Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party

The Liberty Union party (LUP) was formed to contest the Vermont elections of 1970.{{cite news|last1=Siegel|first1=Lou|title=Vermont's Third Party: No Longer Just a Fan Club|url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/vermonts-third-party-no-longer-just-a-fan-club/Content?oid=2434161|access-date=March 1, 2016|work=Vanguard Press|via=Seven Days}} LUP co-founders included former Congressman William H. Meyer, Peter Diamondstone, Dennis Morrisseau and others.[http://www.libertyunionparty.org/?page_id=2 "L.U.P. History," The Official Website Of The Liberty Union Party – Vermont]

In 1971, People's Party was formed as a national umbrella party for various socialist-oriented state parties, including the LUP.{{cite news |title=New Look at White House Vowed |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L7QyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3110,5386646&dq=margaret-wright+activist&hl=en |agency=AP |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=1976-08-08 |page=A-3 |access-date=2010-10-17 |quote=The Socialist-oriented People's party was founded in 1971 and is an umbrella name for such groups as ... Vermont Liberty Union.}}

In 1971, Bernie Sanders joined LUP and became the party's candidate for several offices. At the first party meeting he attended, in 1971, LUP nominated Sanders as the LUP Senate candidate in the January 1972 special election; he placed third with 2% of the vote.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_2YjBm2_JGUC&q=liberty+union&pg=PA19|title=Outsider in the House: A Political Autobiography|last=Sanders|first=Bernie|date=1998|publisher=Verso|isbn=978-1859841778|pages=12–21 et seq|language=en}} In 1974, Bernie Sanders ran again as the Senate candidate, but received 4.13% of the vote. In 1976, Sanders was the party's candidate for Vermont governor, where he received 6.1% of the vote, which remains the best result for any LUP candidate for governor as of 2021. In October 1977, At the time of his resignation from the party, Sanders was party chairman. Sanders quit due to the inactivity of the party between elections.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19771012&id=wgdlAAAAIBAJ&pg=5788,2134518&hl=en|title=Liberty Union Party Chief in Vermont Quits Position|date=October 12, 1977|work=Nashua Telegraph|access-date=March 1, 2016|agency=AP}} As an independent politician, Sanders became Vermont's congressional representative in 1991 and US senator in 2007. He ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 and 2020.

In 1974, political scientist Michael Parenti was the party's candidate for election to the House of Representatives; he placed third with 7.1 percent of the vote.{{cite web |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/search/date:1974-11-05/office_id:5 |website=VT Elections Database |title=Elections Results Archive}}

In 1976, the party's Vermont lieutenant governor candidate John Franco took enough votes to force the election to the Vermont General Assembly's House. The party also lost the outspoken members, Nancy Kaufman and Martha Abbott before the 1978 election cycle. Despite Liberty Union co-founder, Peter Diamondstone, appearing biennially on the ballot from 1970 through 2016, none of the party's candidates were elected during that period.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vnews.com/Liberty-Union-Co-Founded-Peter-Diamondstone-Dies-at-82-12227928|title=Longtime Vermont Political Figure Peter Diamondstone Dies|last=O’Connor|first=Kevin|date=September 1, 2017|work=The Valley News|access-date=2019-03-25}}

In 2009, David Van Deusen, endorsed by LUP and the Vermont Progressive Party (VPP), won a contested race for a seat on the Moretown Select Board. Van Deusen was a District Vice President of the Vermont AFL-CIO, active within US Labor Against The War,{{cite news|title=Vermont AFL-CIO Calls on Workers to Support West Coast Work Stoppage Against War|url=https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/04/16/18493381.php|work=Vermont AFL-CIO|date=April 16, 2008}} cofounder of the Green Mountain Anarchist Collective, and received the backing of organized labor. This victory represented an electoral high water mark for the Liberty Union Party (previous Liberty Union wins included a Representational Town Meeting Delegate in Brattleboro, and a single Justice of the Peace position some decades earlier). In 2010 Van Deusen again ran and again won a contested seat on the Moretown Select Board.{{cite news|title=Valley Reporter Questions for Moretown Select Board Candidate Dave van Deusen|agency=Valley Reporter|date=February 12, 2010}} Again he was endorsed by the Liberty Union, the Progressives, the Socialist Party USA, and organized labor. In this election Van Deusen was the top vote-getter among four Select Board candidates (three candidates, including Van Deusen running for two one year seats, and one candidate running as a write-in for one open three-year seat).{{cite news|title=Vermont Liberty Union/Progressives Win in Moretown|url=http://independentpoliticalreport.com/2010/04/vermont-liberty-unionprogressives-win-in-moretown/|agency=Independent Political Report|date=March 3, 2010}} In 2011 Van Deusen did not seek re-election to the Select Board. In this election he ran for First Constable of Moretown (a position he held in 2007). While Van Deusen won the election, he did not seek the endorsement of the Liberty Union Party. This time he had the endorsement of the local Progressive Party alone. During Van Deusen's two terms on the Moretown Select Board, he was able to win "livable wages" for all non-elected town employees, doubled property tax relief for disabled military veterans (through a Town Meeting article), successfully advocated for the use of the Town Hall for a free weekly children's play group, made strides in opening up the local democratic process to all town residents, and publicly supported a Vermont run single-payer healthcare system.{{cite news|title=Vt Towns Consider Boosting Benefits For Disabled Vets|url=http://www.wcax.com/story/12072088/vt-towns-consider-boosting-benefits-for-disabled-vets|agency=WCAX|date=March 2, 2010}}{{cite news|title=Take The Day Off May 1|url=http://www.montpelierbridge.com/april23-09Bridge_9-16.pdf|work=David Van Deusen|agency=Montpelier Bridge|date=April 23, 2010}}

In 2012, the party once again re-qualified for major party status as a result of a 13.1% showing for Liberty Union candidate Mary Alice Herbert in the election for Vermont Secretary of State against Democrat Jim Condos.{{cite web |url= http://vtdigger.org/2012/11/09/liberty-union-regains-major-party-status-for-next-elections/ |title=Liberty Union regains major party status|work=VTDigger|access-date=24 January 2016|date=2012-11-09}}

In 2014, the party re-qualified for major party status yet again as a result of a 10.32 showing for Liberty Union candidate Mary Alice Herbert in the election for Vermont Secretary of State. In the race for Treasurer Murray Ngoima received 8.3% of the vote. For Attorney General the LU candidate, Rosemary Jackowski, received 3.9% of the vote. In VT State Senate races, Ben Bosley won 13.9% of the vote for Grand Isle district. In the Windham County Senate contest, Jerry Levy & Aaron Diamondstone won on 5.0% & 4.6% of the ballots.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

In the 2016 Vermont gubernatorial election, former Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee ran as the Liberty Union's candidate for governor. Lee supported single payer healthcare and ran far to the left of the Democratic Party while at the same time remaining an advocate for the right of Vermonters to own firearms.Spaceman: Of Roadkill & Governors, 2016. http://news.infoshop.org/sports/interview-bill-spaceman-lee Lee received 2.8% which was the highest percentage for a LUP candidate for governor since the 1978 Vermont election and at the same time garnered 8,912 votes, second highest number for a Liberty Union gubernatorial candidate in the party's history.

In other 2016 races, Murray Ngoima received 3.9% of the vote for Treasurer, Mary Alice Herbert 9.7% for secretary state, Marina Brown 4.7% for Auditor and Rosemarie Jackowski 3.7% for attorney general. For US House, Erica Clawson received 9.2% of the vote. Liberty Union Party co-founder, Peter Diamondstone received 1.0% of the vote for US Senate.

In 2018 elections, Emily Peyton received 0.6% of the vote for Governorship, Murray Ngoima received 1.5% for lieutenant governor, Mary Alice Herbert received 3.6% for Secretary of State, Marina Brown received 3.9% for Auditor and Rosemarie Jackowski received 3.4% for Attorney General. For US House, Laura Potter received 1.4% of the vote. For US Senate, Reid Kane received 0.4% of the vote.

In 2020, the Liberty Union Party did not nominate any candidates for statewide office. They only nominated Gloria La Riva for presidency.{{Cite web|last=Winger|first=Richard|date=September 14, 2020|title=Liberty Union Party Has No Candidates for Vermont State Office, for First Time Since 1970 {{!}} Ballot Access News|url=http://ballot-access.org/2020/09/14/liberty-union-party-has-no-candidates-for-vermont-state-office-for-first-time-since-1970/|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Ballot Access News|language=en-US}}

In September 2021, the party changed its name from Liberty Union to Green Mountain Peace and Justice. Jessica Diamondstone, party chair and daughter of the party's founder stated that she feared the old name might make the party sound as if it had right-wing positions. Diamondstone felt the new name would be more clear on the political positions of the party.{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Kevin |date=15 September 2021 |title=Amid right-wing flag waving, Vermont's Liberty Union Party renames itself |work=VTDigger |url=https://vtdigger.org/2021/09/15/amid-right-wing-flag-waving-vermonts-liberty-union-party-renames-itself/}}

In 2022, under its new name, Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party nominees ran only for US Senate and Lieutenant Governor seats.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-11 |title=Vermont Secretary of State Posts 2022 Candidate List {{!}} Ballot Access News |url=https://ballot-access.org/2022/09/11/vermont-secretary-of-state-posts-2022-candidate-list/ |access-date=2023-08-14}} For US Senate, Natasha Diamondstone-Kohout received 0.5% of the vote and for Lieutenant Governor, Ian Diamondstone received 2.9% of the vote. Both candidates were related to Peter Diamondstone.

In 2024 elections, Justin Schoville received 1.24% of the vote for governorship, Ian Diamondstone received 3.9% for lieutenant governor, Kevin Gustafson received 4.95% for Attorney General. For US House of Representatives Jessy Diamondstone received 2.15% of the vote and for US Senate Justin Schoville received 0.92% of the vote.

Over the years, GMPJP has endorsed various presidential candidates from other leftist political parties:

• People's Party: In 1971-1977, LUP was a member of the national PP and endorsed its candidates. In 1972, LUP endorsed Benjamin Spock.Bernie Sanders, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_2YjBm2_JGUC&q=liberty+union&pg=PA19 Outsider in the House], Verso: 1998; pp. 12-21 et seq.Eric Pace. [https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0502.html "Benjamin Spock, World's Pediatrician, Dies at 94"], The New York Times, March 17, 1998 In 1976, LUP endorsed Margaret Wright.
• Socialist Party USA (SPUSA): In 1980, LUP endorsed David McReynolds.{{cn|date=October 2024}} In 1988, LUP endorsed Willa Kenoyer.{{cite web |title=1988 President General Election |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75809/}} In 1996, LUP endorsed Mary Cal Hollis.{{cite web |title=1996 President General Election |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75763/}} In 2000, LUP endorsed David McReynolds.{{cite web |title=2000 President General Election |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75644/}} In 2008, only one candidate, SPUSA candidate Brian Moore, collected the 1,000 signatures required to participate in the LUP's binding presidential primary, which made Moore the LUP nominee by default.{{cite web |publisher=Ballot Access News |first1=Richard |last1=Winger |date=21 January 2008 |title=Vermont Presidential Primaries |url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/21/vermont-presidential-primaries}}{{cite web |publisher=Ballot Access News |first1=Richard |last1=Winger |title=Liberty Union Presidential Primary |date=20 January 2008 |url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/01/20/liberty-union-presidential-primary/}} In 2012, LUP endorsed Stewart Alexander.{{cite news |title=Liberty Union Nominates Stewart Alexander for President |date=August 14, 2012 |first1=Richard |last1=Winger |url=https://ballot-access.org/2012/08/14/liberty-union-nominates-stewart-alexander-for-president/}}
• New Alliance Party (NAP): In 1984, LUP endorsed NAP candidate Dennis Serrette.{{cite web |title=1984 President General Election |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75843/}} In 1992, LUP endorsed NAP candidate and Newmanite Lenora Fulani.{{cite web |title=1992 President General Election |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75711/}}
• Workers World Party (WWP): In 2004, due to conflicts with SPUSA candidate Mary Alice Herbert's running mate, Walt Brown, LUP instead endorsed WWP candidate John Parker.{{cite web |title=2004 President General Election |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75531/}}
• Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL): In 2016, LUP endorsed Gloria La Riva.{{cite news |title=Liberty Union Party of Vermont Nominates Gloria La Riva for President |last=Winger |first=Richard |date=May 15, 2016 |work=Ballot Access News |url=http://ballot-access.org/2016/05/15/liberty-union-party-of-vermont-nominates-gloria-la-riva-for-president/ |url-status=live |archive-date=May 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516102533/http://ballot-access.org/2016/05/15/liberty-union-party-of-vermont-nominates-gloria-la-riva-for-president/}} In 2020, LUP endorsed Gloria La Riva.{{cite web |title=2020 Candidates |publisher=Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party |url=https://www.libertyunionparty.org/?page_id=903 |url-status=live |archive-date=2020-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211215452/https://www.libertyunionparty.org/?page_id=903}}
• Independents: In 2024, GMPJP nominated Cornel West as its candidate for President.{{cite web |title=Vermont Green Mountain Peace & Justice Party Nominates Cornel West |date=28 April 2024 |publisher=Ballot Access News |url=https://ballot-access.org/2024/04/28/vermont-green-mountain-peace-justice-party-nominates-cornel-west/}}

• American Left
• Democratic Socialists of America
• Vermont Progressive Party
• Green Party of the United States
• History of the socialist movement in the United States

{{reflist}}

• [http://libertyunionparty.org Official website]

{{VermontPoliticalParties}}

{{United States state and local political parties}}

{{United States political parties}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Democratic socialist parties in the United States

Category:Green political parties in the United States

Category:Pacifist parties

Category:Political parties in Vermont

Category:Political parties established in 1970

Category:State and local socialist parties in the United States

Category:Political parties in the United States

Category:1970 establishments in Vermont