Conservative Party (United States)#Delaware

In the United States, the Conservative Party refers to a collection of state-level parties that operate independently and advocate for conservative principles. Currently, there is no national Conservative Party.{{cite book|author1=Mark J. Rozell|author2=Ted G. Jelen|title=American Political Culture: An Encyclopedia vol 3|year=2015|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-378-3|pages=207–9}} Historically, many of these parties emerged from divisions within the Democratic and Republican parties, supporting a variety of conservative ideologies, including fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, states' rights, and nationalism.

Although there has not been a national Conservative Party, the Republican Party currently claims to follow the conservative ideology while actually acting as a nationalist oligarchy, with third parties Constitution Party and American Independent Party following the Paleoconservatism ideology. In the late 1960s, the American Independent Party was rebranded as the American Conservative Party in some states. A separate American Conservative Party was later established in 2008 but was decommissioned in 2016. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party USA was organized on January 6, 2009, as a 527 organization aimed at building and managing state party affiliates under the national Conservative Party USA banner.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

State-level parties

= Connecticut =

In the 1838 and 1839 Connecticut gubernatorial elections, Elisha Phelps, a former Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives, ran as the Conservative Party candidate. He received 2.96% of the popular vote in 1838 and 2.09% in 1839. In the 1842, Luther Loomis ran as the Conservative Party candidate, garnering 1.20% of the popular vote.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

=Virginia=

In the late 19th century, a new Conservative Party of Virginia formed to oppose Reconstruction, uniting former Democrats, Whigs, and moderate Republicans. Led by Alexander H. H. Stuart and Raleigh T. Daniel, the party won majorities in the Virginia General Assembly in 1869. Though divided on black suffrage, the party supported economic reforms and established a segregated public school system. However, internal divisions over state debt repayment led to the formation of the Readjuster Party, which ultimately defeated the Conservatives. By 1883, most members of the Conservative Party merged with the Democratic Party.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In the Reconstruction era after the Civil War, former Whigs in several Southern states formed parties with the "Conservative" or "Democratic-Conservative" name. Eventually they all merged into the Democratic Party.{{cite book|author=Michael Perman|title=The Road to Redemption: Southern Politics, 1869-1879|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hQZfDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT152|year=2004|publisher=U of North Carolina Press|pages=151–53}}{{cite book|author=Sheldon Hackney|title=Magnolias Without Moonlight: The American South From Regional Confederacy To National Integration|url=https://archive.org/details/magnoliaswithout0000hack|url-access=registration|publisher=Transaction|year=2005 |page=[https://archive.org/details/magnoliaswithout0000hack/page/30 30]}}

In 1965, a new Conservative Party of Virginia was formed in response to Mills Godwin's nomination as the Democratic candidate for governor, which the party opposed due to his outreach to African-American voters.{{cite web|title=1965 Election Results: Omens for Liberal Republicans|url=https://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/document.php?id=cqal65-875-26760-1261115}} Around 300 delegates gathered in Richmond, Virginia, to officially establish the party. They nominated William J. Story Jr., the assistant superintendent of schools from Chesapeake, for governor, Reid T. Putney, a forestry consultant from Goochland, for lieutenant governor, and John W. Carter for attorney general.{{cite web|url=https://richmond.com/from-the-archives/plus/the-1965-virginia-gubernatorial-election/article_2f91c526-ad96-11e5-81ce-d71d7198c826.html|title= The 1965 Virginia Gubernatorial Election |date=January 26, 2016|author=Kappatos, Nicole|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch}}{{sfn|Hunter|1972|pp=22}} In 1969, the party nominated Beverly McDowell for governor, but he placed fourth in the election, receiving 1.16% of the popular vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-wallace-slates/159451333/|title=Wallace Slates' Status Cloudy|date=June 18, 1968|page=13|newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch}}

= South Carolina =

File:Hon. James Chestnut Jr., S.C - NARA - 528456 (cropped).jpg established the Conservative Party of South Carolina in 1874.]]

In 1874, the Conservative Party of South Carolina was established by James Chesnut Jr. to mobilize white voters, as the South Carolina Democratic Party was inactive statewide. A convention of the State Tax Union was convened in Columbia on September 10 to prepare for the upcoming election and address President Ulysses S. Grant's comments on the Ku Klux Klan. Another convention on October 8 endorsed the Independent Republican ticket with a platform focused on honesty in government.{{sfn|Reynolds|1969|pp=281}}

Although the Independent Republican candidates were defeated in the general election, the Conservatives reduced Republican majorities in the legislature and saw some local success through collaboration with Independent Republicans. This cooperation enabled the election of Edmund W. M. Mackey to Congress from for the 2nd district.{{sfn|Reynolds|1969|pp=283–285}} Despite these limited gains, the failure of the Conservative Party in 1874 pushed the Democrats to reorganize, leading to their resurgence in the 1876 elections, which ultimately marked the end of the Conservative Party in South Carolina.

= New York =

File:Donald J. Trump at Marriott Marquis NYC September 7th 2016 15.jpg accepting the Conservative Party's nomination for President in 2016.]]

In 1962, the Conservative Party of New York State was established in response to dissatisfaction with the perceived liberalism of New York's Republican Party. Using New York's fusion voting system, which allows candidates to appear on multiple party lines in the same election, the party sought to counterbalance the influence of the Liberal Party of New York.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/13/nyregion/despite-size-conservative-party-is-a-force-to-reckon-with.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|title=Despite Size, Conservative Party Is a Force to Reckon With|work=The New York Times|last=Perez-Pena|first=Richard|date=1999-12-13|access-date=2018-07-24}} While it often endorses Republican candidates, the party has withheld support from Republicans it considers too liberal.

In 1965, conservative author and commentator William F. Buckley Jr. ran for Mayor of New York City, securing 13.4% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/remembering-buckleys-1965-run-for-mayor/|title=Remembering Buckley's 1965 Run for Mayor|date=February 28, 2008|author=Chan, Sewell|website=The New York Times}} The following year, academic Paul L. Adams ran for Governor of New York, earning 8.5% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1966/11/8/new-yorks-three-way-race-for-governor/|title=New York's Three-Way Race For Governor: Vote Hinges on Rockefeller's Unpopularity|date=November 8, 1966|author=Sabel, Charles F.|website=The Harvard Crimson}} In 1968, William F. Buckley Jr.'s brother, James L. Buckley, ran for U.S. Senate, garnering 17.31% of the vote.{{Cite news |date=April 3, 1968 |title=James Buckley Nominated By Conservative Party as U.S. Senate Candidate |page=15 |work=The Glens Falls Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60996528/the-glens-falls-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201012210429/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60996528/the-glens-falls-times/ |archive-date=October 12, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} James would later win a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1970, gaining a 38.75% plurality as the Conservative Party candidate.{{Cite news |date=December 13, 1970 |title=Buckley's Machine Securing His Position |page=29 |work=Star-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52718214/star-gazette/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200603194837/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52719474/press-and-sun-bulletin/ |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1978, William Carney was elected as a Conservative to the U.S. House of Representatives.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/11/09/archives/li-conservative-a-first-in-house.html|title=L.I. Conservative a First in House|date=November 9, 1978|author=McQuiston, John T.|website=The New York Times}}

The party been described by The New York Times as having "a successful electoral record in a decidedly blue state in which the Conservatives have elbowed the Republican Party to the right."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/nyregion/new-york-conservative-party-extends-influence-at-polls-and-in-capital.html|title=New York Conservative Party Extends Influence at Polls and in Capital|first=Sam|last=Roberts|date=28 June 2012|work=The New York Times}} As of 2018, the party holds Row C on New York ballots due to receiving the third-highest number of votes among political parties in multiple gubernatorial elections.

= Washington =

In 1966, Floyd Paxton and other ultra-conservatives founded the Conservative Party of Washington, nominating two candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and seven for the Washington State Legislature.[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90599753/washington-conservative-party-appears-19/ Associated Press. "State Politics: Threat to GOP Seen in Conservative Party"] Spokane Daily Chronicle September 19, 1966; p. 7, col. 4 via Newspapers.com[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90599913/conservative-party-of-washington-1966-ca/ Associated Press. "Conservative Party Files"] The Spokesman-Review September 23, 1966; p. 8, col. 7 The party attracted disaffected Republicans critical of Governor Daniel J. Evans and his allies.[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90600321/yakima-republican-resignations-welcomed/ Associated Press. "Yakima Rebels' Action Pleases GOP Chairman" The Spokesman-Review October 29, 1966; p. 13, col. 6] Though some party leaders supported George Wallace’s 1968 presidential bid, they ultimately ran under the American Independent Party instead of the Conservative Party.Turner, Wallace. "Rightists Strong in Wallace Drive - Birchers and Others Play Key Role in the West" New York Times September 29, 1968; p. 75, col. 3[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90601678/wallace-on-washington-state-ballot-1968/ Cummings, Robert. "Backstage Olympia"] The Bellingham Herald February 2, 1968; p. 12, col. 1 via Newspapers.com In 1968, the party fielded candidates for state offices and Congress under the Constitution Party label, but neither label appeared in the 1970 election.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

= New Jersey =

In 1963, several candidates ran as Conservatives for the New Jersey Assembly in Essex and Bergen counties, reflecting a nationwide split within the Republican Party. This divide saw northeastern states, including New Jersey, dominated by the party's liberal faction. These Conservative candidates opposed the social liberal policies of the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration, advocating instead for the emerging socially conservative views championed by U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater. The split subsided after Goldwater secured the Republican nomination during the 1964 National Convention.

In 1992, a separate New Jersey Conservative Party was founded by Tom Blomquist, who had previously run in the 1989 gubernatorial election. Blomquist ran as a Conservative in the 1993 gubernatorial race, earning 0.21% of the vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/02/nyregion/the-1993-campaign-the-long-shots-candidates-who-march-to-different-drummers.html|title=The 1993 CAMPAIGN: The Long Shots; Candidates Who March To Different Drummers|first=Kimberly J.|last=McLarin|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2 November 1993|publisher=|accessdate=11 April 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/08/nyregion/big-c-conservative-makes-big-plans-for-new-jersey.html|title=Big 'C' Conservative Makes Big Plans for New Jersey|first=Iver|last=Peterson|newspaper=The New York Times|date=8 October 1992|publisher=}} The party gained the endorsement of United We Stand America in 1995 and fielded approximately 60 candidates for the New Jersey General Assembly, as well as candidates in all districts for the 1998 U.S. House of Representatives elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/29/nyregion/perot-commands-enthusiasm-for-new-jersey-conservatives.html|title=Perot Commands Enthusiasm For New Jersey Conservatives|first=Iver|last=Peterson|newspaper=The New York Times|date=29 October 1995|publisher=}}{{cite news |title=Political Diversity: Third party in N.J. would enlarge the ring |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30647276/njcp/ |accessdate=16 April 2019 |work=Asbury Park Press |date=27 April 1995 |page=17|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} In 2001, it was involved in a lawsuit advocating for New Jersey voters to have the right to join third parties. Following the election of Donald Trump in 2016, third-party registrations surged across New Jersey, with the Conservative Party becoming the state's fourth-largest political party by 2018.{{cite web |last1=Wildstein |first1=David |title=Independent parties double registration since Trump election |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/section-2/independent-parties-double-registration-since-trump-election/ |website=New Jersey Globe |date=9 July 2018 |access-date=13 September 2023}}

= Delaware =

In 2009, a Conservative Party of Delaware had a website with a mailing address in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was affiliated with the Conservative Party USA and had no formal leadership. In 2024, the party achieved official recognition after Delaware residents registered as Conservative and met the state’s qualification threshold. Libertarian activist Will McVay, formerly of the Libertarian Party of Delaware, took the opportunity to reorganize the party. In the same year, the party nominated perennial candidate Vermin Supreme and comedian Jonathan Realz for President and Vice President of the United States, while endorsing Jon Roe for the 2024 Delaware Senate election.{{Cite web |last=Winger |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Winger |date=2024-09-17 |title=Former Delaware Libertarian Activist Activates Delaware Conservative Party |url=https://ballot-access.org/2024/09/17/former-delaware-libertarian-activist-activates-delaware-conservative-party/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Ballot Access News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Jordan Willow |author-link=Jordan Willow Evans |date=2024-08-14 |title=Vermin Supreme Qualifies for Delaware State Ballot via Conservative Party Nomination |url=https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2024/08/vermin-supreme-qualifies-for-delaware-state-ballot-via-conservative-party/ |website=Independent Political Report}}

= Illinois =

In 2018, Illinois State Senator Sam McCann left the Republican Party to establish the Conservative Party of Illinois for his gubernatorial campaign.{{cite web|url=https://news.wttw.com/2018/04/19/third-candidate-enters-race-illinois-governor|title=Third Candidate Enters Race for Illinois Governor|date=April 19, 2018|author=Schutz, Paris|website=WTTW}} Positioning himself as an "independent conservative," he explained that his candidacy aimed to prevent "two billionaires from Chicago" (Bruce Rauner and J. B. Pritzker) from dominating the general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.nprillinois.org/politics/2018-10-04/a-conversation-with-sam-mccann-conservative-party-nominee-for-illinois-gov|title= A Conversation With Sam McCann - Conservative Party Nominee For Illinois Gov. |date=October 4, 2018|author=Otwell, Rachel|website=NPR}} McCann secured his spot on the ballot by gathering 65,000 signatures but ultimately finished third in the general election, receiving 4.23% of the popular vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/07/02/third-party-governor-candidate-mccann-will-get-to-stay-on-november-ballot/|title= Third-party governor candidate McCann will get to stay on November ballot |date=May 15, 2019|author=Garcia, Monique|website=Chicago Tribune}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/governor-of-illinois-election-2018-rauner-pritzker-jackson-mccann/50302/?os=vbkn4ztqhoorjmxr5b&ref=app|title= Pritzker Wins Race for Illinois Governor, Ousting Rauner: NBC News |date=October 30, 2018|website=NBC 5 Chicago|author=Bremer, Shelby}}

References

;Works cited

{{cite book | first = John S. | last = Reynolds | title = Reconstruction in South Carolina | url = https://archive.org/details/reconstructioni01reyngoog | year = 1969 | publisher = Negro University Press | isbn = 0-8371-1638-4 }}
{{cite book | first = Jack R. | last = Hunter | title = Linwood Holton's long quest for the governorship of Virginia and its impact on the growth of the Republican Party | url = https://scholarship.richmond.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1350&context=masters-theses |year = 1972 | publisher = University of Richmond}}

Category:Conservative parties in the United States

Category:Political parties in the United States

Category:State and local conservative parties in the United States