The Justice Party was a political party in the United States. It was organized in November 2011 by a group of political activists including Rocky Anderson, a former mayor of Salt Lake City, as an alternative to what they saw as a duopoly of the two major political parties. One of the goals of the Justice Party favored removing corporate domination and other concentrated wealth from politics. In the 2012 presidential election, the Justice Party nominated Rocky Anderson for president and Luis J. Rodriguez for vice president. The Justice Party endorsed Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary election in 2016.

History

In December 2011, the Justice Party became a qualified party in Mississippi, the first state to recognize the party.Winger, Richard (December 29, 2011) "Justice Party qualifies for Mississippi ballot", Ballot Access News. Retrieved December 30, 2011. From a small beginning, 30 persons at the launching event with no TV crew covering it, the Justice Party was able to put its founder Rocky Anderson on the ballot in 15 states and secure official write-in status in 25 additional states. It was the fifth largest third party in terms of presidential ballot access in the 2012 presidential election.Winger, Richard (October 1, 2012) "2012 Ballot Status for President" Ballot Access News. Retrieved November 1, 2012. On October 23, 2012, Anderson faced off with other third-party candidates Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, Jill Stein of the Green Party and Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party for a debate moderated by former CNN talk-show host Larry King. The candidates met again to debate on November 5, 2012, this time moderated by Ralph Nader. Rocky Anderson participated in three presidential debates on programs entitled "Expand the Debates" on the nationally televised Democracy Now!

The Justice Party released a statement endorsing Bernie Sanders for the 2016 Democratic nomination rather than nominating its own candidate. The party did not run candidates later during the 2016 presidential election or 2020 presidential election, because the party wanted to avoid contributing to a spoiler effect. In 2021, the Justice Party announced that it "plans to grow into a diverse majority political party". Founder Rocky Anderson said the party intended to replace either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party.

The party was terminated by the Federal Election Commission in 2018 pursuant to federal law due to its failure to file reports. On January 17, 2024, the Justice Party Inc., a successor to the Justice Party, dissolved as a 527 organization.

Ideology and positions The Justice Party was created with the motto "economic, environmental, and social justice for all". The party was designed with the intention of shifting government back to a focus on the Constitution of the United States by removing the corrupting influence of money in politics.

Economic justice The Justice Party supports fundamental campaign finance reform. The Justice Party supports a constitutional amendment to abolish corporate personhood through Move to Amend. The party favored a progressive tax structure and wants to end tax cuts for the wealthy. The party supports green jobs and infrastructure programs. The Justice Party wanted to provide tax relief for working people and to bolster Social Security, by reducing the percentage of compensation taxed for Social Security and Medicare, but eliminating the cap on payroll taxes. Additionally, the party supported immigration reform, breaking up too-big-to-fail banks, reinstating Glass–Steagall, and government-funded higher education, while opposing subsidies to oil and gas companies. The party also supports a pay-as-you-go, balanced budget approach.

Environmental justice The Justice Party was for aggressive climate protection, opposed the Keystone Pipeline, and advocated for a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The Justice Party supports a ban on mountaintop removal mining and wants to strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency.

Social justice The Justice Party supports a universal single payer health insurance system, an Equal Rights Amendment, marriage equality, ending wars of aggression, closing many military bases, reducing the budget, immigration reform, repealing the Patriot Act, protecting and rewarding whistleblowers and ending the war on drugs. The party also advocated the prosecution of individuals whose illegal conduct led to the 2008 financial crisis.

Election results

Presidential elections Year Presidential candidate Vice presidential candidate Popular votes % Electoral votes Result Ballot access Notes Ref 2012 Rocky Anderson Luis J. Rodriguez 43,018 0 Lost

In 2016, the Justice Party endorsed Bernie Sanders.

2012 presidential election results StateVotes%Misc.No ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot access1190.01%Write-in votesNo ballot accessNo ballot access9920.01%Write-in votes1,2600.05%5,4870.35%No ballot accessNo ballot access1,7540.02%1540.00%Write-in votesNo ballot accessNo ballot access2,4990.38%1850.00%Write-in votesNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot access950.01%Write-in votes600.00%Write-in votes1,3680.07%620.01%Write-in votes2040.01%Write-in votesNo ballot accessNo ballot access5,1470.11%On the Natural Law Party ballot-line1,9960.07%No ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot access590.01%Write-in votesNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot access1,7260.05%1,1740.15%2270.00%Write-in votesNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot access3,3840.19%On the Progressive Party ballot-line840.00%Write-in votes4160.09%No ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot accessNo ballot access2,6390.11%4260.01%Write-in votes5,3350.52%No ballot accessNo ballot access730.00%Write-in votes4,9460.16%120.00%Write-in votes1120.00%Write-in votesNo ballot accessNo ballot accessTotal43,088 0.03%

Congressional elections Year Candidate Chamber State District Votes % Result Notes Ref 2012 Daniel Geery Senate Utah Class 1 7,444 Lost 2012 Torin Nelson House Utah 4th 0 Lost withdrew before election

See also John B. Anderson American Left History of the socialist movement in the United States Democratic Socialists of America Green Party of the United States

References

General Davis, Glenn "Justice Party Believes It Can Change American Politics through Social Movement"

External links

Rocky Anderson Justice Party of New York