The Socialist Party USA, one of the oldest active electoral socialist organizations in the United States, held its National Convention this past weekend, where delegates selected new party officers and the organization’s presidential ticket. The party made an official statement over social media on Sunday afternoon, announcing that William Stodden from Iowa and Stephanie Cholensky from Minnesota would represent the party in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
https://twitter.com/SPofUSA/status/1716089171519906297
All candidates, including Stodden and Cholensky, completed a formal self-questionnaire that was distributed by the party ahead of the convention. Readers of Independent Political Report can access the self-questionnaire to learn more about both candidates.
Stodden, a long-time party member, is the executive director of a nonprofit based in Ames, Iowa, that provides emergency assistance and homeless prevention. He is a prior service United States Marine and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University.
As a candidate, Stodden voiced support for the Socialist Party USA platform in addition to addressing a range of policy positions in his self-questionnaire. These included advocating for normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba, proposing a national jobs guarantee program achieved through mandatory civilian service, endorsing reparations for descendants of enslaved and indigenous Americans, and advocating for the nationalization of essentials such as food, housing, and medicine.
Stephanie Cholensky, also a long-time party member, is a local organizer and former co-chair of the Socialist Party USA, first elected at the party’s 2011 National Convention. She was most recently co-chair prior to the convention. Cholensky has an extensive history of working on Socialist Party USA campaigns across all levels of government and referred to herself as “always […] a campaign volunteer, never a candidate.” She also helped to convene the party’s Women’s Commission.
Cholensky stated in her candidate self-questionnaire that she takes the Socialist Party USA platform “very seriously.” However, she does diverge from the party on GMOs and the use of nuclear power, which she views with a “more nuanced perspective than [the] current platform.” Cholensky believes that a complete ban on GMOs would have far-reaching consequences, potentially affecting research including the development and production of life-saving drugs and vaccines. On the subject of nuclear power, she sees it as an “important alternative to fossil fuels,” particularly in situations where it is necessary for the sustainability of civilization.
Both Stodden and Cholensky stated that they view their candidacies as a valuable educational tool to engage with voters and attract new members, challenge misconceptions about socialism, and raise funds for the party. They additionally said they had no plans to pursue nominations from other party organizations.
The Socialist Party USA also announced that it had elected new party leadership. Over the weekend, delegates selected Claudia Miller of South Carolina and Nicholas Partyka of New York to lead the party moving forward. They will be supported by newly appointed Vice Chairs Ren Walstrom of Indiana and Brian Bittner of Maryland.
Miller and Partyka replace Stephanie Cholensky and Pat Noble, the latter announcing on X over the weekend that he would not seek a fifth term and instead shift his efforts to building the party elsewhere. Noble previously served in the position since 2015.
https://twitter.com/socialistpat/status/1715755258574422035
With thanks to SocraticGadfly for news of the Socialist Party USA 2023 National Convention and election results.
Former party member. Never met Stodden. But I wish Stephanie the best of luck.
OK, as promised:
1. Per questionnaire, Stodden voted for Dear Leader in 2008 and remains unrepentant?
2. The “executive director” of the small non-profit he doesn’t name appears to be the captain, or whatever rank, of the Ames, Iowa, Salvation Army, with all the “history” the Salvation Army has, of course?
That second one, especially, surely will go well with the socialist masses.
https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2023/10/socialist-party-has-presidential.html
I like how leftist candidates always pledge to refuse corporate donations as if there are corporations that WOULD donate to their campaign, if only the campaign would allow them to.
I wonder what Stodden thinks is the difference between mandatory service and slavery.
Thanks. I’ll have a blog post of my own up, which I had already been working on, but will now add the questionnaires and my take on them.