2008 Green Party presidential primaries explained

Election Name:2008 Green Party presidential primaries
Country:United States
Type:primary
Ongoing:no
Party Name:no
Previous Election:2004 Green Party presidential primaries
Previous Year:2004
Election Date:February 5 – June 27, 2008
Next Election:2012 Green Party presidential primaries
Next Year:2012
Votes For Election:836 delegates to the Green National Convention[1] [2] [3]
Needed Votes:419 delegates
Candidate1:Cynthia McKinney
Home State1:Georgia
Delegate Count1:304½
States Carried1:22
Map Size:350px
Green nominee
Before Election:David Cobb
After Election:Cynthia McKinney
Color1:008000
Candidate2:Ralph Nader
Color2:000080
Delegate Count2:139
Home State2:Washington D. C.
States Carried2:3
Candidate4:Uncommitted
Color4:808080
Home State4:N/A
States Carried4:2
Delegate Count4:50
Candidate5:Jesse Johnson
Color5:FFA500
Home State5:West Virginia
States Carried5:1
Delegate Count5:27

The Green Party of the United States held primaries in several states in 2008. Cynthia McKinney won most of the primaries and was formally nominated as the party's nominee during the 2008 Green National Convention.

Candidates

Candidate Most recent positionCampaignDelegatesDelegations with plurality

Cynthia McKinney
of California
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
(1993–2003, 2005–2007)

(CampaignWebsite)
data-sort-value="304.5" (36.42%)data-sort-value="22" 22
AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, MD, ME, MI, MN, PA, NC, NE, NY, OR, RI, TN, WA, WI
data-sort-value="Mesplay, Kent"
Kent Mesplay
of California
Inspector at the Air Pollution Control
District of San Diego County

(2001–2015)

(Website)
data-sort-value="029.5" (3.52%)data-sort-value="00" None
data-sort-value="Johnson, Jesse"
Jesse Johnson
of West Virginia
2006 Senate candidate and 2004 gubernatorial candidate for the Mountain Partydata-sort-value="027" (3.23%)data-sort-value="01"

Kat Swift
of Texas
Activist, Bookkeeper
(Website)
data-sort-value="024" (2.87%)data-sort-value="00" None
data-sort-value="Ball, Jared"
Jared Ball
of Maryland
Professor and journalistdata-sort-value="0011" (1.32%)data-sort-value="00" None
data-sort-value="Brown, Elaine"
Elaine Brown
of California
Black Panther Party chairwoman
1974-1977
data-sort-value="009" (1.08%)data-sort-value="00" None
data-sort-value="Hawkins, Howie"
Howie Hawkins
of California
Activistdata-sort-value="008" (0.96%)data-sort-value="00" None

Ralph Nader
of Connecticut
Independent Presidential Candidate
(2004)

(CampaignWebsite)
data-sort-value="139" (16.6%)data-sort-value="03" 3
MA, CA, VA
data-sort-value="No preference/ Other/ Uncommitted"No preference/ Other/ UncommittedN/Adata-sort-value="050" (5.90%)data-sort-value="01" 1
AR

Schedule

Winning Projected delegates[4]
Date State Candidate Percent Total[5] [6]
February 1 Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 11 1 2 1 - 16
Uncommitted 438 56% 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 8
Ralph Nader 21,726 61% 3 7 - 3 45 3 102 5 - 168
Cynthia McKinney 1,513 57% 5 - 8 - 25 6 - - - 44
Ralph Nader 744 40% 1 1 - - 9 1 15 1 4 32
February 10Cynthia McKinney 36 81.81% 1 - - 4 16 1 - 1 - -
Cynthia McKinney 214 41% 1 - - - 7 - 1 1 6 16
March 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 2 5 1 - - - 8
March 4-April 4- - - - - - - - - - - - 12
March 3 Minnesota (caucus) Cynthia McKinney 187 60.91% colspan=10
March 11 Ralph Nader - - - - 1 2 - 3 1 1 8
March 25 Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 1 6 1 - - - 8
March 29 - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
Cynthia McKinney 77 79% 0 0 0 0 19 2 1 1 1 24
March 31 Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 10 1 - 1 - 12
April 7 Cynthia McKinney 27 75% - - - 2 6 - - - - 8
April 9 Cynthia McKinney - - - - 7.5 0.5 - - - - - 8
April 13 - May 10 Cynthia McKinney - 53% - - - 3 17 1 4 1 6 32
May 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
April 26 Cynthia McKinney 33 66% 0 0 0 1 13 1 2 - 3 20
April 27 Jesse Johnson - - - - - 6 2 - - - - 8
May 3Uncommitted - - - 1 - - 2 - - - 9 12
Georgia Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 7 - - 1 - 8
Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 4 6 3 - 3 - 16
South Carolina - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Tennessee Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 5 1 - 1 1 8
- - - - - - - - - - - - 8
May 13 Cynthia McKinney 40 58% - - - - - - - - - 8
May 17 Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 8 - - - - 8
Cynthia McKinney - - - - 1 3 1 - - - 3 8
May 31 - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
New York (state) Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 23 3 3 - 2 24
June 7 - - - - - - - - - -- - 8
Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 1 23 - -- - 24
June 8 Minnesota (convention) Cynthia McKinney colspan=2 - - - - 11 - - - 1 12
New York City Cynthia McKinney - - - - - 2 9 1 -- - 12
June 14 - - - - - - - - - -- - 12
- - - - - - - - - - - - 8
June 26–27 Cynthia McKinney - - - - - - 13 1 3 1 6 24
- Delegates not awarded by contests 112
Total United States 11 9 8 27 304½ 29½ 24 139 50 836

Results

February

Florida primary (February 1)

The Green Party held a mail-in primary in Florida on February 1.[5]

Florida Green Party presidential primary (February 1, 2008)!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates
Cynthia McKinney--11
Ralph Nader--2
Kent Mesplay--1
Kat Swift--1
Total-100%16

Arkansas primary (February 5)

Arkansas Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Uncommitted43855.94%4
Cynthia McKinney15720.05%2
Jared A. Ball8110.34%1
Kent Mesplay617.79%1
Kat Swift465.87%0
Total783100%8

California primary (February 5)

The California primary took place on February 5. Ralph Nader won, despite not running for the nomination of the party.

California Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[12]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Ralph Nader21,72660.61%102
Cynthia McKinney9,53426.60%45
Elaine Brown1,5984.46%7
Kat Swift1,0843.02%5
Kent Mesplay7272.03%3
Jesse Johnson6191.73%3
Jared Ball5561.55%3
Total35,844100%168

Illinois primary (February 5)

The Illinois primary took place on February 5.

Illinois Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[13]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney151356.62%25
Howie Hawkins46417.37%8
Kent Mesplay38414.37%6
Jared A. Ball31111.64%5
Total2,672100%44

Massachusetts primary (February 5)

The Massachusetts primary took place on February 5. Six candidates appeared on the ballot. Ralph Nader won, despite not running for the nomination of the party.

Massachusetts Green-Rainbow presidential primary, February 5, 2008[14]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Ralph Nader74439.91%32
Cynthia McKinney47425.43%-
Kat Swift603.22%-
Jared Ball422.25%-
Kent Mesplay392.09%-
Elaine Brown382.04%-
Others27325.1%-
No preference19410.41%-
Blank votes (not tallied)
Total1,941100%32

Maine caucuses (February 10)

Maine Green Party caucuses, February 10, 2008[15]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney3681.81%16
Jesse Johnson49.09%2
Kent Mesplay12.27%1
Kat Swift36.81%1
None of the above36.81%-
Total44100%-

District of Columbia primary (February 12)

The District of Columbia primary took place on February 12.

District of Columbia Green Party presidential primary, February 12, 2008[16]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney21441.07%-
Write-ins (scattered)14527.83%-
No Candidate5610.75%-
Howie Hawkins346.53%-
Kat Swift214.03%-
Jared A. Ball193.65%-
Kent Mesplay173.26%-
Jesse Johnson152.88%-
Total521100%16

March

Mississippi caucuses (March 1)

Mississippi held caucuses on March 1.[5]

North Carolina (March 1)

Mississippi held their vote on March 1.[5]

Minnesota caucuses (March 4)

The party also held a caucus and mail-in vote on March 4.[4]

The delegates were assigned by a vote at the state convention on June 8.[17]

Minnesota Green Party presidential caucuses, March 4, 2008[18]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage

Cynthia McKinney11460.96%
Undecided/No Candidate/None of the Above3317.65%
Ralph Nader1910.16%
Kent Mesplay105.35%
Kat Swift94.81%
Jesse Johnson10.53%
Write-in10.53%
Total187100%

Wisconsin Presidential Preference Convention (March 29)

Wisconsin selected their delegates at the "Wisconsin Green Party Spring Gathering and Presidential Preference Convention" on March 29. While only McKinney and Mesplay were on the ballot, several other candidates received votes as write-ins.[3]

Wisconsin Presidential Preference Convention, April 7, 2008

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney7779%19
Kent Mesplay-10%2
Ralph Nader-5%1
Kat Swift-2%1
Uncommitted-2%1
Jesse Johnson-1%0
Total100%24

April

Ohio primary (March 4–April 4)

Ohio held a vote-by-mail primary from March 4 through April 4.[19]

Rhode Island convention (April 7)

Rhode Island Green Party convention, April 7, 2008[20]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney2775%6
Jesse Johnson925%2
Total36100%8

Indiana caucuses (April 9)

The Indiana caucuses were party-run rather than state-organized.

Indiana caucuses[21]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney--7.5
Kent Mesplay--0.5
Total--8

Connecticut convention (April 26)

The Green Party of Connecticut assigned their delegates based upon a vote held at their annual meeting on April 26, 2008.[22]

Connecticut Green Party convention, April 26, 2008

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney3366%13
Ralph Nader (write-in)612%2
Kat Swift36%1
Kent Mesplay24%1
Jesse Johnson24%1
Noam Chomsky (write-in)12%-
Mike DeRosa (write-in)12%-
Al Gore (write-in)12%-
Barack Obama (write-in)12%-
Total50100%20

May

Maryland primary (May 3)

Maryland held a primary where voters could either mail-in their ballots before April 30 or vote in-person at the Maryland Green Party Annual Assembly on May 3.[23]

Maryland Green Party primary, May 3, 2008

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney6
Jesse Johnson4
Kat Swift3
Kent Mesplay3
Total-100%16

South Carolina convention (May 3)

South Carolina held a party convention on May 3.[24]

Missouri convention (May 10)

Missouri held a state convention on May 10.[5]

Pennsylvania caucuses (April 13—May 10)

The Green Party of Pennsylvania's presidential caucuses were held April 13-May 10. These caucuses were party-sponsored rather than state-run.

Green Party of Pennsylvania caucuses, April 13-May 10, 2008[25]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney-52.76%17
None of the above-14.17%5
Uncommitted-4.72%
Ralph Nader-11.02%4
Jesse Johnson8.66%3
Kent Mesplay-4.72%1
Kat Swift-2.36%1
Total-100%32

Nebraska primary (May 13)

The Nebraska primary took place on May 13.[5]

Nebraska Green Party presidential primary, May 13, 2008

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney4057.97%-
Jesse Johnson1318.84%-
Kat Swift811.59%-
Kent Mesplay811.9%-
Total69100%8

Iowa convention (May 17)

The Iowa convention took place on May 17.

Iowa Green Party presidential convention, May 17, 2008[26]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney--3
Kat Swift--2
Jesse Johnson--1
Kent Mesplay--1
Uncommitted--1
Total--8

Montana convention (May 31)

Montana appointed their eight delegates at a state convention on May 31.[27]

New York state primary (May 31)

The New York Green Party ballots were publicly counted on May 31. The primary was a party-run mail-in primary.

This primary awarded 28 of New York's 40 delegates. New York City held a separate primary to award the remaining 12 delegates.[28]

New York state primary,[29]

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney--21
Kent Mesplay--3
Ralph Nader-3
Jesse Johnson--0
Uncommitted-2
Total--28

June

Minnesota convention (June 8)

The Minnesota party previously held a caucus and mail-in vote on March 4.[4] The delegates, however, were assigned by a vote at the state convention on June 8.[17]

Minnesota Green Party convention, June 8, 2008

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney--11
Undecided/No Candidate/None of the Above--1
Ralph Nader--0
Kent Mesplay--0
Kat Swift--0
Jesse Johnson--0
Write-in--N/A
Total-100%12

New Mexico primary (June 8)

The New Mexico Green Party held its vote on June 8. A total of seventeen votes were cast, with 11 going to McKinney, 4 votes going to "none of the above", and 1 vote each going to Kat Swift, Kent Mesplay, and Jesse Johnson.[30]

New Mexico Green Party presidential Primary, June 8, 2018

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney1164.7%-
Kat Swift15.9%-
Kent Mesplay15.9%-
Jesse Johnson15.9%-
None of the above423.5%-
Total17100%-

New York City primary (June 8)

A second vote awarding New York's remaining 12 delegates was held on June 8 in New York City to appoint a remaining 12 of New York's delegates.[28]

New York City primary Green Party presidential Primary, May 31, 2008

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney--9
Jesse Johnson--2
Kent Mesplay--1
Total--12

Texas convention (June 14)

The selection of Texas' delegation took place on June 14 at the state Green convention, held at S.H.A.P.E.'s Harambee Center in Houston.[31]

Michigan convention (June 26–27)

The Michigan convention took place June 26–27 at the Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall, Michigan.[32]

Michigan Green Party presidential convention, July 26–27, 2008

!Candidate!Votes!Percentage!National delegates

Cynthia McKinney-64%13
Ralph Nader-17%3
Kat Swift--1
Kent Mesplay--1
Total--19

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Green Party LogoInformation for media covering the Green Party's 2008 National Nominating Convention in Chicago, July 10-13 . . May 14, 2008 . gpus.org . Green Party of the United States . February 25, 2017 . the party's 836 state delegates . August 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190805002702/https://gpus.org/other/press/pr-national.php?ID=60 . dead .
  2. Web site: Green Party National Convention Roll Call Vote Saturday 12 July 2008 . . July 30, 2008 . www.thegreenpapers.com. The Green Papers . April 6, 2017.
  3. Web site: Cynthia McKinney Wins Big in Wisconsin . . March 29, 2008 . www.gpus.org . Green Party of the United States . April 4, 2017.
  4. Web site: 2008 Green Party Presidential Nomination Delegate Count . 2018-05-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080716191207/http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/Delegate-Vote-Count.php . 2008-07-16.
  5. Web site: Size of State / Caucus Delegations . 2018-05-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080528204639/http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/Delegation-Size.php . 2008-05-28.
  6. Web site: Green Party National Convention Roll Call Vote Saturday 12 July 2008 . 2018-05-13.
  7. Web site: Major Third Party 2008 Presidential Primary . . 2008 . www.thegreenpapers.com . The Green Papers . February 25, 2017.
  8. Web site: 2008 Arkansas Primary Vote Totals.
  9. Web site: Federal Elections 2008 Election Results for the U.S. President, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives . . www.fec.gov . . October 1, 2023.
  10. Web site: Statewide Results by Contest . . 2008 . www.fec.gov . . April 6, 2017.
  11. Web site: The Green Party's Internal Democracy Problem: Presidential Politics . Giese . Chuck . June 20, 2008 . www.dissedentvoice.org . Dissident Voice . April 7, 2008.
  12. Web site: 2008 California Green Primary.
  13. Web site: 2008 Illinois Primary Vote Totals.
  14. Web site: 2008 President Green-rainbow Primary. Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Government of Massachusetts. February 5, 2008. February 5, 2012.
  15. Web site: 2008 Green Party Presidential Nomination Delegate Count . 2018-05-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080611181920/http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/Delegate-Vote-Count.php . 2008-06-11.
  16. Web site: 2008 D.C. Primary Vote Totals . 2020-05-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170312050829/https://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=%2Fpdf_files%2FCertified_Feb_Election_Results.pdf . 2017-03-12 . dead .
  17. Web site: 2008 President Green convention . June 8, 2012.
  18. Web site: Minnesota Secretary of State: Election Night Reporting . caucusresults.sos.state.mn.us . 11 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081029235031/http://caucusresults.sos.state.mn.us/ResultsPreferentialBallot.aspx?ElectionID=1&PartyID=5&ID=7 . 29 October 2008 . dead.
  19. Web site: Vote in the Primary . Green Party of Ohio . www.ohiogreens.org . 11 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080516042858/http://www.ohiogreens.org/ . 16 May 2008 . dead.
  20. News: Reynolds . Mark . April 8, 2008 . Local Green Party backs ex-Ga. legislator for President . . Providence, Rhode Island .
  21. Web site: Indiana votes McKinney. Mesplay . Jacoy. Greg. June 13, 2008. February 25, 2017.
  22. Web site: April 26, 2008 :: Annual Meeting . . www,ctgreenparty.org . Green Party of Connecticut . April 6, 2017.
  23. Web site: Maryland Green Party . www.mdgreens.org . 11 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080829213559/http://www.mdgreens.org/primary . 29 August 2008 . dead.
  24. Web site: 2008 Presidential Primary Dates and Candidate filing deadlines for Ballot access . Federal Election Commission . August 14, 2008.
  25. Web site: LATEST NEWS . . 2008 . www.greenparty.pa.org . Green Party of Pennsylvania . April 7, 2017 .
  26. Web site: 2008 President Green convention . May 17, 2012.
  27. Web site: Green Party of New York State Convention . May 30, 2008 . April 10, 2017.
  28. Web site: Green Party of New York State Convention .
  29. Web site: Green Party of New York State Primary .
  30. Web site: NM and NYC results are in . www.greenpartywatch.org . . May 10, 2008 . May 10, 2018.
  31. Web site: Green Party of Texas 2008 State Convention (updated) Green Party of Texas . www.txgreens.org . Texas Greens . https://web.archive.org/web/20080827162949/http://www.txgreens.org/drupal/node/186 . 2008-08-27.
  32. Web site: Green Party of Michigan State Convention . Hardy. Ronald. June 28, 2008. February 25, 2017.