New Jersey Reform Party
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey Reform Party was the state party organization for New Jersey
of the Reform Party of the United States of America
.
Kidder's campaign, dubbed "Mrs. Kidder for Congress," challenged Rush Holt and Michael Pappas in New Jersey's 12th congressional district
. Kidder described why she ran saying: "I am running because there is a vacuum in the 12th District — and all vacuums are filled." She received 749 votes.
The party ran Pat DiNizio
for the United States Senate
in 2000. His campaign tactics were unique, in that he traveled the state by trolley and often traversed the streets of New Jersey with an acoustic guitar, asking for votes through improvised songs. DiNizio said he supported the Reform Party because: "I like where they are coming from, and yes, that includes Mr. Ventura
."
Ira Goodman, the party's Chairman, resigned in protest after Pat Buchanan
's allies seized control, saying that he "had enough of this nonsense going on with Pat Buchanan."
Goodman was, himself, a Reform Party congressional candidate. He earned 1,358 votes.
Goodman had tried to petition Ross Perot
to campaign a third time. USA Today
reported that Goodman had, initially, been supportive of Reform Party nominee Pat Buchanan, until he spoke with some of Buchanan's supporters. He later said:
"Buchanan supporters are extreme social conservatives who want to push their agenda. Only Perot can help get us back on track."
Following Goodman's resignation Buchanan's supporters did gain control over the party. Local radio host Joe Sansone became the party's new chairman. Sansone made it clear he supported Buchanan's campaign, saying: "I won't pretend to be neutral. My loyalty is to Pat Buchanan
. Because his loyalty is to the United States of America."
Around this time, the Reform Party of the United States sought an injunction against the New Jersey party, seeking the prevent them from using the "Reform Party" branding.
Pat Buchanan
appeared at the party's 2000 convention at Raritan Valley Community College
.
The party was dissolved in the early 2000s and became inactive; many supporters joined either the extremely conservative America First Party of New Jersey or the Natural Law Party
, both of which are now defunct themselves.
appeared on New Jersey's ballot as an independent. He received 18,730 votes.
Ted Weill, the party's 2008 presidential candidate, did not appear on New Jersey's ballot.
was founded as the successor to the NJ Reform Party.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
of the Reform Party of the United States of America
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
.
History
In 1998 the party ran Frank C. Falzone, Beverly Kidder, and Richard Rivera for Congress.Kidder's campaign, dubbed "Mrs. Kidder for Congress," challenged Rush Holt and Michael Pappas in New Jersey's 12th congressional district
New Jersey's 12th congressional district
New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional district is currently represented by Democrat Rush D. Holt Jr. The district is known for its research centers and educational institutions such as Princeton University, Institute for Advanced Study, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb.-Voting trends:The...
. Kidder described why she ran saying: "I am running because there is a vacuum in the 12th District — and all vacuums are filled." She received 749 votes.
The party ran Pat DiNizio
Pat DiNizio
Pat DiNizio , of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is the lead singer, songwriter, and member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey....
for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 2000. His campaign tactics were unique, in that he traveled the state by trolley and often traversed the streets of New Jersey with an acoustic guitar, asking for votes through improvised songs. DiNizio said he supported the Reform Party because: "I like where they are coming from, and yes, that includes Mr. Ventura
Jesse Ventura
James George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
."
Ira Goodman, the party's Chairman, resigned in protest after Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
's allies seized control, saying that he "had enough of this nonsense going on with Pat Buchanan."
Goodman was, himself, a Reform Party congressional candidate. He earned 1,358 votes.
Goodman had tried to petition Ross Perot
Ross Perot
Henry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
to campaign a third time. USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
reported that Goodman had, initially, been supportive of Reform Party nominee Pat Buchanan, until he spoke with some of Buchanan's supporters. He later said:
"Buchanan supporters are extreme social conservatives who want to push their agenda. Only Perot can help get us back on track."
Following Goodman's resignation Buchanan's supporters did gain control over the party. Local radio host Joe Sansone became the party's new chairman. Sansone made it clear he supported Buchanan's campaign, saying: "I won't pretend to be neutral. My loyalty is to Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
. Because his loyalty is to the United States of America."
Around this time, the Reform Party of the United States sought an injunction against the New Jersey party, seeking the prevent them from using the "Reform Party" branding.
Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
appeared at the party's 2000 convention at Raritan Valley Community College
Raritan Valley Community College
Raritan Valley Community College is an accredited, coeducational, two-year, public, community college located in North Branch , New Jersey...
.
The party was dissolved in the early 2000s and became inactive; many supporters joined either the extremely conservative America First Party of New Jersey or the Natural Law Party
Natural Law Party
The Natural Law Party was a transnational party based on the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It was active in up to 74 countries, and ran candidates in at least ten. Founded in 1992, it was mostly disbanded in 2004 but continues in India and in some U.S. states.The NLP viewed "natural law" as...
, both of which are now defunct themselves.
Interim years
In 2004, Reform Party presidential candidate Ralph NaderRalph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
appeared on New Jersey's ballot as an independent. He received 18,730 votes.
Ted Weill, the party's 2008 presidential candidate, did not appear on New Jersey's ballot.
Successor
In 2009, the Reform Party of New JerseyReform Party of New Jersey
The Reform Party of New Jersey is the state party organization for New Jersey of the Reform Party of the United States of America. It is the successor to the defunct New Jersey Reform Party...
was founded as the successor to the NJ Reform Party.