party for President of the United States.[103][104] The primary was conducted by an online members' vote. The vice presidential nominee, Lauren Onak, was selected by Sonski before the national convention in early July in Plano, Texas, and she was formally nominated there.[105] The party was on the ballot in Arkansas, Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ohio.[106] Additionally, the American Solidarity Party had approved write-in status in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.[107]
U.S. Senate elections
California
Dr. Mark Ruzon ran for the 2024 United States Senate elections in California.[108][109] Statewide polling indicated that he is an underdog in the race.[110][111] In California's top-two system, all candidates regardless of party affiliation run together, and the top two proceed to the November election. On the Super Tuesday primary election, Ruzon received 13,429 votes, equal to 0.2%, placing 23rd out of 27 candidates on the ballot.[112]
Texas
Analisa Roche ran as a write-in candidate in the 2024 United States Senate election in Texas. She received 1,492 votes (0.01%).
U.S. House of Representatives District 31 in California
Erskine Levi Jr. ran for Congressional District 31 in California,[113] participating in a candidate forum to discuss housing, climate, war and peace.[114] He did not proceed past the first round of the blanket primary, placing 9th out of 10 candidates with 1,166 votes, or 1.2%.[112]
Other
Pennsylvania
Eric K. Anton received a ballot-line for the American Solidarity Party for the 2024 Pennsylvania Auditor General election.[115] However, his campaign was invisible, as he lacked any social media or online presence.[116] According to Anton's campaign finance he spent $0 on the race as all attempts to contact him by local Pennsylvania media was unsuccessful.[117][118] However, public records show Anton as being a registered member of the party since 2017, served on its national committee, and is the party's state coordinator.[119] Anton won 20,967 votes (0.31%).
Presidential tickets
| Election | Name | Running Mate | Campaign Announcement date |
Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | .jpg) Peter Sonski Member Regional School District 17 board of education in Connecticut |
.jpg) Lauren Onak Community organizer, non-profit executive, and teacher in Massachusetts |
 Campaign: February 20, 2023[120] |
46,472 (#8) 0 EV |
| 2020 |  Brian Carroll Teacher from California |
.jpg) Amar Patel National Committee Chair of the American Solidarity Party from Illinois |
 Campaign: April 2, 2019[122] Nomination: September 9, 2019 FEC Filing[123] |
42,305 (#10) 0 EV |
| 2016 | Mike Maturen replacing Amir Azarvan Salesperson from Michigan |
Juan Muñoz replacing Mike Maturen State Party Chair from Texas |
FEC Filing[124] |
6,697 (#15) 0 EV |
Presidential election ballot access and results
Certified for ballot
Registered write-in
Automatic write-in
Not on ballot
.svg)
On ballot
Write-in
Not on ballot
_(1).svg)
On ballot
Write-in
Not on ballot
| Year | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party nominees | Mike Maturen (president) Juan Muñoz (vice president) |
Brian T. Carroll (president) Amar Patel (vice president) |
Peter Sonski (president) Lauren Onak (vice president) |
| States & D.C. ballot access (write-in access) |
1 (25) | 8 (31) | 7 (45) |
| Ballot access to electoral votes (write-in access) |
9 (323) | 66 (397) | 74 (480) |
| Alabama | Unreported | Unreported | Unreported |
| Alaska | Unreported | Unreported | 702[125] |
| Arizona | |||
| Arkansas | 1,713[126] | 2,141[127] | |
| California | 1,316[128] | 2,605[129] | 2,924 |
| Colorado | 862[130] | 2,515[131] | 910 |
| Connecticut | 220[132] | 162 | |
| Delaware | 87[133] | 98 | |
| District of Columbia | |||
| Florida | 854[134] | 7,454[135] | |
| Georgia | 151[136] | 756[137][a] | 730 |
| Guam (advisory) | 138[139] | 46[140] | |
| Hawaii | 936[141] | ||
| Idaho | 35[142][b] | 163[143] | 239 |
| Illinois | 9,548[144] | 1,391 | |
| Indiana | 895[145] | 1,347[146] | |
| Iowa | Unreported | Unreported | 195 |
| Kansas | 214[147] | 583[148][b] | 569 |
| Kentucky | 155[149] | 408[150] | 611[151] |
| Louisiana | 2,497[152] | 2,240[153] | |
| Maine | 65 | ||
| Maryland | 504[154] | 795[155] | 1,012 |
| Massachusetts | 164[156][c] | 280 | |
| Michigan | 517[157] | 963[158] | 1,212 |
| Minnesota | 244[159] | 1,037[160] | 882 |
| Mississippi | 1,161[161] | 1,007 | |
| Missouri | 664[162] | 1,069 | |
| Montana | |||
| Nebraska | Unreported | Unreported | Unreported |
| Nevada | |||
| New Hampshire | Unreported | 79[c] | 159 |
| New Jersey | Unreported | 330[163][d][b] | 385 |
| New Mexico | |||
| New York | 409[165] | 892[166] | 1,544 |
| North Carolina | |||
| North Dakota | Unreported | 36[167][b] | |
| Ohio | 552[168] | 1,450[169] | 10,197[170] |
| Oklahoma | |||
| Oregon | Unreported | Unreported | |
| Pennsylvania | Unreported | 1,164[b] | 829 |
| Rhode Island | 34[171] | 767[172] | |
| South Carolina | |||
| South Dakota | |||
| Tennessee | 762[173] | ||
| Texas | 1,401[174] | 3,207[175] | 3,780[176] |
| Utah | 368[177] | 441[178] | |
| Vermont | 19[179] | 209[180] | 55 |
| Virginia | Unreported | Unreported | 32 |
| Washington | Unreported | 18[e] | |
| West Virginia | 63 | ||
| Wisconsin | 284[181] | 5,259[182] | 647 |
| Wyoming | Unreported | ||
| Total | 6,697 | 42,305 | 46,472 |
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Listed on ballot | |
| Registered as write-in candidate | |
| Write-in candidates allowed without registration | |
| Not a candidate in the state/territory/district | |
- This table reflects the results certified by Fulton County which were released after those certified by the state for other counties.[138]
- Compiled from results reported by counties.[164]
Notable party supporters
- Stephen Bainbridge, UCLA law professor
- Charles A. Coulombe, Catholic author, historian, and lecturer[183]
- Patrick Deneen, author of Why Liberalism Failed, member of ASP board of advisors[184]
- Rod Dreher, senior editor and blogger at The American Conservative and author of several books, including How Dante Can Save Your Life and The Benedict Option[185][186][187]
- Dan Lipinski, former US representative[188]
- Terry Mattingly, journalist, author, and professor[189][190]
- Brian Carroll, former ASP presidential candidate
- Mike Maturen, former ASP presidential candidate
- Joe Schriner, former ASP presidential candidate
- George Yancey, sociologist and professor of sociology at Baylor University[191]
- Howard Ahmanson Jr., philanthropist and writer[192]
See also
Notes
- Because the American Solidarity Party did not have ballot access in California at the time of the election, the candidate was listed on the ballot as having "no party preference"
References
External links
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