South Carolina Workers Party

The SCWP was previously a chapter of the Labor Party, which went into decline in 2002. Despite national decline, the South Carolina chapter remained active{{cite web | url=https://www.scvotes.gov/certified-political-parties-south-carolina | title=Certified Political Parties of South Carolina | SCVotes}} and decided to pursue running candidates.

In December 2005, the South Carolina Labor Party (SCLP) announced that it would seek ballot status in South Carolina and run a candidate in the 2006 legislative elections. Labor Party News quoted Leonard Riley, President of the Charleston International Longshoremen's Association Local 1422 as saying, "Given the results of the past few elections, I think the workers of South Carolina would jump at the opportunity to consider a Labor Party which would guarantee an uncompromising voice for working people on their issues."http://www.thelaborparty.org/n_1205.pdf Although South Carolina law permitted electoral fusion, the Labor Party pledged not to endorse candidates of any other party.

Party officials said that the relatively high unemployment rate, the decline in the textile industry, and the indifference of the state Democratic and Republican parties to the interests of working people, African-Americans and women created a political space for the Labor Party.[http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_orange.html Labor Party] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906183657/http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_orange.html |date=2006-09-06 }} The party submitted 16,500 signatures on July 11, 2006. If 10,000 of the signatures were valid, the party would be qualified for the 2007 and 2008 elections.http://www.ballot-access.org/2006/080106.html#16 Labor Party launches petition drive to gain ballot access, South Carolina Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C. This effort was apparently unrelated to the concurrent attempt of the Working Families Party to gain ballot access in South Carolina, a state that allows electoral fusion.[http://www.ballot-access.org/2006/07/21/south-carolina-working-families-party-will-sue-to-get-on-2006-ballot/ Ballot Access News » Blog Archive » South Carolina Working Families Party Will Sue to Get on 2006 Ballot] In July 2007 Ballot Access News reported that the SCLP was attempting to recruit candidates.[http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/07/31/south-carolina-labor-party-recruiting-candidates/ "South Carolina Labor Party Recruiting Candidates"]

{{See also|2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election}}

South Carolina activists Gary Votour and Harold Geddings, candidates for governor and Congress respectively as Democratic Party candidates in 2020,{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2021 |title=State Senator Mia McLeod Joins Activist Gary Votour and Former Congressman Joe Cunningham in 2022 Governor's Race |url=https://scdp.org/scdp-news/press-releases/state-senator-mia-mcleod-joins-activist-gary-votour-and-former-congressman-joe-cunningham-in-2022-governors-race/ |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=South Carolina Democratic Party}} left the party after former congressman Joe Cunningham was allowed to run as a Democratic candidate for governor although his position on the minimum wage was at odds with the party platform.{{Cite news |last=Bustos |first=Joseph |date=May 2, 2022 |title=South Carolina candidate for governor says he's switching parties after $15 wage split |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article257900388.html |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The State Newspaper}}

When Votour and Geddings decided to run as Labor Party candidates, a conflict between party leaders{{Cite news |date=August 5, 2022 |title=Labor Party argues whether to put candidates on SC ballot |url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-south-carolina-columbia-congress-c03ab5a63994ad1d83142132740d8675 |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The Associated Press}} led to a legal challenge by the South Carolina Democratic Party.{{Cite news |date=August 13, 2022 |title=SC Democrats sue to keep Labor Party candidates off ballot |url=https://wpde.com/news/local/sc-democrats-sue-to-keep-labor-party-candidates-off-ballot |access-date=June 6, 2024 |work=The Associated Press}} The judge ruled in favor of the Democratic Party,{{Cite news |last=Adcox |first=Seanna |date=August 18, 2022 |title=SC judge rules Labor Party candidates can't be on November ballots |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/sc-judge-rules-labor-party-candidates-cant-be-on-november-ballots/article_edecbbf4-1d63-11ed-99c5-6368746b1ef9.html |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The Post and Courier}} and Votour and Geddings were removed from the state ballot.{{Cite news |last=Bustos |first=Joseph |date=August 4, 2022 |title=Some SC Labor Party members didn't want a nominee for governor. Why they're getting one |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article264181221.html |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The State Newspaper}}

The former candidates led the Labor Party chapter to reform. In 2023, members of the SC branch called a convention, ended their affiliation with the (defunct) Labor Party, and renamed to the South Carolina Workers Party.{{Cite news |last=Kenmore |first=Abraham |date=March 25, 2024 |title=Candidates kept off SC ballots in '22 start new 3rd party, file to run for Legislature |url=https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/03/25/candidates-kept-off-sc-ballots-in-22-start-new-3rd-party-file-to-run-for-legislature/ |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The Florida Phoenix}} The Workers Party is certified as a political party in South Carolina.{{Cite news |last=Wilder |first=Anna |date=April 5, 2024 |title=6 SC candidates for Congress aren't Democrat or Republican. Here are your third party candidates. |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article287289445.html |access-date=June 5, 2024 |work=The State Newspaper}}

SCWP has fielded electoral candidates for state and federal offices.

No SCWP candidate has yet won an election.

In 2024, the SCWP nominated Party for Socialism and Liberation nominee Claudia De la Cruz for president, which granted PSL ballot access in South Carolina.{{Cite web |last=Winger |first=Richard |date=March 22, 2024 |title=South Carolina Workers Party Nominates Claudia De la Cruz for President |url=https://ballot-access.org/2024/03/22/south-carolina-workers-party-nominates-claudia-de-la-cruz-for-president/ |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=Ballot Access News}}

• American Left
• History of the socialist movement in the United States
• Democratic Socialists of America
• Labor Party (United States, 1996)

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• {{official website |https://scworkersparty.org/}}

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Category:Political parties in the United States

Category:Political parties in South Carolina

Category:Progressive parties in the United States

Category:2023 establishments in South Carolina

Category:Political parties established in 2023

Category:Socialist parties in the United States

Category:Socialism in South Carolina