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2008 Green Party presidential primaries

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2008 Green Party presidential primaries
← 2004 February 5 – June 27, 2008 2012 →
836 delegates to the Green National Convention[1][2][3]
419 delegates votes needed to win
 
Candidate Cynthia McKinney Ralph Nader
Home state Georgia Washington D. C.
Delegate count 304½ 139
Contests won 22 3
 
Candidate Uncommitted Jesse Johnson
Home state N/A West Virginia
Delegate count 50 27
Contests won 2 1
First place (popular vote or delegate count)
Previous Green nominee

David Cobb

 Green nominee

Cynthia McKinney

2008 U.S. presidential election
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Minor parties
Related races
← 2004 2008 2012 →

The Green Party of the United States held primaries in several states in 2008. Cynthia McKinney won most of the primaries and was formally nominated as the party's nominee during the 2008 Green National Convention.

Candidates

[edit]
Candidate Most recent position Campaign Delegates Delegations with plurality

Cynthia McKinney
of California		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
(1993–2003, 2005–2007)
(Campaign • Website)
304.5 / 836
(36.42%) 		22

AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, MD, ME, MI, MN, PA, NC, NE, NY, OR, RI, TN, WA, WI


Kent Mesplay
of California		 Inspector at the Air Pollution Control
District of San Diego County
(2001–2015)
(Website Archived 2020-11-11 at the Wayback Machine)
29.5 / 836
(3.52%) 		None

Jesse Johnson
of West Virginia		 2006 Senate candidate and 2004 gubernatorial candidate for the Mountain Party
27 / 836
(3.23%) 		1
WV

Kat Swift
of Texas		 Activist, Bookkeeper
(Website)
24 / 836
(2.87%) 		None

Jared Ball
of Maryland		 Professor and journalist
11 / 836
(1.32%) 		None

Elaine Brown
of California		 Black Panther Party chairwoman
1974-1977
9 / 836
(1.08%) 		None

Howie Hawkins
of California		 Activist
8 / 836
(0.96%) 		None
Alternate ballot options

Ralph Nader
of Connecticut		 Independent Presidential Candidate
(2004)
(Campaign • Website)
139 / 836
(16.6%) 		3
MA, CA, VA
No preference/ Other/ Uncommitted N/A
50 / 836
(5.90%) 		1
AR

Schedule

[edit]
Winning Projected delegates[4]
Date State Candidate Vote Percent Ball Brown Hawkins Johnson McKinney Mesplay Nader Swift Other Total[5][6]
February 1 Florida Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 11 1 2 1 - 16
February 5 Arkansas Uncommitted 438 56% 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 8
California Ralph Nader 21,726 61% 3 7 - 3 45 3 102 5 - 168
Illinois Cynthia McKinney 1,513 57% 5 - 8 - 25 6 - - - 44
Massachusetts Ralph Nader 744 40% 1 1 - - 9 1 15 1 4 32
February 10 Maine Cynthia McKinney 36 81.81% 1 - - 4 16 1 - 1 - -
February 12 D.C. Cynthia McKinney 214 41% 1 - - - 7 - 1 1 6 16
March 1 Mississippi - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
North Carolina Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 2 5 1 - - - 8
March 4-April 4 Ohio - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
March 3 Minnesota (caucus) Cynthia McKinney 187 60.91% —
March 11 Virginia Ralph Nader - - - - 1 2 - 3 1 1 8
March 25 Arizona Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 1 6 1 - - - 8
March 29 New Jersey - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
Wisconsin Cynthia McKinney 77 79% 0 0 0 0 19 2 1 1 1 24
March 31 Washington Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 10 1 - 1 - 12
April 7 Rhode Island Cynthia McKinney 27 75% - - - 2 6 - - - - 8
April 9 Indiana Cynthia McKinney - - - - 7.5 0.5 - - - - - 8
April 13 - May 10 Pennsylvania Cynthia McKinney - 53% - - - 3 17 1 4 1 6 32
May 10 Missouri - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
April 26 Connecticut Cynthia McKinney 33 66% 0 0 0 1 13 1 2 - 3 20
April 27 West Virginia Jesse Johnson - - - - - 6 2 - - - - 8
May 3 Colorado Uncommitted - - - 1 - - 2 - - - 9 12
Georgia Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 7 - - 1 - 8
Maryland Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 4 6 3 - 3 - 16
South Carolina - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Tennessee Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 5 1 - 1 1 8
Utah - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
May 13 Nebraska Cynthia McKinney 40 58% - - - - - - - - - 8
May 17 Delaware Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 8 - - - - 8
Iowa Cynthia McKinney - - - - 1 3 1 - - - 3 8
May 31 Montana - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
New York (state) Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 23 3 3 - 2 24
June 7 New Mexico - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Oregon Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 1 23 - - - - 24
June 8 Minnesota (convention) Cynthia McKinney — - - - - 11 - - - 1 12
New York City Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 2 9 1 - - - 12
June 14 Texas - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
Vermont - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
June 26–27 Michigan Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 13 1 3 1 6 24
- Delegates not awarded by contests — — — — — — — — — — — — 112
Total United States — — — 11 9 8 27 304½ 29½ 24 139 50 836

Results

[edit]

February

[edit]

Florida primary (February 1)

[edit]
Main article: 2008 United States presidential election in Florida § Green primary

The Green Party held a mail-in primary in Florida on February 1.[5]

Florida Green Party presidential primary (February 1, 2008)[4]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney - - 11
Ralph Nader - - 2
Kent Mesplay - - 1
Kat Swift - - 1
Total - 100% 16

Arkansas primary (February 5)

[edit]
County results of the Arkansas Green presidential primaries, 2008.
  Uncommitted
  Tie
  Cynthia McKinney
  Jared A. Ball
  No Votes
Arkansas Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[4][7][8][9][10][11]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Uncommitted 438 55.94% 4
Cynthia McKinney 157 20.05% 2
Jared A. Ball 81 10.34% 1
Kent Mesplay 61 7.79% 1
Kat Swift 46 5.87% 0
Total 783 100% 8

California primary (February 5)

[edit]

The California primary took place on February 5. Ralph Nader won, despite not running for the nomination of the party.

California Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[4][9][11][12]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Ralph Nader 21,726 60.61% 102
Cynthia McKinney 9,534 26.60% 45
Elaine Brown 1,598 4.46% 7
Kat Swift 1,084 3.02% 5
Kent Mesplay 727 2.03% 3
Jesse Johnson 619 1.73% 3
Jared Ball 556 1.55% 3
Total 35,844 100% 168

Illinois primary (February 5)

[edit]
Main article: 2008 Illinois Green Party presidential primary

The Illinois primary took place on February 5.

Illinois Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[4][7][9][11][13]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 1513 56.62% 25
Howie Hawkins 464 17.37% 8
Kent Mesplay 384 14.37% 6
Jared A. Ball 311 11.64% 5
Total 2,672 100% 44

Massachusetts primary (February 5)

[edit]
Main article: 2008 United States presidential election in Massachusetts § Green-Rainbow

The Massachusetts primary took place on February 5. Six candidates appeared on the ballot. Ralph Nader won, despite not running for the nomination of the party.

Town results of the Massachusetts Green presidential primaries, 2008.
  Ralph Nader
  Cynthia McKinney
  Kat Swift
  Jared Ball
  Kent Mesplay
  Elaine Brown
  No Votes
Massachusetts Green-Rainbow presidential primary, February 5, 2008[9][11][14]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Ralph Nader 744 39.91% 32
Cynthia McKinney 474 25.43% -
Kat Swift 60 3.22% -
Jared Ball 42 2.25% -
Kent Mesplay 39 2.09% -
Elaine Brown 38 2.04% -
Others 273 25.1% -
No preference 194 10.41% -
Blank votes (not tallied) 77 n/a n/a
Total 1,941 100% 32

Maine caucuses (February 10)

[edit]
Maine Green Party caucuses, February 10, 2008[4][15]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 36 81.81% 16
Jesse Johnson 4 9.09% 2
Kent Mesplay 1 2.27% 1
Kat Swift 3 6.81% 1
None of the above 3 6.81% -
Total 44 100% -

District of Columbia primary (February 12)

[edit]

The District of Columbia primary took place on February 12.

District of Columbia Green Party presidential primary, February 12, 2008[7][9][11][16]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 214 41.07% -
Write-ins (scattered) 145 27.83% -
No Candidate 56 10.75% -
Howie Hawkins 34 6.53% -
Kat Swift 21 4.03% -
Jared A. Ball 19 3.65% -
Kent Mesplay 17 3.26% -
Jesse Johnson 15 2.88% -
Total 521 100% 16

March

[edit]

Mississippi caucuses (March 1)

[edit]

Mississippi held caucuses on March 1.[5]

North Carolina (March 1)

[edit]

Mississippi held their vote on March 1.[5]

Minnesota caucuses (March 4)

[edit]

The party also held a caucus and mail-in vote on March 4.[4]

The delegates were assigned by a vote at the state convention on June 8.[17]

Minnesota Green Party presidential caucuses, March 4, 2008[7][11][17][18]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Cynthia McKinney 114 60.96%
Undecided/No Candidate/None of the Above 33 17.65%
Ralph Nader 19 10.16%
Kent Mesplay 10 5.35%
Kat Swift 9 4.81%
Jesse Johnson 1 0.53%
Write-in 1 0.53%
Total 187 100%

Wisconsin Presidential Preference Convention (March 29)

[edit]

Wisconsin selected their delegates at the "Wisconsin Green Party Spring Gathering and Presidential Preference Convention" on March 29. While only McKinney and Mesplay were on the ballot, several other candidates received votes as write-ins.[3]

Wisconsin Presidential Preference Convention, April 7, 2008[4][5]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 77 79% 19
Kent Mesplay - 10% 2
Ralph Nader - 5% 1
Kat Swift - 2% 1
Uncommitted - 2% 1
Jesse Johnson - 1% 0
Total 100% 24

April

[edit]

Ohio primary (March 4–April 4)

[edit]

Ohio held a vote-by-mail primary from March 4 through April 4.[19]

Rhode Island convention (April 7)

[edit]
Rhode Island Green Party convention, April 7, 2008[11][20]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 27 75% 6
Jesse Johnson 9 25% 2
Total 36 100% 8

Indiana caucuses (April 9)

[edit]

The Indiana caucuses were party-run rather than state-organized.

Indiana caucuses[21]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney - - 7.5
Kent Mesplay - - 0.5
Total - - 8

Connecticut convention (April 26)

[edit]

The Green Party of Connecticut assigned their delegates based upon a vote held at their annual meeting on April 26, 2008.[22]

Connecticut Green Party convention, April 26, 2008[11][22]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 33 66% 13
Ralph Nader (write-in) 6 12% 2
Kat Swift 3 6% 1
Kent Mesplay 2 4% 1
Jesse Johnson 2 4% 1
Noam Chomsky (write-in) 1 2% -
Mike DeRosa (write-in) 1 2% -
Al Gore (write-in) 1 2% -
Barack Obama (write-in) 1 2% -
Total 50 100% 20

May

[edit]

Maryland primary (May 3)

[edit]

Maryland held a primary where voters could either mail-in their ballots before April 30 or vote in-person at the Maryland Green Party Annual Assembly on May 3.[23]

Maryland Green Party primary, May 3, 2008[4][23]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 6
Jesse Johnson 4
Kat Swift 3
Kent Mesplay 3
Total - 100% 16

South Carolina convention (May 3)

[edit]

South Carolina held a party convention on May 3.[24]

Missouri convention (May 10)

[edit]

Missouri held a state convention on May 10.[5]

Pennsylvania caucuses (April 13—May 10)

[edit]

The Green Party of Pennsylvania's presidential caucuses were held April 13-May 10. These caucuses were party-sponsored rather than state-run.

Green Party of Pennsylvania caucuses, April 13-May 10, 2008[25]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney - 52.76% 17
None of the above - 14.17% 5
Uncommitted - 4.72%
Ralph Nader - 11.02% 4
Jesse Johnson 8.66% 3
Kent Mesplay - 4.72% 1
Kat Swift - 2.36% 1
Total - 100% 32

Nebraska primary (May 13)

[edit]

The Nebraska primary took place on May 13.[5]

County results of the Nebraska Green presidential primaries, 2008.
  Cynthia McKinney
  Jesse Johnson
  Kat Swift
  Kent Mesplay
  Tie
  No Votes
Nebraska Green Party presidential primary, May 13, 2008[5][9]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 40 57.97% -
Jesse Johnson 13 18.84% -
Kat Swift 8 11.59% -
Kent Mesplay 8 11.9% -
Total 69 100% 8

Iowa convention (May 17)

[edit]

The Iowa convention took place on May 17.

Iowa Green Party presidential convention, May 17, 2008[26]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney - - 3
Kat Swift - - 2
Jesse Johnson - - 1
Kent Mesplay - - 1
Uncommitted - - 1
Total - - 8

Montana convention (May 31)

[edit]

Montana appointed their eight delegates at a state convention on May 31.[27]

New York state primary (May 31)

[edit]

The New York Green Party ballots were publicly counted on May 31. The primary was a party-run mail-in primary.[28]

This primary awarded 28 of New York's 40 delegates. New York City held a separate primary to award the remaining 12 delegates.[29]

New York state primary,[30]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney - - 21
Kent Mesplay - - 3
Ralph Nader - 3
Jesse Johnson - - 0
Uncommitted - 2
Total - - 28

June

[edit]

Minnesota convention (June 8)

[edit]

The Minnesota party previously held a caucus and mail-in vote on March 4.[4] The delegates, however, were assigned by a vote at the state convention on June 8.[17]

Minnesota Green Party convention, June 8, 2008[5][7][11][17]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney - - 11
Undecided/No Candidate/None of the Above - - 1
Ralph Nader - - 0
Kent Mesplay - - 0
Kat Swift - - 0
Jesse Johnson - - 0
Write-in - - N/A
Total - 100% 12

New Mexico primary (June 8)

[edit]

The New Mexico Green Party held its vote on June 8. A total of seventeen votes were cast, with 11 going to McKinney, 4 votes going to "none of the above", and 1 vote each going to Kat Swift, Kent Mesplay, and Jesse Johnson.[28]

New Mexico Green Party presidential Primary, June 8, 2018[30]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney 11 64.7% -
Kat Swift 1 5.9% -
Kent Mesplay 1 5.9% -
Jesse Johnson 1 5.9% -
None of the above 4 23.5% -
Total 17 100% -

New York City primary (June 8)

[edit]

A second vote awarding New York's remaining 12 delegates was held on June 8 in New York City to appoint a remaining 12 of New York's delegates.[29]

New York City primary Green Party presidential Primary, May 31, 2008[30]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney - - 9
Jesse Johnson - - 2
Kent Mesplay - - 1
Total - - 12

Texas convention (June 14)

[edit]

The selection of Texas' delegation took place on June 14 at the state Green convention, held at S.H.A.P.E.'s Harambee Center in Houston.[31]

Michigan convention (June 26–27)

[edit]

The Michigan convention took place June 26–27 at the Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall, Michigan.[32]

Michigan Green Party presidential convention, July 26–27, 2008[32]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates
Cynthia McKinney - 64% 13
Ralph Nader - 17% 3
Kat Swift - - 1
Kent Mesplay - - 1
Total - - 19

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Green Party LogoInformation for media covering the Green Party's 2008 National Nominating Convention in Chicago, July 10-13". gpus.org. Green Party of the United States. May 14, 2008. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2017. the party's 836 state delegates
  2. ^ "Green Party National Convention Roll Call Vote Saturday 12 July 2008". www.thegreenpapers.com. The Green Papers. July 30, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Cynthia McKinney Wins Big in Wisconsin". www.gpus.org. Green Party of the United States. March 29, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "2008 Green Party Presidential Nomination Delegate Count". Archived from the original on 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Size of State / Caucus Delegations". Archived from the original on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  6. ^ "Green Party National Convention Roll Call Vote Saturday 12 July 2008". Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Major Third Party 2008 Presidential Primary". www.thegreenpapers.com. The Green Papers. 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  8. ^ "2008 Arkansas Primary Vote Totals".
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Federal Elections 2008 Election Results for the U.S. President, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). www.fec.gov. Federal Elections Commission. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "Statewide Results by Contest". www.fec.gov. Federal Elections Commission. 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i Giese, Chuck (June 20, 2008). "The Green Party's Internal Democracy Problem: Presidential Politics". www.dissedentvoice.org. Dissident Voice. Retrieved April 7, 2008.
  12. ^ "2008 California Green Primary" (PDF).
  13. ^ "2008 Illinois Primary Vote Totals".
  14. ^ "2008 President Green-rainbow Primary". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Government of Massachusetts. February 5, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
  15. ^ "2008 Green Party Presidential Nomination Delegate Count". Archived from the original on 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  16. ^ "2008 D.C. Primary Vote Totals" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  17. ^ a b c d "2008 President Green convention". June 8, 2012.
  18. ^ "Minnesota Secretary of State: Election Night Reporting". caucusresults.sos.state.mn.us. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Vote in the Primary". www.ohiogreens.org. Green Party of Ohio. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  20. ^ Reynolds, Mark (April 8, 2008). "Local Green Party backs ex-Ga. legislator for President". Providence Journal. Providence, Rhode Island.
  21. ^ Jacoy, Greg (June 13, 2008). "Indiana votes McKinney. Mesplay". Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "April 26, 2008 :: Annual Meeting". www.ctgreenparty.org. Green Party of Connecticut. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Maryland Green Party". www.mdgreens.org. Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  24. ^ "2008 Presidential Primary Dates and Candidate filing deadlines for Ballot access" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. August 14, 2008.
  25. ^ "LATEST NEWS". www.greenparty.pa.org. Green Party of Pennsylvania. 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  26. ^ "2008 President Green convention". May 17, 2012.
  27. ^ "Green Party of New York State Convention". May 30, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  28. ^ a b "NM and NYC results are in". www.greenpartywatch.org. May 10, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  29. ^ a b "Green Party of New York State Convention".
  30. ^ a b c "Green Party of New York State Primary".
  31. ^ "Green Party of Texas 2008 State Convention (updated) | Green Party of Texas". www.txgreens.org. Texas Greens. Archived from the original on 2008-08-27.
  32. ^ a b Hardy, Ronald (June 28, 2008). "Green Party of Michigan State Convention". Retrieved February 25, 2017.
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