The Socialist Party of California (SPCA) was a socialist political party in the U.S. state of California. Founded in the early 1900s, it had been the state chapter of the Socialist Party USA since being re-chartered in 2011. As of July 2020, it was no longer listed as active by the national organization.
Socialist Party of America affiliation
The Socialist Party of California was affiliated with the Socialist Party of America for most of the twentieth century. Author Upton Sinclair was a four time candidate for office, including the United States House of Representatives in 1920, United States Senate in 1922 and Governor of California in 1926 and 1930.[2]
In 1972 the Socialist Party of America changed its name to "Social Democrats, USA" by a vote of 73 to 34 at its December National Convention.[3] Renaming the Party as SDUSA was meant to be "realistic" as the Party had not run a presidential candidate since the 1956 elections.
Socialist Party USA affiliation
The following year, 1973, the Socialist Party USA was formed out the core members of the Debs Caucus. The Socialist Party of California was ultimately reorganized under the Socialist Party USA banner. The chapter's membership increased during the presidential election of 2008 under the Vice Presidential nominee and 2012 Presidential nominee Stewart Alexander. In June 2011, the Party was re-charted under current State Chair Mimi Soltysik. The Party hosted the October 2011 Socialist Party National Convention, which was held in Los Angeles.[4] The Socialist Party of California operated with locals in the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
As of July 2020 the SPCA is removed from the SPUSA register of active state parties and the website is inactive.
Notable members
SPA affiliate
- Travers Clement, writer and SPA member
- George W. Downing, one of three Socialists elected to the California State Assembly in 1914
- Elijah Falk, Mayor of Eureka
- Job Harriman, 1900 Vice-Presidential candidate of the SPA forerunner Social Democratic Party of America
- Witten William Harris, one of three Socialists elected to the California State Assembly in 1914
- E. Haldeman-Julius, publisher and SPA member
- Charles W. Kingsley, first Socialist elected to the California State Assembly
- George Ross Kirkpatrick, Executive Secretary of the SPA and multi-time candidate for office
- Estelle Lawton Lindsey, member of the Los Angeles City Council
- Jack London, author and SPA member
- Robert Martinson, sociologist and Socialist candidate for mayor of Berkeley
- Mila Tupper Maynard, Unitarian minister and SPA member
- Walter Thomas Mills, candidate for U.S. Senator in 1916
- Upton Sinclair, multi-time candidate for office
- Lewis A. Spengler, one of three Socialists elected to the California State Assembly in 1914
- William Thum, Mayor of Pasadena
- Ernest Untermann, author and candidate for U.S. Senator in 1914
- Jerry Voorhis, U.S. Representative and former SPA member
- Rob Wagner, publisher and SPA member
- Fred C. Wheeler, member of the Los Angeles City Council
- Thomas W. Williams, member of the Los Angeles City Council, State Secretary of the Socialist Party of California
- Gaylord Wilshire, land developer and multi-time candidate for office
- J. Stitt Wilson, Mayor of Berkeley
- Stanley B. Wilson, editor of the Western Comrade
- George W. Woodbey, minister and sole black delegate to the 1904 and 1908 SPA conventions
SPUSA affiliate
- Stewart Alexander, 2012 nominee for President by Socialist Party USA
- Mimi Soltysik, 2016 nominee for President by Socialist Party USA
Footnotes
- ^ "Socialist Party USA". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
- ^ Leader, Leonard (Winter 1980). "Upton Sinclair's EPIC Switch: A Dilemma for American Socialists". Southern California Quarterly. 62 (4). University of California Press: 361–385. doi:10.2307/41170900. JSTOR 41170900.
- ^ Anonymous (31 December 1972). "Socialist Party now the Social Democrats, U.S.A." New York Times. p. 36. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
- ^ Hobbs, John (May 15, 2012). "Socialism, American Style: L.A. Comrades Look To 2012 Election". NeonTommy.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
Bibliography
- Shaffer, Ralph E. "A History of the Socialist Party of California", University of California Berkeley, 1955
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