2025 National Party Chair Questionnaire: Zack Kusnir, Chair of the Prohibition Party

The Outsider Media Foundation, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to increasing public understanding of and participation in underrepresented political activity, including coverage produced by other media outlets and organizations, is proud to release the first response to its inaugural National Party Chair Questionnaire, launched in March. This initiative is part of the Foundation’s mission to inform and educate the public about alternative political movements throughout the United States.

The following response was submitted by Zack Kusnir, Chairman and Treasurer of the Prohibition Party. Questions appear in bold, followed by the responses as submitted, with only minor formatting adjustments for readability. Each is featured both here and in our official journal, Independent Political Report. All submissions are released on a rolling basis.

For more information about the Foundation or the questionnaire, including how to participate, please visit our official website.

Reflections on the 2024 Election Cycle:

What key lessons did your party learn from the 2024 election cycle, and how are those insights shaping your strategy for the next cycle?

It allowed us to really recognize our visibility and relevance in modern politics. While there are several people who resonate with our messaging, we can improve upon our communication and connecting the dots between our platform, societal health problems, clean living, and safety. It will be important to have a candidate in 2028 who can connect well with people seeking a healthier America.

Vision for the Future:

What are your party’s primary goals and priorities for the next two years, and what concrete steps will you take to achieve them?

We are emphasizing building our membership base, which has recently risen after an effort to communicate with our community. All Prohibitionists, old and new, are welcomed to express their values and visions. We aim to support Prohibitionists who would like to run for local office or make an impact in their communinites.

Competitive Strategy:

How does your party plan to strengthen its electoral competitiveness, and what specific tactics will you prioritize to improve performance in future races?

Ballot access is a big challenge for third parties, so we have already begun working with professionals for 2028. We must pre-plan very well for the next election to appear on more ballots.

Membership Growth:

What initiatives is your party pursuing to attract and retain new members, and how are you working to ensure greater representation across different demographics?

We are revamping social media efforts, and improving communication in general, whether that is group or individual communications. We are improving the sense of community to create a community of peers who are encouraged to engage with one another. As chairman, I have taken the time to call several longstanding and new members, as well as people who have written to me, to have one-on-one communications.

Member Engagement:

How do you keep members actively engaged and aligned with your party’s mission, particularly during non-election periods?

We have publications at the national level and New York State level. On social media we keep members up to date with relevant news as well as send out email updates to our members. 

Fundraising Strategy:

What key approaches will your party take to secure funding for operations, outreach, and initiatives, and how do you plan to sustain long-term financial stability?

We are very diligent and analytical in our spending, and have stable funding for year to year operations, as well as distributions for election years. To begin 2025, a generous donor helped initiate a fundraiser by matching all contributions.

Collaboration and Alliances:

What is your strategy for building alliances with other political organizations or advocacy groups, and what shared objectives do you hope to achieve through these partnerships?

We communicate with leaders of other third parties to discuss best practices, ballot access challenges, etc. It is my goal as Chairman to continue and build and grow these relationships is a way where we can work together in a “rising tide lifts all boat manner,” despite political differences.

Public Messaging:

How does your party plan to communicate its message effectively to voters and supporters, and how will you adapt to challenges posed by the evolving media landscape?

We must modernize and take advantage of quick news cycles, enhance social media strategy, and build a more close knit community of peers. We have strategized to do so and have seen positive results so far, including membership growth and donations.

Preparing for Challenges:

What obstacles do you anticipate in the coming years, and how is your party proactively preparing to address them?

The biggest obstacles will be financial obstacles, but we believe we can overcome some of these by focusing on organic growth and early planning.

Closing Remarks:

What do you see as your party’s greatest opportunity for growth or influence in the near future, and what message would you like to share with members and supporters moving forward?

There has been rapid growth in health conscious, more willingness to reduce and eliminate alcohol consumption, and recognition of the individual and public benefits of clean living. We can play an important role in this movement.