Reform Party
Number of Reform Party Officeholders: ?
Number of Registered Reform Party Voters: 63,729 [source]
Number of Reform Party Candidates for 2006: 4+ [source]
Reform Party Platform
Reform Party Candidates
Watch the 2004 Reform Party Convention
Latest News
Perot Gives Interview to Newsweek
[Jan. 18, 2008] Ballot Access News - Ross Perot spoke to a Newsweek reporter recently. An account of the interview is here. Perot had not spoken to the press (previous to this interview) for many years.
Reform Party USA Elects Executive Director
[Jan. 5, 2008] Third Party Watch - Frank MacKay, Chairman of the New York Independence Party and Independence Party of America, has been just been elected Executive Director of the Reform Party USA at their annual convention in Sacramento, CA.
Charles Foster Resigns as National Chair of One Faction of Reform Party
[Jan. 1, 2008] Ballot Access News - Effective December 31, 2007, Charles Foster resigned as national chair of what might be called the "Texas-Florida" faction of the Reform Party. That group will now choose a new national chair.
Reform Party USA to Hold National Convention
[Dec. 27, 2007] Third Party Watch - Reform Party USA, not to be confused with the Reform Party of the United States of America, will be holding a national convention in Sacramento this upcoming Saturday and Sunday. From the Reform Party USA website...
New California Registration Data
[Dec. 24, 2007] Ballot Access News - The California Secretary of State recently released the tally of how many voters are registered in each political party, as of December 4, 2007. The previous tally had been as of September 4, 2007.
The only three parties in the state that gained are the American Independent (Constitution), Peace & Freedom, and Reform Parties.
Colorado Determines That 3 Parties Are No Longer Qualified
[Dec. 24, 2007] Ballot Access News - The Colorado Secretary of State's legal counsel recently determined that the Reform, Gun Owners' Rights, and Pro Life Parties, are no longer qualified parties in that state.
None of the three parties has as many as 1,000 registrants, and none of them polled as much as 1% for a statewide race in either of the last two elections.
Martin Faction of Reform Party Scores a Win
[Nov. 20, 2007] Ballot Access News - On November 20, another hearing was held in Texas Reform Party v Reform Party of the USA, in state court in Dallas, Texas. This case had been filed by the "Dallas" (Foster) faction of the national party on September 14, 2007.
Another Intra-Reform Party Lawsuit Filed
[Nov. 20, 2007] Ballot Access News - On November 13, Rodney Martin (national chair of one faction of the Reform Party) filed a federal lawsuit against national officers of one of the other factions of the Reform Party.
Reform Party of Ohio Backs Ron Paul
[Nov. 9, 2007] MansfieldNewsJournal.com - At its convention Saturday, the Reform Party of Ohio endorsed Texas Rep. Ron Paul for President.
Paul, running as a Republican, pledged to bring troops home from Iraq and is the only candidate who is not a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Reform Party Gets Semi-Qualified Party Status in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
[Nov. 9, 2007] Ballot Access News - On November 7, the Reform Party nominee for Allegheny County Council-at-large, David Tessitor, polled 8.3% of the vote. Allegheny County contains Pittsburgh and is Pennsylvania’s second-most populous county.
Heinemann Faction of Reform Party Sues Kennedy Faction in West Virginia Federal Court
[Nov. 9, 2007] Ballot Access News - On November 6, three Reform Party leaders sued certain other Reform Party leaders in federal court in Elkins, West Virginia. The case is Heinemann v Kennedy, 2:07-cv-91.
One Faction of Reform Party Sets National Convention
[Nov. 2, 2007] Ballot Access News - The faction of the Reform Party headed by Rodney Martin has set a national convention, December 17-19, 2007, in San Francisco. That convention will decide whether to nominate anyone for president. If the convention decides to nominate someone for president, then a special nominating convention sometime in 2008 will be planned.
Yuma Faction of Reform Party Notifies Federal Court in Florida of Texas State Court Activity
[Nov. 2, 2007] Ballot Access News - On November 2, the national Reform Party officers elected at the Yuma, Arizona national convention in 2005 filed papers with a federal court in Florida, concerning the Texas state court ruling of November 1.
Texas Judge Says 2005 Reform Party National Convention Was Invalid
[Nov. 1, 2007] Ballot Access News - On November 1, a hearing was held in the internal Reform Party dispute in a state court in Dallas, Texas. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge issued an injunction against the national officers who had been elected at the Yuma, Arizona national convention of 2005.
Pennsylvania Reform Party Affiliates With New National Independence Party
[Oct. 23, 2007] Ballot Access News - On October 22, the Pennsylvania Reform Party affiliated with the new nationally organized Independence Party. The Pennsylvania Reform Party had been previously unaffiliated with any national faction of the Reform Party.
Kennedy Faction of Reform Party Files Motion to Re-Open Tallahassee Jury Determination
[Sep. 17, 2007] Ballot Access News - On September 17, the faction of the national Reform Party that lost the earlier jury trial in Tallahassee (the lawsuit called Reform Party of the USA v O'Hara) filed a motion for a new trial.
Three State Reform Parties Sue National Reform Party
[Sep. 16, 2007] Ballot Access News - On September 14, the state Reform Parties of Texas, Michigan and Florida filed a lawsuit against the national Reform Party, arguing that their expulsion from the national Reform Party in Yuma in November 2005 violated due process.
Reform Party News...I think
[Aug. 27, 2007] Third Party Watch - I've recieved a few e-mails from the "official Reform Party newsletter". The last couple have said that they selected a 2008 Presidental Ticket, which they do not use by name, only calling it "Pro-Labor and Pro-Veteran".
Judge Confirms Jury Verdict in Internal Reform Party Court Fight
[Aug. 26, 2007] Ballot Access News - On August 22, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle, of Tallahassee, Florida, released an order in Reform Party of USA v O'Hara, 4:05cv426. He ruled that there is no basis to set aside the jury verdict of June 25, 2007.
Reform Party Is Still Fighting FEC In Court
[Jul. 24, 2007] Ballot Access News - On June 28, the Reform Party asked the U.S. District Court in Gainesville, Florida, to lift the order forbidding the party from spending money on anything, until it pays back the $333,558 that it owes to the Federal Election Commission.
Shawn O'Hara/Rodney Martin Faction of the Reform Party Wins Jury Trial
[Jun. 25, 2007] Ballot Access News - On June 25, a federal court jury in Tallahassee, Florida, unanimously ruled that the action of the national party convention in June 2005, changing national party officers, was invalid. Therefore, the officers who were in office prior to that convention (and the faction that supports them) are the valid national party officers.
Closing Arguments Set for Monday, June 25, in Reform Party Internal Dispute Lawsuit
[Jun. 23, 2007] Ballot Access News - A U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida, heard from witnesses during the week of June 18-22, in Reform Party USA v O'Hara. Closing arguments are set for Monday, June 25. The case concerns a 3-way battle over the identity of the national Reform Party officers.
Eric Eidsness Leaves Reform Party, Joins Democrats
[Jun. 8, 2007] Ballot Access News - In the November 2006 elections, the most successful Reform Party candidate for an important office was Eric Eidsness. He polled 11.3% in a 3-way race for U.S. House in Colorado's 4th district. He recently changed his registration to join the Democratic Party, and he plans to run for the same seat in 2008 as a Democrat.
Reform Party Petition for Rehearing Denied in FEC Case
[May 10, 2007] Ballot Access News - On May 9, the 11th circuit denied the Reform Party's petition for a rehearing in Federal Election Commission v Reform Party. This is the case in which the FEC has been seeking repayment of $333,000 that it gave to the party for its national convention in 2000.
Jury Will Help Adjudicate Internal Reform Party Fight
[Apr. 24, 2007] Ballot Access News - On April 24, a U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida, decided that a jury trial will be held starting June 18, 2007, to help determine who are the legitimate national officers of the Reform Party.
Reform Party Asks for Rehearing in $$ Case
[Apr. 16, 2007] Ballot Access News - On April 13, the Reform Party asked the 11th circuit to rehear part of its decision, in the case over whether the party must pay back $333,000 to the Federal Election Commission.
Judge Keeps Reform Party Internal Fight Alive
[Mar. 21, 2007] Ballot Access News - On March 17, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle (of the federal court in Tallahassee, Florida) ruled that the lawsuit called "Reform Party of the U.S. v O'Hara" must go to trial. This lawsuit should not be confused with the lawsuit over whether the Reform Party must repay $330,000 to the Federal Election Commission.
Daniel Imperato Will Seek Reform Party Nomination
[Feb. 27, 2007] Ballot Access News - Businessman Daniel Imperato has been campaiging for president as an independent candidate since early 2006. He now says he will seek the Reform Party nomination. He lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Reform Party is ballot-qualified in four states: Florida, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Error-Prone NY Times Again Mislabels Jesse Ventura
[Dec. 30, 2006] Ballot Access News - On December 29, 2006, the New York Times repeated a factual error that it has repeated many times in the past. In an article titled "In Minnesota Shift, Case Study for National Political Shake-up", reporter Kirk Johnson says that Jesse Ventura was elected Governor in 1998 as an independent.
The truth is that the Reform Party recruited Jesse Ventura to be its candidate for Governor in 1998.
Max Linn Wins Court Order for Debate, Only Hours Before Debate Starts
[Oct. 30, 2006] Ballot Access News - Max Linn, who was kept out of last week's Florida gubernatorial debate by a State Court of Appeals, won a federal court order today at approximately 5 p.m. He then participated in tonight's debate, which was sponsored by MSNBC.
Linn Removed from Debates, Only 2 Hours Before Debate
[Oct. 24, 2006] Ballot Access News - At 5:45 pm, east coast time, the Florida State Court of Appeals issued an order removing Max Linn from the debate set for tonight at 8 pm.
Linn Victory in Debates Lawsuit Appears Secure
[Oct. 24, 2006] Ballot Access News - Florida Public Broadcasting Service attorneys on August 24 tried to persuade any judge in the 4th district Court of Appeal to schedule an emergency hearing, in their debates lawsuit appeal. However, as of 1:30 pm east coast time, no judge in that court appears to be willing to set such an emergency hearing.
Max Linn Wins Court Order on Debates
[Oct. 23, 2006] Ballot Access News - On October 23, a Florida lower state court ruled that since Public TV is sponsoring the October 24 gubernatorial debate, and since the Reform Party is a ballot-qualified party, therefore the debate cannot be held unless Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Max Linn is included.
Max Linn Sues Over Debate Exclusion
[Oct. 23, 2006] Ballot Access News - Max Linn, Reform Party candidate for Governor of Florida, filed a lawsuit in state court on October 23, over his exclusion from a debate being sponsored in part by Public Television. Linn has a real campaign, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars already on TV advertising, has a staff and a campaign headquarters.
Reform Party News
[Oct. 7, 2006] Ballot Access News - Although the Reform Party only has statewide candidates in two states this year (Florida and Kansas), it has candidates for the U.S. House, or for the state legislature, in additional states, specifically Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and Mississippi.
Waiting for campaign to take off
[Sep. 10, 2006] St. Petersburg Times - Reform Party candidate for governor Max Linn is doing all he can to get noticed, but that's not easy.
His campaign got a table way in the back of the civic center, next to the sushi. He was the only candidate to show up at the Winter Park Political Mingle, but his name wasn't even on the straw ballot.
Mississippi Elections Officials Settle Reform Party Faction Fight
[Sep. 1, 2006] Ballot Access News - On August 15, Mississippi election officials determined that the legitimate Reform Party state chair is Ted Weill, not Barbara Dale Washer. As a result, the only Reform Party nominee who will be on the November ballot is Lamonica Magee, for U.S. House, 3rd district.
Ranzau miffed over debate exclusion
[Aug. 30, 2006] Hutchinson News - Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Richard Ranzau won't be on stage when Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, and Republican gubernatorial nominee State Sen. Jim Barnett, Emporia, debate at 11 a.m. Sept. 9 at the Kansas State Fair.
Florida Reform Nominee Begins Extensive TV Ad Campaign
[Aug. 22, 2006] Ballot Access News - Max Linn, the Florida Reform Party gubernatorial candidate, has launched a broad television advertising campaign, even though the Republican and Democratic Parties have not chosen their nominees yet (the Florida primary is in September).
SurveyUSA Poll Has Eidsness at 8%
[Aug. 17, 2006] Third Party Watch - Reform Party Congressional candidate Eric Eidsness is registering at 8% in the latest KUSA-TV/SurveyUSA poll. That is in the race to represent Colorado's Fourth Congressional District.
Reform nominee kicks off campaign
[Aug. 7, 2006] Tallahassee Democrat - Willing to bet $1 million that Florida is ready for its first third-party governor in 90 years, Reform Party nominee Max Linn formally began a 94-day campaign Sunday with a comic-strip analogy.
Florida Reform Party Gubernatorial Nominee Pledges $1,000,000
[Aug. 6, 2006] Ballot Access News - Max Linn, Reform Party candidate for Governor of Florida, kicked off his campaign on August 6 with a pledge to spend $1,000,000 of his own money on the campaign.
Florida Reform Party Will File Gubernatorial Candidate on July 20
[Jul. 19, 2006] Ballot Access News - Max Linn, Reform Party candidate for Governor of Florida, says he will file on July 20. He will be the first political party nominee for Governor of Florida (other than Democrats and Republicans) on the ballot since 1920.
American Reform Party Endorses Russ Diamond
 [Jul. 10, 2006] RussDiamond.org - The American Reform Party (ARP) has endorsed Independent Russ Diamond for Governor of Pennsylvania. The endorsement, conferred by the national ARP leadership, was jointly announced by the Diamond campaign and the ARP today.
Chris Rouhier Interviews Charles Foster
[Jul. 5, 2006] Third Party Watch - This interview with Reform Party chairman Charles Foster was conducted by Chris Rouhier of behalf of Third Party Watch.
Florida Reform Party to Run Gubernatorial Candidate
[Jul. 5, 2006] Ballot Access News - The Florida Reform Party, which is ballot-qualified, expects to nominate Max Linn for Governor. He has been head of the Florida branch of the term limits movement.
Reform Party Re-Files as "Political Body" in California
[Jun. 28, 2006] Ballot Access News - The Reform Party went off the ballot in California in November 2002. When a party is off the ballot in California, but wishes to re-qualify, it must...
Kansas Reform Party May be Only Reform Party on Statewide Ballots this Year
[Jun. 20, 2006] Ballot Access News - The Kansas Reform Party has nominated several candidates for statewide office and placed them on the ballot. It is possible Kansas will be the only state in November 2006 with statewide nominees for the Reform Party, although there are still other states where the deadlines haven't passed.
Reform Party in one Nevada US House Race
[May 15, 2006] Ballot Access News - The Reform Party has qualified for the Nevada ballot in one U.S. House race this year. Bruce Westcott is running in the 1st district in Las Vegas.
Former Reform Party Chairman Russell Verney Appears on Fox's "Your World with Neal Cavuto"
[Mar. 10, 2006] On March 10, Ross Perot's political advisor and former Reform Party Chairman appeared on the Fox News political talk show, "Your World with Neil Cavuto" along with Libertarian Party National Chair, Michael Dixon to discuss the potential for a third party candidate to make a strong showing in the 2008 presidential election. (watch the video here)
Reform Party Monthly Teleconference Forum
[Jan. 12, 2006] The Reform Party of the United States of America has created an open forum monthly teleconference. The teleconference will take place every second Thursday of the month at 8 PM EST. The teleconference access number is 1-712-580-7706. The Participant Code is 747774.
Reform Party Appeals FEC Fine
[Dec. 22, 2005] Ballot Access News - On December 20, the Reform Party appealed an order of the U.S. District Court in Florida that had ordered the party to repay $333,558 to the Federal Election Commission. FEC v Reform Party of USA.
Reform Party Gets No Judicial Relief from its Debt
[Nov. 23, 2005] Ballot Access News - In 2000, the Reform Party received $2,522,690 from the U.S. government to pay for its national presidential convention. In 2002, the Federal Election Commission audited the party, and determined that $333,588 was not properly spent, and should be returned to the U.S. treasury.
Reform Party to hold 2004 Convention near Dallas, TX on August 27-29
[Jul. 13, 2004] This will be a working convention, since the presidential nomination/ endorsement of Ralph Nader has already been made.
Reform Party endorses Ralph Nader for President
[May 11, 2004] The Reform Party of the United States of America overwhelmingly voted to endorse Ralph Nader for President of the United States. Reform Party USA Chairman Shawn O'Hara said, "Ralph Nader has stood up for the rights of American citizens his entire life. He is a man of peace, and with the help of every citizen who did not vote in the primaries, he can win the November presidential election. Want Reform, vote Reform, and vote for endorsed Reform Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader. On the whole, every time you go to the gas pumps, and see the high gasoline prices, look at what the Democrats and Republicans have done to you. Therefore, please vote for Ralph Nader for President."
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