The Green Party of California announced this week its endorsement of Dr. Butch Ware, a history professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in his bid for state governor next year. Ware previously ran as the Green Party’s 2024 vice presidential nominee.
Earlier this month, party delegates from across California convened online for the organization’s bi-annual General Assembly, where they voted to endorse Ware’s candidacy. The endorsement came at the recommendation of the party’s Candidates Committee, which described the campaign in its proposal as “unprecedented” and praised its early fundraising and social media efforts.
In a statement shared Wednesday, the Green Party of California said the state faces intensifying challenges from climate collapse, economic inequality, and systemic injustice. The party called for “bold, transformative leadership” in response to these issues and argued that Ware embodies the approach it envisions. It accused Democrats at both the state and national levels of prioritizing “superPACs and lobbyists” over “everyday Californians” and presented Ware as an alternative.
The party further called for the gubernatorial debates to be opened to include Ware.
The full statement is shared below:
CALIFORNIA GREEN PARTY ENDORSES DR. RUDOLPH T. WARE FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA
San Francisco, CA – The Green Party of California (GPCA) proudly announces its endorsement of former vice-presidential candidate Dr. Butch Ware in the 2026 California gubernatorial race.
As Californians face the intensifying challenges of climate collapse, widening economic inequality, and systemic injustice, it’s clear that business as usual is no longer an option. We need bold, transformative leadership. Dr. Butch Ware embodies this vision. A renowned historian and public scholar, Dr. Ware brings both intellectual depth and grassroots commitment to the urgent task of building a sustainable, just, inclusive, and humane future for all Californians.
The Democratic establishment, at both the federal and state levels, has made it abundantly clear that we the people are no longer part of the political equation. Their allegiance lies not with working families or everyday Californians, but with the corporate superPACs and lobbyists who bankroll their campaigns.
In stark contrast, the Green Party and our candidate Dr. Butch Ware answer to no special interests. Our only commitment is to the people of California, and to the living planet that sustains us all.GPCA spokesperson Laura Wells says: “Let Butch Ware Debate!”
“Fifteen years ago I ran for Governor against Jerry Brown and tech billionaire Meg Whitman. At a gubernatorial debate, I was arrested merely trying to get into the audience. The charge? ‘Trespassing at a private party!’ Given the state of affairs in California and the country, it is time to open up the debates to parties beyond the two Titanic parties that have disappointed us so severely. We have a powerful and wealthy state, but the Democratic Party, with its governors and veto-proof super majorities, has not come through for us, not in housing, healthcare, education, and not even in safety and justice for all.”
We are honored to endorse Rudolph T. Ware for Governor.
The hearing in the top-two case is August 22, 2025
Unless the current lawsuit against Top Two Primary is successful and a decision comes down in time to impact the 2026 election, he will barely be a blip on the radar screen in the primary and he will not proceed to the general election ballot.