Ellen McCormack
Encyclopedia
Ellen Cullen McCormack was a candidate for the Democratic Party
's Presidential nomination in 1976. McCormack was one of the first female candidates for President, alongside women like Shirley Chisholm
.
McCormack, generally identified during her 1976 campaign as a "housewife", appeared on the ballot in 18 states, more than any female candidate to that point (Republican or Democrat). She was also the first woman to raise enough money to qualify for Federal matching funds and Secret Service
protection.
She ran on an exclusively pro-life platform and won no primaries, but had her name placed into nomination and received 22 votes from delegates at the Democratic National Convention
, and engaged in a debate that also included future President Jimmy Carter
.
In 1980 she ran again, this time as a third-party
pro-life
candidate for President
in 1980
; her running mate was Carroll Driscoll. They received 32,327 votes.
She had been a chairwoman of the New York Right to Life Party
, and was their candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York
in 1978
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
's Presidential nomination in 1976. McCormack was one of the first female candidates for President, alongside women like Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author. She was a Congresswoman, representing New York's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to Congress...
.
McCormack, generally identified during her 1976 campaign as a "housewife", appeared on the ballot in 18 states, more than any female candidate to that point (Republican or Democrat). She was also the first woman to raise enough money to qualify for Federal matching funds and Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
protection.
She ran on an exclusively pro-life platform and won no primaries, but had her name placed into nomination and received 22 votes from delegates at the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, and engaged in a debate that also included future President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
.
In 1980 she ran again, this time as a third-party
Third party (United States)
The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...
pro-life
Right to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
candidate for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in 1980
United States presidential election, 1980
The United States presidential election of 1980 featured a contest between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who ran as an independent...
; her running mate was Carroll Driscoll. They received 32,327 votes.
She had been a chairwoman of the New York Right to Life Party
New York State Right to Life Party
The New York State Right to Life Party was founded to oppose the legalization of abortion in New York in 1970. The party first made the state ballot in the 1978 gubernatorial election, where its candidate Mary Jane Tobin won 130,000 votes...
, and was their candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
in 1978
New York gubernatorial election, 1978
The 1978 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978 to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York.-Results:...
.