People's Party (United States, 2017)

The People's Party (formerly the Movement for a People's Party) is a self-described progressive political organization in the United States aimed at "forming a major new political party free of corporate money and influence."

Nick Brana formed the party after the 2016 presidential election as "Draft Bernie for a People's Party." Bernie Sanders declined to be the People's Party's figurehead, instead seeking the presidential nomination in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. In the 2024 United States presidential election, the party will have ballot access in Florida.

History 
In 2017, Nick Brana founded the Movement for a People's Party (MPP) out of the "Draft Bernie for a People's Party" group, which had failed to gain Sanders's support. Brana had worked on Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign as the National Political Outreach Coordinator.

In September 2017, the group gave an invitation with 50,000 signatures to Sanders to lead the creation of the People's Party, which Sanders ignored.

In August 2020, the organization held a virtual People's Convention that was viewed by 400,000 people on various platforms. Speakers included former Democratic Party 2020 presidential election candidate Marianne Williamson, former Harvard University professor and philosopher Cornel West, Sanders 2020 co-chair Nina Turner, former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, comedian/political commentator/satirist Jimmy Dore, journalist Chris Hedges and podcaster Ryan Knight. The convention's purpose was to "vote on forming a major new political party free of corporate money and influence," a measure that was approved by 99% of those viewing the convention online. While many speakers expressed distaste for the candidates in the 2020 presidential election, the party did not contest the election. Brana said that their goal was "to form a party beginning in 2021, to run in the midterms in 2022 and, perhaps, to run a presidential candidate in 2024."

In December 2020, the first People's Party state organization was registered in Maine. According to Michael Sylvester, the party will focus on pushing congressional officials into supporting a floor vote for Medicare for All. 

In September 2021, the People's Party gained ballot access in Florida, the first state where it has done so.

In February 2022, Brana was accused of sexual harassment by Zana Day, former MPP executive director, which was corroborated by coworker Paula Jean Swearengin. Brana denied these claims, calling them "false and politically motivated," and accused other MPP board members of a "liberal takeover attempt." As a result, he forced out several MPP board members.

Before the 2022 United States midterm elections, the People's Party announced that it was "aiming to run a dozen or more federal races, including a seat or two in the U.S. Senate." The party never announced any candidates for the 2022 elections.

On June 5, 2023, Cornel West announced his candidacy for president with the People's Party, becoming the first person to run for office under the People's Party banner. Given the group's leadership controversies, its lack of a track record and essentially no nationwide ballot access for a serious presidential campaign, West was quickly challenged and criticized for associating himself with the group. Some progressives called for West to work instead with the Green Party, which has run presidential candidates for decades. At the same time, some Democrats feared that, without ranked-choice voting, a third-party candidate might be a "spoiler", diverting swing state votes from the presumptive front-runner, Joe Biden, in favor of the 2024 Republican nominee. On June 14, West announced that he was instead seeking the endorsement of the Green Party.

Ballot access
 Florida

See also 
 People's Party (United States)
 Democratic Socialists of America
 Socialist Alternative (United States)

Notes

References

External links 
 
 
 People's Party on Ballotpedia

2017 establishments in the United States
Aftermath of the 2016 United States presidential election
Political parties established in 2017
Left-wing parties in the United States
Progressive parties in the United States
Socialist parties in the United States