Populist Party (United States, 1984)
Encyclopedia
The Populist Party was a political party
in the United States
between 1984 and 1996. It was far-right and often white nationalist
in its ideology. The party was unrelated to the original American Populist Party or other American parties that have used the same name.
ran for president of the United States on the newly formed far right, Populist Party ticket. He and running mate Maureen Salaman earned 66,324 votes
, David Duke
was the Populist Party's nominee for President of the United States
. In some states, the vice presidential
nominee was Floyd Parker
, while in other states it was Trenton Stokes
. Parker replaced Bo Gritz
, who had initially agreed to act as the party's nominee. However, Gritz pulled out when he discovered that the presidential nominee would be Duke rather than James Trafficant. (Gritz ran for a Nevada
seat in the House of Representatives
instead.) The Populist Party ticket garnered 47,047 votes, for 0.04 percent of the national popular vote.
, the Populist Party nominated Bo Gritz
for president. Under the campaign slogan "God, Guns and Gritz" and publishing his political manifesto "The Bill of Gritz" (playing on his last name rhyming with "rights"), he called for staunch opposition to what he called "global government
" and "The New World Order
", ending all foreign aid, and abolishing federal income tax and the Federal Reserve System
. Gritz received 106,152 votes nationwide, or 0.14 per cent of the popular vote. In two states he had a respectable showing for a third party candidate: Utah
, where he received 3.84 per cent of the vote, and Idaho
, where he received 2.13 per cent of the vote. In some counties, his support topped 10%, and in Franklin County, Idaho
, was only a few votes away from pushing Bill Clinton
into fourth place in the county.
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
between 1984 and 1996. It was far-right and often white nationalist
White nationalism
White nationalism is a political ideology which advocates a racial definition of national identity for white people. White separatism and white supremacism are subgroups within white nationalism. The former seek a separate white nation state, while the latter add ideas from social Darwinism and...
in its ideology. The party was unrelated to the original American Populist Party or other American parties that have used the same name.
1984 presidential election
In 1984, the Reverend Bob RichardsBob Richards
The Reverend Robert Eugene Richards, known as Bob Richards , known as the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole Vaulting Parson" in his competitive days, was a versatile athlete who made three Olympic teams in two events...
ran for president of the United States on the newly formed far right, Populist Party ticket. He and running mate Maureen Salaman earned 66,324 votes
1988 presidential election
In the 1988 presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 1988
The United States presidential election of 1988 featured no incumbent president, as President Ronald Reagan was unable to seek re-election after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Reagan's Vice President, George H. W. Bush, won the Republican nomination, while the...
, David Duke
David Duke
David Ernest Duke is a former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan an American activist and writer, and former Republican Louisiana State Representative. He was also a former candidate in the Republican presidential primaries in 1992, and in the Democratic presidential primaries in...
was the Populist Party's nominee for President of the United States
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 some states, the vice presidential
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
nominee was Floyd Parker
Floyd Parker
Dr. Floyd Parker is a physician from New Mexico. Parker was one of two candidates for Vice President of the United States Trenton Stokes of Arkansas with the Populist Party for the 1988 US presidential election...
, while in other states it was Trenton Stokes
Trenton Stokes
Trenton Stokes of Arkansas, in addition to Floyd Parker, was one of two men who appeared on several state ballots as the Populist Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1988. Both men were David Duke's running mate that year, and their Populist Party ticket polled 47,047 votes,...
. Parker replaced Bo Gritz
Bo Gritz
James Gordon "Bo" Gritz is a former United States Army Special Forces officer who served in the Vietnam War. His post-war activities notably attempted POW rescues in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue have proven controversial. Gritz lives near Sandy Valley, Nevada with his wife...
, who had initially agreed to act as the party's nominee. However, Gritz pulled out when he discovered that the presidential nominee would be Duke rather than James Trafficant. (Gritz ran for a Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
seat in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
instead.) The Populist Party ticket garnered 47,047 votes, for 0.04 percent of the national popular vote.
1992 presidential election
In the 1992 presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
, the Populist Party nominated Bo Gritz
Bo Gritz
James Gordon "Bo" Gritz is a former United States Army Special Forces officer who served in the Vietnam War. His post-war activities notably attempted POW rescues in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue have proven controversial. Gritz lives near Sandy Valley, Nevada with his wife...
for president. Under the campaign slogan "God, Guns and Gritz" and publishing his political manifesto "The Bill of Gritz" (playing on his last name rhyming with "rights"), he called for staunch opposition to what he called "global government
World government
World government is the notion of a single common political authority for all of humanity. Its modern conception is rooted in European history, particularly in the philosophy of ancient Greece, in the political formation of the Roman Empire, and in the subsequent struggle between secular authority,...
" and "The New World Order
New World Order (conspiracy)
In conspiracy theory, the term New World Order or NWO refers to the emergence of a totalitarian one-world government.The common theme in conspiracy theories about a New World Order is that a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an...
", ending all foreign aid, and abolishing federal income tax and the Federal Reserve System
Federal Reserve System
The Federal Reserve System is the central banking system of the United States. It was created on December 23, 1913 with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, largely in response to a series of financial panics, particularly a severe panic in 1907...
. Gritz received 106,152 votes nationwide, or 0.14 per cent of the popular vote. In two states he had a respectable showing for a third party candidate: Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, where he received 3.84 per cent of the vote, and Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, where he received 2.13 per cent of the vote. In some counties, his support topped 10%, and in Franklin County, Idaho
Franklin County, Idaho
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 11,329 . The county seat and largest city is Preston. Franklin County is part of the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.Established in 1913, Franklin County was named...
, was only a few votes away from pushing Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
into fourth place in the county.
Dissolution
By 1996, the party had collapsed. It did not nominate any candidates for the 1996 presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
.