List of Communist Party USA election results explained

This is a list of members of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) who have run for elected office in the United States.

Currently, CPUSA does not often field candidates,^[1] because it wants to avoid spoiling progressive Democratic candidates.^[2] In 2021, CPSUA chair Joe Sims said, "We really can’t be a political party if we don’t run candidates".^[3]

CPUSA has run candidates on an explicit Communist ticket, on tickets of third parties (such as the Nonpartisan League), and on Democratic tickets. See also: List of Communist Party USA members who have held office in the United States.

, no CPUSA member has been elected to federal office, one has been elected to state office, and several have been elected to local government.

Congressional elections

Year	Candidate	Chamber	State	District	Votes	%	Result	Notes	Ref
1992	Denise Winebrenner Edwards	House	Pennsylvania	18	3,650		Lost	ran as independent	^[4]
1992	John Rummel	House	New Jersey	13	1,525		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1988	Mark Almberg	House	Illinois	8	1,937		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[5]
1988	John Rummel	House	New Jersey	14	442		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1984	Laura Ross	House	Massachusetts	8	15810		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[6]
1984	Ishmael Flory	Senate	Illinois	At-Large	4,802		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[7]
1984	Lucille Bieger	Senate	Kansas	At-Large	9,380		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1984	Samuel Webb	Senate	Michigan	At-Large	1,196		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1982	Joelle Fishman	House	Connecticut	3	696		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[8]
1982	Joelle Fishman	House	Connecticut	3	696		Lost	ran as Citizens Party candidate	^[9]
1980	Charles Wilson	Senate	Illinois	At-Large	11,453		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[10]
1980	William Scott	Senate	New York	At-Large	4,161		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1980	Frank Kinces	Senate	Pennsylvania	At-Large	3,334		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1980	Rick Nagin	Senate	Ohio	At-Large	42,410		Lost	ran as independent
1980	Joelle Fishman	House	Connecticut	3	2711		Lost	ran as Citizens Party candidate
1978	Joelle Fishman	House	Connecticut	3	3,068		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[11]
1976	Joelle Fishman	House	Connecticut	3	2,947		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[12]
1976	Matt Savola	Senate	Minnesota	At-Large	2,214		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[13]
1976	Herbert Aptheker	Senate	New York	At-Large	25,141		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1976	Frank Kinces	Senate	Pennsylvania	At-Large	2,097		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1976	Margaret Cann	Senate	Rhode Island	At-Large	912		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1974	Ishmael Flory	Senate	Illinois	At-Large	5,873		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate

Statewide elections

Year	Candidate	Office	State	District	Votes	%	Result	Notes	Ref
1990	Evelina Alarcón	Secretary of State	California	At-Large	144,577		Lost	ran as Peace and Freedom Party candidate	^[14]
1986	Helen Kruth	Treasurer	Minnesota	At-Large	13,817		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[15]
1985	George Fishman	Governor	New Jersey	At-Large	1,901		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[16]
1984	Marcia Davis	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	56289		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3
1984	Richard Giovanoni	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	50724		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3
1984	Elsie Rosado	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	37,311		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3
1982	Richard Giovanoni	House	Illinois	7	530		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1982	Helen Kruth	Treasurer	Minnesota	At-Large	28,131		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[17]
1980	Barbara Browne	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	46,956		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3	^[18]
1980	Mark Almberg	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	22,793		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3
1980	Richard Rozoff	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	22,406		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate; vote for 3
1978	Helen Kruth	Auditor	Minnesota	At-Large	22,576		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[19]
1976	Ishmael Flory	Governor	Illinois	At-Large	10,091		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1976	Theodore Pearson	Attorney General	Illinois	At-Large	11,154		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1976	Frances Gabow	Secretary of State	Illinois	At-Large	8,271		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1976	Charles Hunter	Comptroller	Illinois	At-Large	10,992		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1976	Mark Almberg	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	25,641		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1976	Altherna Medith	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	18,948		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1976	Jack Kling	Trustee	Illinois	At-Large	17,414		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate
1972	Ishmael Flory	Governor	Illinois	At-Large	4,592		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate

State legislature elections

Year	Candidate	Office	State	District	Votes	%	Result	Notes	Ref
2006	Kenneth Jones	Senator	Missouri	4	559		Lost	Democratic primary	^[20]
1996	David Mirtz	Assembly	New York	80	265		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[21]
1994	Mark Almberg	Senate	Illinois	17	21		Lost	write-in
1992	David Mirtz	Assembly	New York	71	575		Lost	ran as "Tax the Rich" candidate	^[22]

Local elections

Year	Candidate	Office	City	District	Votes	%	Result	Notes	Ref
2019	Denise Winebrenner Edwards	Borough Council	Wilkinsburg	3	922		Won	ran as Democratic candidate and open Communist Party member	^[23]
2019	Tony Pecinovsky	Alderperson	St. Louis	14	622		Lost	Democratic primary	^[24] ^[25]
2019	Wahsayah Whitebird	Alderperson	Ashland	6	52		Won	nonpartisan election	^[26] ^[27] ^[28]
2017	Denise Winebrenner Edwards	Borough Council	Wilkinsburg	3	613		Won	ran as Democratic candidate and open Communist Party member; opponent was write-in; 2-year seat
2017	Denise Winebrenner Edwards	Borough Council	Wilkinsburg	3	547		Lost	ran as Democratic candidate and open Communist Party member; vote for 2, 3rd place	^[29] ^[30] ^[31]
2013	Dominic Giannone III	City Council	Weymouth	1	77		Lost	nonpartisan primary, did not advance to general	^[32] ^[33] ^[34] ^[35] ^[36]
2005	Denise Winebrenner Edwards	Borough Council	Wilkinsburg				Won		^[37]
2002	Gary Dotterman	City Council	Boston	9			Lost	nonpartisan election	^[38] ^[39]
2001	Denise Winebrenner Edwards	Borough Council	Wilkinsburg				Won		^[40]
1999	Kenneth Jones	Alderperson	St. Louis	22	1,231		Won	ran as Democratic candidate and open Communist Party member
1997	Denise Winebrenner Edwards	Borough Council	Wilkinsburg				Won
1995	Kenneth Jones	Alderperson	St. Louis	22	767		Won	ran as independent
1993	Gary Dotterman	City Council	Boston	At-large	5,404		Lost	nonpartisan primary, did not advance to general	^[41]
1991	Kenneth Jones	Alderperson	St. Louis	22	1,501		Won	ran as independent
1987	Kenneth Jones	Alderperson	St. Louis	22	1,187		Won	ran as independent
1983	Kenneth Jones	Alderperson	St. Louis	22	1,566		Won	ran as independent	^[42] ^[43]
1977	Joelle Fishman	Mayor	New Haven	At-Large	417		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[44]
1975	Joelle Fishman	Mayor	New Haven	At-Large	811		Lost	ran as CPUSA candidate	^[45]

See also

• Other lists:
  • List of socialist members of the United States Congress
  • List of elected socialist mayors in the United States
  • List of Democratic Socialists of America public officeholders
  • List of Green politicians who have held office in the United States
• History of the socialist movement in the United States
• History of the Communist Party USA

Notes and References

1. Web site: Does the CPUSA run candidates for elected office? What is the history of the CPUSA in presidential elections? . April 26, 2016 . Communist Party USA .
2. Web site: Communist election strategy, here and now . Michael . Arney . April 24, 2019 . Communist Party USA .
3. Web site: It's time to run candidates: A call for discussion and action . April 9, 2021 . Communist Party USA .
4. Web site: Federal Elections 92 . . June 1993 . live . December 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202162939/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections92.pdf.
5. Web site: Federal Elections 88 . . May 1989 . live . December 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202162943/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections88.pdf.
6. Web site: Federal Elections 84 . . May 1985 . live . December 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202162947/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections84.pdf.
7. Web site: Federal Elections 84 . . May 1985 . live . December 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202162947/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections84.pdf.
8. Web site: Federal Elections 82 . . 1983 . live . December 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202162947/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections82.pdf.
9. Web site: Federal Elections 82 . . 1983 . live . December 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202162947/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections82.pdf.
10. Web site: Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of 1980 . . April 1981 . live . January 1, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070101000000/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1980election.pdf.
11. Web site: Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of 1978 . . April 1979 . live . January 1, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070101000000/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1978election.pdf.
12. Web site: Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of 1976 . . April 1977 . live . January 1, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070101000000/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf.
13. Web site: Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of 1976 . . April 1977 . live . January 1, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070101000000/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf.
14. Web site: Statement of Vote General Election November 6, 1990 . California Secretary of State .
15. Web site: Treasurer, 1986 Election . University of Minnesota Libraries .
16. Web site: Votes Cast for the Office of Governor of the State of New Jersey . Secretary of State of New Jersey . 1985 .
17. Web site: Treasurer, 1982 Election . University of Minnesota Libraries .
18. Web site: Downloadable Vote Totals . Illinois State Board of Elections .
19. Web site: Auditor, 1978 Election . University of Minnesota Libraries .
20. Web site: All Results Official Election Returns State of Missouri Primary Election Primary Election Tuesday, August 08, 2006 . Missouri Board of State Canvassers . August 23, 2006 .
21. Web site: 1996 Nov 5 • General Member of Assembly • State Assembly District 80 . New York State Board of Elections .
22. Web site: NY Assembly 71 . Our Campaigns .
23. Web site: 2019 General Election . Allegheny County .
24. News: Labor-backed candidate Tony Pecinovsky scores 48 percent in St. Louis race . March 15, 2019 . Maicol David . Lynch . Roberta . Wood . People's World . .
25. Web site: Election Summary Report Primary Municipal Election St. Louis, Missouri March 5, 2019 . St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners . March 11, 2019 .
26. Web site: Johnson . Earchiel . Native American communist topples incumbent council president in Wisconsin town . People's World . live . 7 May 2019 . 13 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211213195309/https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/native-american-communist-topples-incumbent-council-president-in-wisconsin-town/.
27. Web site: Winger . Richard . Communist Party Member Elected to City Council of Ashland, Wisconsin . Ballot Access News . May 7, 2019 . live . January 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210131053042/https://ballot-access.org/2019/05/07/communist-party-member-elected-to-city-council-of-ashland-wisconsin/.
28. Web site: 2019 Spring Election, City & Village . County of Ashland . April 2, 2019 .
29. Web site: 2017 General Election . Allegheny County .
30. Web site: Pecinovsky . Tony . May 8, 2020 . 100 years of CPUSA: A critical reply to Jacobin . Communist Party USA . And in 1997, Denise Winebrenner Edwards was elected to the Wilkinsburg, PA, city council..
31. Web site: December 5, 1997 . Ballot Access News . Ballot Access News . On November 4, Denise Winebrenner Edwards was elected to the Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania borough council. Although she was a Democratic Party nominee, she is also a leader of the Communist Party, a fact which was well known during the campaign..
32. News: Schiavone . Christian . Weymouth Town Council Candidate Proud to Be a Communist . The Patriot Ledger . August 28, 2013 .
33. News: Communist sets his sights on Weymouth Town Council seat . John . Laidler . September 12, 2013 . Boston Globe.
34. Web site: Dominic Giannone III . Ballotpedia .
35. News: Haugh, Montanez advance in Weymouth Town Council race . Christian . Schiavone . September 18, 2013 . The Patriot Ledger .
36. Web site: Precinct By Precinct Weymouth Election Results . Tony . Catinella . September 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151121163647/http://patch.com/massachusetts/weymouth/precinct-by-precinct-weymouth-election-results . 2015-11-21 .
37. News: California voters rebel against corporate agenda . November 11, 2005 . People's World . .
38. News: Dotterman for Boston City Council . November 7, 2002 . Gary . Dotterman . People's World . Communist Party USA .
39. News: Mao, more than ever . Mike . Miliard . July 1–7, 2005 . The Boston Phoenix .
40. News: World Editorial Board member wins election . November 10, 2001 . People's World . .
41. News: Remembering Gary Dotterman: Anti-racist Oklahoman, Vietnam vet for peace, and irrepressible gay Communist . June 22, 2023 . C.J. . Atkins . People's World . Communist Party USA .
42. News: Tony . Pecinovsky . Union members serving public interest . July 4, 2002 . People's World . Communist Party USA .
43. Web site: Kenneth Jones . Our Campaigns .
44. Web site: Mayor of New Haven . Our Campaigns .
45. Web site: Mayor of New Haven . Our Campaigns .