Malcolm Rivera
The United States operates within a multi-party system, with the Democratic and Republican Parties as the most influential players. However, other parties, including the Reform, Libertarian, Socialist, Natural Law, Constitution, and Green Parties, also participate in presidential elections. The Constitution Party, formerly known as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party, has fielded presidential candidates in several elections. In 2004, Michael Peroutka was the first to receive the Constitution Party's presidential nomination, followed by Chuck Baldwin in 2008, Virgil Goode in 2012, Darrell Castle in 2016, Don Blankenship in 2020, and Randall Terry in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Presidential nominee in 1992 | Phillips |
| Presidential nominee in 1996 | Howard Phillips |
| Presidential nominee in 2004 | Michael Peroutka |
| Presidential nominee in 2008 | Chuck Baldwin |
| Presidential nominee in 2012 | Virgil Goode |
| Presidential nominee in 2016 | Darrell Castle |
| Presidential nominee in 2020 | Don Blankenship |
| Presidential nominee in 2024 | Randall Terry |
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What You'll Learn
Michael Peroutka was the Constitution Party's presidential nominee in 2004
The US Constitution Party has fielded several presidential candidates since its name change from the US Taxpayers' Party in 1999. Michael Peroutka was the Constitution Party's presidential nominee in 2004. Peroutka, a Christian nationalist, ran on a socially conservative platform with the slogan "God, Family, Republic". He prioritized what he called "God-given, constitutionally-protected rights" over state and federal laws, particularly concerning abortion and same-sex marriage. Peroutka's campaign gained support from many paleoconservatives, including Pat Buchanan, who said he was considering voting for him. Peroutka also received endorsements from far-right groups and appeared on the far-right radio show, The Political Cesspool. He received just over 0.01% of the national popular vote, finishing fifth nationally with almost 150,000 votes.
In 2008, Peroutka's supporters collected enough signatures to get him approved as a write-in candidate in Georgia for the presidential election. In 2011, he switched his voter registration from the Constitution Party to the Republican Party and sought office in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He won a seat on the county's Republican Central Committee and later became the Republican nominee for county council from District 5, defeating the incumbent councilman. In 2022, Peroutka won the Republican primary for Maryland Attorney General and the Republican primary for county executive in Anne Arundel County. He ran on a platform opposing COVID-19 restrictions, fear of crime, immigration, and abortion, with the slogan "Liberty forever, Mandates never!".
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Chuck Baldwin was the party's nominee in 2008
The US Constitutional Party has fielded a presidential candidate. Pastor and radio host Chuck Baldwin was the party's nominee in 2008. He announced his candidacy on April 10, 2008, and won the nomination at the April 26 Constitution Party National Convention.
Baldwin's main opposition for the nomination was former ambassador Alan Keyes, who had recently left the Republican Party. Baldwin ran on a conservative platform based on a strict interpretation of the Constitution. He advocated for paleo-conservative positions on several issues, including protectionism on trade, non-intervention in foreign affairs, religious practice in the public sphere, and nativism.
Baldwin previously served as the vice-presidential nominee for the party in 2004, alongside presidential nominee Michael Peroutka. In 2008, Darrell Castle was selected as his running mate.
Baldwin received the endorsement of Ron Paul, a former Republican presidential candidate. He positioned himself as a close ally of Paul, who was running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. However, Baldwin faced opposition from multiple state affiliates, and he was absent from ballots in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia.
In the general election, Baldwin received about 0.15% of the total votes, finishing fifth in the race. He received 199,750 votes, placing him ahead of the Green Party nominee, Cynthia McKinney, but behind independent Ralph Nader, Libertarian Bob Barr, Republican John McCain, and the eventual winner, Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
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Virgil Goode was the Constitution Party's nominee in 2012
The US Constitution Party has fielded presidential candidates in several elections. Virgil Goode was the Constitution Party's nominee in 2012. Goode was selected as the party's presidential nominee at the 2012 Constitution Party National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 21, 2012. Goode had previously served as a member of the US House of Representatives for Virginia's 5th congressional district from 1997 to 2009, initially as a Democrat before becoming an independent in 2000 and then joining the Republican Party in 2002. Goode's running mate in 2012 was outgoing party chairman Jim Clymer.
Goode's campaign focused on his home state of Virginia, where polls showed the ticket with between five and nine per cent support. Goode participated in numerous media interviews and debates with third-party candidates. He faced criticism that his campaign would act as a spoiler, taking votes from the Republican Party's Mitt Romney and helping Barack Obama win re-election. Goode argued that he was in the race to win and would take votes from both Romney and Obama. Goode's platform included support for cutting the budget for education, "No Child Left Behind", foreign aid, and auditing the Federal Reserve, as well as ending Diversity Visas. He also highlighted his pro-life stance on abortion and expressed regret for his USA PATRIOT Act vote. Goode's campaign refused to accept donations of over $200 and did not accept money from Political Action Committees.
Goode received 122,388 votes, or 0.09% of the total vote.
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The party's 2016 nominee was Darrell Castle
The 2016 presidential nominee for the Constitution Party was Darrell Castle, a native of Tennessee. Castle was born in 1948 in Kingsport, Tennessee, and graduated from Ketron High School in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1966. He attended East Tennessee State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and History in 1970. He also has a Juris Doctor from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis), which he received in 1979.
Castle's career has included military service in the Vietnam War as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, and legal experience as an attorney and founder of his own law firm, Darrell Castle & Associates, which he opened in 1984. The firm's practice areas include bankruptcy, personal injury, social security/disability, and workers' compensation.
Castle has been actively involved in the Constitution Party since its founding in 1992, serving in leadership roles at both the state and national levels. He previously ran for U.S. Senate twice and was the party's vice-presidential nominee in 2008.
Castle's 2016 presidential campaign began on the eve of the Constitution Party National Convention in April 2016. He was nominated on the first ballot, winning 184 out of 339.5 votes (54.19%). His running mate, Scott Bradley, was nominated by voice vote.
Castle's campaign platform included a strong adherence to the United States Constitution, citing it as a "charter of liberty for the American Republic". He advocated for ending the Federal Reserve and repealing the Federal Reserve Act, allowing lenders and borrowers to set interest rates. Additionally, Castle has a strong Christian religious ethic and has served as a deacon and deacon chairman in his local church. He also co-founded Mia's Children Foundation, a Christian mission in Bucharest, Romania, that serves homeless Gypsy children.
On Election Day, Castle finished in sixth place with 172,570 votes, gaining 50,000 more votes than the previous Constitution Party ticket.
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Don Blankenship was the party's most recent nominee in 2020
The US Constitutional Party has fielded presidential candidates since 1992. In that year, members of the party attempted to give its presidential nomination to Ross Perot or Pat Buchanan. The party was then known as the US Taxpayers' Party.
In 2020, Don Blankenship was the party's most recent nominee. Blankenship was nominated at the 2020 Constitution National Convention, held on May 2, 2020. The convention was held telephonically in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Blankenship received 57.2% of the vote on the second ballot, defeating three other candidates. William Mohr was nominated for vice president.
Blankenship was formerly the CEO of Massey Energy. He announced his campaign on September 11, 2020, and filed his candidacy with the FEC on October 31. Blankenship won Idaho and Missouri in the primaries.
The Constitutional Party of New Mexico broke with the national party, giving their ballot line to Blankenship's fellow candidate Samm Tittle. Tittle was also endorsed by the Virginia Party.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Constitutional Party has fielded presidential candidates in multiple elections.
The Constitutional Party's presidential candidates have included:
- Michael Peroutka (2004)
- Chuck Baldwin (2008)
- Virgil Goode (2012)
- Darrell Castle (2016)
- Don Blankenship (2020)
- Randall Terry (2024)
No, the Constitutional Party has not won a presidential election. Their highest number of votes was 199,880 in 2008, placing sixth in the election.
