Movement for a People's Party

The Movement for a People's Party (MPP), also known simply as the People's Party, is a progressive political organization in the United States aimed at "forming a major new political party free of corporate money and influence".[4]

Movement for a People's Party
(People's Party)
AbbreviationMPP
LeaderNick Brana
FoundedNovember 9, 2017 (2017-11-09)[1]
Preceded byDraft Bernie for a People's Party
Student wingStudents for a People's Party[2]
Ideology
Political positionLeft-wing
Website
peoplesparty.org

Nick Brana formed the party after the 2016 presidential election as "Draft Bernie for a People's Party." Bernie Sanders declined to be the People's Party's figurehead, instead again seeking the presidential nomination in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

History

The organization was founded by Nick Brana, who previously worked with the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign as the National Political Outreach Coordinator.[5] In 2017, Brana formed the group out of the "Draft Bernie for a People's Party",[1] which failed to gain Sanders's support.[6][7] The group gathered 50,000 signatures on a petition to present to Sanders[8] and held its first mass gathering, the "Convergence Conference", in Washington, D.C. "The ultimate goal is to replace the Democratic Party, it's not merely to create another party," said Brana in 2017.[9]

In 2018, the Movement for a People's Party posted its mission statement to pressure the major parties into adopting a progressive agenda.[10]

The organization held a virtual People's Convention on August 30, 2020.[11][12] The convention was covered live and viewed by 400,000 people on various platforms.[5][12]

Speakers at the convention included former Democratic Party 2020 presidential election candidate Marianne Williamson, former Harvard University professor and philosopher Cornel West, Sanders 2020 co-chair Nina Turner, former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, comedian/political commentator/satirist Jimmy Dore, journalist Chris Hedges and podcaster Ryan Knight.[12]

The convention's ultimate goal was intended to be a vote on forming a new political party to represent the interests of the people.[11] Supporters viewing the convention online approved the measure with a 99% majority.[12]

While many of the speakers at the convention expressed frustration and distaste for the candidates for the 2020 presidential election, the organization did not contest the 2020 election and instead plans to form a party in 2021, run in the midterms in 2022 and possibly run a presidential candidate in 2024.[12][13]

On December 1, 2020, the first People's Party state organization was registered in Maine.[14][15] According to Michael Sylvester, the party will mainly focus on pushing congressional officials into supporting a floor vote for Medicare for All.[14]

In September 2021, the People's Party gained ballot access in Florida, the first state where it has done so.[16]

Ballot access

References
  1. Ehrle, Carol (November 9, 2017). "Draft Bernie Launches 'Movement for a People's Party' Amid Explosive DNC Rigging Revelations and Record Support for a Major New Party". Draft Bernie For a People's Party (Press release). Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  2. "Students for a People's Party". Movement for a People's Party. August 15, 2020. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  3. "Our Platform". Movement for a People's Party. August 14, 2020. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  4. "The People's Party | Free Of Corporate Money". August 24, 2020. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  5. Roque, Lucas (October 13, 2020). "Over Politics? Hold Up, the People's Party Wants You". YR Media. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  6. Crosse, Jacob; Kishore, Joseph (September 7, 2020). "The Movement for a People's Party: No program, no principles, no future". World Socialist Web Site. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  7. Haltiwanger, John (September 27, 2017). "Americans are desperate for a third major political party in the Trump era". Newsweek. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  8. Sainato, Michael (August 22, 2017). "Progressives to Serve Bernie Sanders With Petition to Start New Party". Observer. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  9. Zipp, Ricky (September 11, 2017). "Draft Bernie Sanders movement plows on without the senator". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  10. Sainato, Michael (August 22, 2017). "Progressives to Serve Bernie Sanders With Petition to Start New Party". Observer. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  11. Otterbein, Holly. "Marianne Williamson is back — to talk about forming a third party". POLITICO. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  12. Griffiths, Shawn (August 31, 2020). "More Than 400,000 Tune In to 'People's Convention'; Overwhelmingly Vote to Form New Party". Independent Voter News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  13. Weigel, David (September 8, 2020). "The Trailer: It's not 2016 for third-party candidates". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  14. Collins, Steve (December 30, 2020). "Maine People's Party plans to start enrolling members this week". Lewiston Sun Journal. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  15. "Maine Becomes First State To Register The People's Party!". Movement for a People's Party. December 1, 2020. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  16. Garcia, Justin (October 8, 2021). "'The People's Party' gains ballot access in Florida and aims to challenge corporate politics". Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  17. "Virginia People's Party Announces Ballot Access - the People's Party". January 9, 2022. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  18. "Political Parties - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  19. "Capitol Briefs: Missouri People's Party seeks to appear on next year's ballot". August 10, 2021. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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