A press release issued by the Boston Tea Party announces that the BTP is now recognized by the Florida Secretary of State and is an option for voters who wish to register into it. A later post by BTP Interim Chair Jim Davidson adds that they are currently working on assembling a slate of electors for presidential ballot access in that state. The release, the full text of which is below, emphasizes the party’s rapid growth in terms of both state affiliates and endorsed candidates:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
07/30/08
POC Thomas L. Knapp
[email protected]
314-750-6993BOSTON TEA PARTY “OFFICIAL IN FLORIDA;” ADDS AFFILIATES, ENDORSEMENTS
Cyberspace — The Boston Tea Party, America’s new libertarian alternative, is a registration option for Florida’s voters. The Florida BTP, which filed recognition paperwork earlier this month, now appears on the Secretary of State’s official list of parties and party committees.
The party, which conducts its national affairs entirely online, has also added two new state affiliates since mid-month, recognizing new party organizations in Louisiana and North Carolina.
The field of BTP-endorsed candidates for public office has grown from three to 13 since mid-July with the addition of candidates from Alabama (Darryl Perry for US Senate), Indiana (Andrew Horning for Governor), Michigan (Jason Gatties for Lake Michigan College Board and Neil Kiernan Stephenson for Congress), North Carolina (Christopher Cole for US Senate and Susan Hogarth for State Representative), Tennessee (Lisa Leeds for State Representative and Daniel Lewis for US Senate) and Texas (Ron Darby for State Representative and John Roemer for Brazos County Tax Assessor).
The Boston Tea Party’s state affiliates and national committee offer the party’s endorsement to candidates who request it and who in turn endorse the party’s one-sentence platform: “The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose.”
The party’s presidential candidate, Charles Jay of Florida, has secured ballot access in Colorado, expects to appear on the November ballot in Florida and Louisiana, and is preparing to launch a petition drive in Tennessee. Jay was nominated in an online national party convention in June. The party’s national membership recently passed the 200 mark.
Do any states, besides the obvious (like OK and NC), allow you to run as a write-in by just filling out some paperwork?
I looked up Michigan and from the looks of their site you just need to fill out a form (but I don’t know the cost or what else is involved) by September 5th I believe. I would write-in Charles Jay if I knew my vote counted.
Alan Keyes also failed to get on in NJ… Not a testament to his campaign’s strength.
Is he even TRYING to petition anywhere?
Too bad about NJ . . . relatively easy to get on.
Straus is definitely already endorsed by BTP, NJ still needs only 800 valid, but the deadline has passed.
He is already endorsed by the BTP, if I’m not mistaken, Steve.
I also think that the BTP ought to seek to endorse Morey Straus in NH . . . that is, if he wants that. I don’t know if he wants it or not.
Only 1200 sigs are needed in New Jersey for president (I think) and it used to be 800.
The BTP should try getting on the ballot there as well . . if they can get the petitioners of course.