Jonah Patel
The Constitution Party, formerly known as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party, is a political party in the United States that was established in 1992. The party has never won a federal election, but it has gained some traction in state and local elections. In 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the Constitution Party to win a partisan election as a Scott Township Trustee in Hamilton County, Iowa. The party has also gained some success in Texas, Colorado, and Oregon, with candidates receiving thousands of votes in various elections. The Constitution Party takes strongly conservative stands on social issues, including abortion, immigration, and welfare.
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution Party's first election win
The Constitution Party was founded in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party by veteran conservative political activist Howard Phillips, who had left the Republican Party in 1974. The party was established in response to a perceived shift away from "limited and empowered local government, and very broad and significant individual freedoms".
The party's first taste of election success came in 1952, when they nominated Douglas MacArthur for president and Senator Harry F. Byrd for vice president, without permission from either candidate. The ticket received 17,205 votes in the general election. In 1956, the party gave its nomination to former Commissioner of Internal Revenue T. Coleman Andrews and former Representative Thomas H. Werdel, who received 107,929 votes in the general election.
In 1999, the U.S. Taxpayer Party renamed itself the Constitution Party. With Howard Phillips as its presidential candidate, the party gained access to the ballot in 42 states and received approximately 98,000 votes.
On November 5, 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the Constitution Party to win a partisan election when he was elected as a Scott Township Trustee in Hamilton County, Iowa, with only a write-in opponent.
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The party's presidential nominations
The Constitution Party was founded in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party by Howard Phillips, a conservative political activist who had left the Republican Party in 1974. Phillips was the party's presidential candidate in 1992, 1996, and 2000. In 1999, the party changed its name to the Constitution Party.
The party has nominated several presidential candidates over the years, including:
- Howard Phillips (1992, 1996, and 2000)
- Michael Peroutka (2004)
- Chuck Baldwin (2008)
- Virgil Goode (2012)
- Don Blankenship (2020)
In 1992, Phillips and his running mate, Albion Knight, managed to get on the presidential ballot in 21 states and received approximately 40,000 votes. In 1996, Phillips and his new running mate, Herb Titus, improved on this performance by getting on the ballot in 39 states and winning 182,000 votes. However, in 2000, Phillips's vote total decreased to approximately 98,000 votes.
In 2004, Michael Peroutka was the Constitution Party's presidential nominee. He won the presidential nominations of the American Independent and Alaskan Independence parties in addition to that of the Constitution Party. Peroutka's running mate was Chuck Baldwin.
In 2008, the Constitution Party of Oregon gave its presidential nomination to Chuck Baldwin, despite having disaffiliated with the national party over disagreements regarding abortion policy.
In 2012, Virgil Goode, a former member of the Democratic, Republican, and Independent parties, won the Constitution Party's presidential nomination. Jim Clymer was selected as his vice-presidential running mate.
In 2020, Don Blankenship won the Constitution Party's presidential nomination at its virtual convention. William Mohr was selected as his vice-presidential running mate. However, some state parties, such as Virginia and New Mexico, gave their presidential nominations to other candidates.
While the Constitution Party has not won a presidential election, it has experienced some successes at the local level. In 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the party to win a partisan election, securing the position of Scott Township Trustee in Hamilton County, Iowa. Additionally, as of 2022, the party has two affiliated elected officials in Wisconsin: an alderman and a county supervisor.
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State-level recognition and victories
The Constitution Party was founded in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party by conservative political activist Howard Phillips, who had left the Republican Party in 1974. The party was established in response to a perceived shift away from "limited and empowered local government, and very broad and significant individual freedoms." It officially became known as the Constitution Party in 1999.
The Constitution Party has a strong conservative stance on a variety of issues. It advocates for a nationwide ban on abortion, a moratorium on immigration to the United States, and the abolition of all welfare programs. The party's platform also includes the abolition of federal pay for members of Congress and the abolition of direct elections for senators, instead returning that power to state legislatures.
While the party has primarily focused on presidential elections, it has also fielded candidates for various state and local offices. In 2002, at least 20 states had candidates affiliated with the Constitution Party running for office, ranging from governor and U.S. Senate to city council and state house positions. In Wisconsin, for example, the party has an alderman and a county supervisor who are affiliated with the Constitution Party.
The Constitution Party has had some notable victories at the state level. In 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the party to win a partisan election, securing the position of Scott Township Trustee in Hamilton County, Iowa. In the same year, the American Constitution Party in Colorado gained major party status after Tom Tancredo received over 36% of the popular vote in the state. This allowed the party to appoint seventeen members to Colorado state boards and commissions.
In terms of presidential elections, the Constitution Party's candidates have gained ballot access in numerous states. In 1992, Howard Phillips and his running mate Albion Knight were on the presidential ballot in 21 states, receiving approximately 40,000 votes. In 1996, Phillips and his new running mate, Herb Titus, expanded their reach and were on the ballot in 39 states, garnering 182,000 votes. In 1999, the party, now known as the Constitution Party, managed to gain access to the ballot in 42 states, but Phillips' vote total decreased to approximately 98,000.
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The party's stance on social issues
The Constitution Party was founded in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party by Howard Phillips, a conservative political activist who had left the Republican Party in 1974. The party advocates for limited government and broad individual freedoms. It has a strong religious bent, stating that the "U.S. Constitution established a Republic under God, rather than a democracy".
The party takes conservative stances on social issues, including abortion, immigration, and welfare. They advocate for a complete ban on abortion, making it illegal in all instances. In terms of immigration, they support a moratorium on immigration into the United States. On welfare, they call for the abolition of all welfare programs. During the 1992 presidential campaign, Phillips and his running mate, Albion Knight, promoted this platform and received approximately 40,000 votes.
The Constitution Party has also taken a stand on the prevention of AIDS. According to their platform, the federal government should not subsidize activities that encourage "perverted or promiscuous sexual conduct". They argue that criminal penalties should be imposed on those whose actions put the public at risk of contracting AIDS or HIV. Additionally, the party has expressed anti-communist sentiments, criticizing the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates in 1952 for not having stances on communist infiltration.
In terms of electoral success, the Constitution Party has had some victories. In 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the party to win a partisan election as a Scott Township Trustee in Hamilton County, Iowa. In 2004, the party's presidential candidate, Michael Peroutka, received the presidential nominations of the American Independent and Alaskan Independence parties. In 2006, the Constitution Party of Oregon disaffiliated over abortion policy disagreements, but still gave its presidential nomination to Chuck Baldwin in 2008. During the 2012 presidential election, the party attempted to nominate Ron Paul, but ultimately nominated Will Christensen. In 2020, the party selected Don Blankenship as its presidential nominee, with William Mohr as his vice president.
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The party's founding and early years
The Constitution Party was founded in 1992 as the U.S. Taxpayers Party by Howard Phillips, a veteran conservative political activist who had left the Republican Party in 1974, believing it was insufficiently conservative. The party was founded in response to a perceived shift away from "limited and empowered local government, and very broad and significant individual freedoms".
In its early years, the party took strong conservative stances on social issues, advocating for a nationwide ban on abortion, a moratorium on immigration into the United States, and the abolition of all welfare programs. It also had a primarily fiscal focus, with Phillips, its presidential candidate in 1992, 1996, and 2000, campaigning on a platform of reducing government spending and lowering taxes.
In 1996, the Federal Election Commission officially recognized the party. During this time, the party also attempted to change its name to reflect its ideological stance better. Suggested names included "Constitutional" and "Independent American". However, these attempts were unsuccessful until 1999, when the party finally changed its name to the Constitution Party.
In the 1992 presidential election, Phillips and his running mate, Albion Knight, managed to get on the ballot in 21 states and received approximately 40,000 votes. In 1996, Phillips, with a new running mate, Herb Titus, appeared on the ballot in 39 states and won 182,000 votes. In 1999, with the party's name change to the Constitution Party, Phillips and his new running mate, Dr. J. Curtis Frazier, gained access to the ballot in 42 states but received fewer votes than in 1996, with approximately 98,000 votes.
In 2002, the Constitution Party ran candidates in at least 20 states, competing for positions ranging from governor and U.S. Senate to city council and state house. That same year, Greg Moeller became the first member of the Constitution Party to win a partisan election, securing the position of Scott Township Trustee in Hamilton County, Iowa.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, on November 5, 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the Constitution Party to win a partisan election when he won election as a Scott Township Trustee in Hamilton County, Iowa.
Yes, in the 1956 election, the Texas affiliate gave its gubernatorial nomination to Senator W. Lee O'Daniel, who ran as a write-in candidate and received 110,234 votes in the general election. In the 1960 election, the Texas-based Constitution Party nominated Charles L. Sullivan for president, and he received 18,162 votes from Texas.
Yes, the Constitution Party has had several presidential nominees, including Howard Phillips in 1992, 1996, and 2000, Don Blankenship in 2020, and Randall Terry in 2020.
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