American Independent Party

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File:1969-AIP-party-card.jpg
Wallace's 1969 AIP party card, showing annual dues of $3.00 for the organization

The American Independent Party (AIP) is an American political party that was established in 1967. The American Independent Party is best known for its nomination of Democratic then-former Governor George Wallace of Alabama, who carried five states in the 1968 presidential election running against Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey on a populist, hard-line anti-Communist, pro-"law and order" platform, appealing to working-class white voters. Wallace was best known for his staunch segregationist stances. In 1976, the party split into the modern American Independent Party and the American Party. From 1992 until 2008, the party was the California affiliate of the national Constitution Party. Its exit from the Constitution Party led to a leadership dispute during the 2008 election.

History

Wallace campaign and early history

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In 1967, the AIP was founded by Bill Shearer and his wife, Eileen Knowland Shearer. It nominated George C. Wallace (Democrat) as its presidential candidate and retired U.S. Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay (Republican) as the vice-presidential candidate. Wallace ran on every state ballot in the election, though he did not represent the American Independent Party in all fifty states: in Connecticut, for instance, he was listed on the ballot as the nominee of the "George Wallace Party." The Wallace/LeMay ticket received 13.5 percent of the popular vote and 46 electoral votes from the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama. No third-party candidate has won more than one electoral vote since the 1968 election.[1][2]

In 1969, representatives from forty states established the American Party as the successor to the American Independent Party. In some places, such as Connecticut, the American Party was constituted as the American Conservative Party. (The modern American Conservative Party, founded in 2008, is unrelated to the Wallace-era party.) In March 1969, the party ran a candidate in a special election in Tennessee's 8th congressional district in northwestern Tennessee, where Wallace had done well the previous November, to replace Congressman Robert "Fats" Everett, who had died in office. Their candidate, William J. Davis, out-polled Republican Leonard Dunavant, with 16,375 votes to Dunavant's 15,773; but the race was carried by moderate Democrat Ed Jones, with 33,028 votes (47% of the vote).

The party flag, adopted on August 30, 1970, depicts an eagle holding a group of arrows in its left talons, over a compass rose, with a banner which reads "The American Independent Party" at the eagle's base.

The American Party had gained ballot access in Tennessee in 1970 as the result of George Wallace's strong (second-place) showing in the state in 1968, easily crossing the 5 percent threshold required, and held a primary election which nominated a slate of candidates including businessman Douglas Heinsohn for governor. However, neither Heinsohn nor any other candidate running on the American Party line achieved the 5 percent threshold in the 1970 Tennessee election, and it likewise failed to do so in 1972, meaning that the party lost its newfound ballot access, which as of 2025 it has never regained.[3]

In 1972, the American Party nominated Republican Congressman John G. Schmitz of California for president and Tennessee author Thomas Jefferson Anderson, both members of the John Birch Society, for vice president, winning the party over 1.1 million votes, the highest vote share the party has ever achieved since Wallace's run.[4] That year, Hall Lyons, a petroleum industry executive and former Republican, ran as the AP nominee in Louisiana for the United States Senate but finished last in a four-way race dominated by the Democratic nominee, J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.

After the 1976 split

In 1976, the American Independent Party split into the more moderate American Party, which included more northern conservatives and Schmitz supporters, and the American Independent Party, which focused on the Deep South. Both parties have nominated candidates for the presidency and other offices. Neither the American Party nor the American Independent Party has had national success, and the American Party has not achieved ballot status in any state since 1996.

In the early 1980s, Bill Shearer led the American Independent Party into the Populist Party. From 1992 to 2008, the American Independent Party was the California affiliate of the national Constitution Party, formerly the U.S. Taxpayers Party, whose founders included the late Howard Phillips.

2007 leadership dispute

A split in the American Independent Party occurred during the 2008 presidential campaign, with one faction recognizing Jim King as chairman of the AIP with the other recognizing Ed Noonan as chairman. Noonan's faction claims the old AIP main website while the King organization claims the AIP's blog. King's group met in Los Angeles on June 28–29, elected King to state chair.[5] Ed Noonan's faction, which included 8 of the 17 AIP officers, held a convention in Sacramento on July 5, 2008. Issues in the split were U.S. foreign policy and the influence of Constitution Party founder Howard Phillips on the state party.[6]

The King group elected to stay in the Constitution Party and supported its presidential candidate, Chuck Baldwin. It was not listed as the "Qualified Political Party" by the California Secretary of State and Baldwin's name was not printed on the state's ballots.[7] King's group sued for ballot access[8] and their case was dismissed without prejudice.[9]

The Noonan group voted to pull out of the Constitution Party and join a new party called America's Party, put together by perennial candidate and former United Nations Ambassador Alan Keyes as a vehicle for his own presidential campaign.[6] Since Noonan was on record with the California Secretary of State as (outgoing) party chairman, Keyes was added to the state ballots as the AIP candidate.[10] This group elected Markham Robinson as its new chair at the convention.

Presidential tickets

Year Presidential
nominee[11] 		Home state Previous positions Vice presidential
nominee 		Home state Previous positions Votes References and notes
1968 File:George C Wallace.jpg
George Wallace
(campaign) 		File:Flag of Alabama.svg Alabama Governor of Alabama
(1963–1967)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Curtis LeMay (USAF).jpg
Curtis LeMay 		File:Flag of California.svg California Chief of Staff of the Air Force (1961–1965)
Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (1957–1961)
Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command (1948–1957)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		9,906,473 (13.5%)
46 EV 		Wallace and LeMay carried five states, receiving 45 electoral votes, plus one from a North Carolina faithless elector. This ticket remains, as of the 2024 United States presidential election, the last third party duo to win at least one state's entire electoral votes.
1972 File:John G. Schmitz.jpg
John G. Schmitz 		File:Flag of California.svg California Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 35th district
(1970–1973)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Thomas J. Anderson.jpg
Thomas J. Anderson 		File:Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee Magazine publisherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1,099,482 (1.4%)
0 EV
1976 File:Lester Maddox.jpg
Lester Maddox 		File:Flag of the State of Georgia (1956–2001).svg Georgia Governor of Georgia (1967–1971)
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia (1971–1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:William Dyke.jpg
William Dyke 		File:Flag of Wisconsin.svg Wisconsin Mayor of Madison (1969–1973)
Candidate for Governor of Wisconsin (1974)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		170,531 (0.2%)
0 EV
1980 File:John Rarick.jpg
John Rarick 		File:Flag of Louisiana.svg Louisiana Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 6th district
(1967–1975)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Eileen Shearer File:Flag of California.svg California Co-founder of the American Independent PartyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 41,268 (<0.1%)
0 EV
1984 File:Robert E. Richards.jpg
Bob Richards
(Populist) 		File:Flag of Texas.svg Texas Retired Olympic athlete (1948; 1952; 1956)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". File:Maureen K Salaman.jpg
Maureen K. Salaman 		File:Flag of California.svg California Writer, nutritionistScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 66,336 (0.1%)
0 EV
1988 James C. Griffin File:Flag of Texas.svg Texas Nominee for United States Senator from California (1980)
Nominee for Governor of California (1982)
Nominee for Lieutenant Governor of California (1986)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Charles Morsa File:Flag of California.svg California 27,818 (<0.1%)
0 EV
1992 File:Howard Phillips -v2.JPG
Howard Phillips
(U.S. Taxpayers') 		File:Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia Chairman of The Conservative Caucus
Candidate for United States Senator from Massachusetts (1978)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Albion W. Knight File:Flag of Florida.svg Florida Presiding Bishop of the United Episcopal Church of North America
(1989–1992)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		43,369 (<0.1%)
0 EV
1996 File:Howard Phillips -v2.JPG
Howard Phillips
(U.S. Taxpayers') 		File:Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia Chairman of The Conservative Caucus
Candidate for United States Senator from Massachusetts (1978)
Nominee for President of the United States (1992)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Herbert Titus File:Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon Lawyer, writerScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 184,656 (0.2%)
0 EV
2000 File:Howard Phillips -v2.JPG
Howard Phillips
(Constitution) 		File:Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia Chairman of The Conservative Caucus
Candidate for United States Senator from Massachusetts (1978)
Nominee for President of the United States (1992; 1996)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Curtis Frazier File:Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri Candidate for United States Senator from Missouri (1998)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 98,020 (0.1%)
0 EV 		[12]
2004 Michael Peroutka
(Constitution) 		File:Flag of Maryland.svg Maryland Lawyer
Founder of the Institute on the ConstitutionScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:CBaldwin08 (cropped).jpg
Chuck Baldwin 		File:Flag of Florida.svg Florida Pastor, radio hostScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 143,630 (0.1%)
0 EV
2008 File:Alan Keyes speech.jpg
Alan Keyes
(campaign)

(America's Independent)

Template:Country data New York Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
(1985–1987)
Candidate for United States Senator from Maryland (1988; 1992)
Candidate for President of the United States (1996; 2000)
Candidate for United States Senator from Illinois (2004)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Wiley Drake File:Flag of California.svg California Minister, radio hostScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 47,694 (<0.1%)
0 EV
2012
Tom Hoefling
(America's) 		File:Flag of Iowa.svg Iowa ActivistScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Robert Ornelas File:Flag of California.svg California ActivistScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 40,641 (<0.1%)
0 EV
2016 Trump smiling
Donald Trump
(campaign)

(Republican)

Template:Country data New York Businessman
Chairman of The Trump Organization (1971–2017)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		File:Mike Pence official portrait.jpg
Mike Pence 		File:Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana
(2001–2013)
Governor of Indiana (2013–2017)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		62,984,825 (46.1%)
304 EV 		According to CNN, "Trump did not seek the nomination of the American Independent Party and did not have to take any formal steps to accept it. According to Sam Mahood, the press secretary for California Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D), California law permits one party to nominate the presidential candidate of another party and to have that choice reflected on the ballot. California election code does not require a presidential candidate who is already on the ballot to consent to receiving the nomination of another qualified political party."[13]
2020 File:Roque De La Fuente (cropped).jpg
Rocky De La Fuente
(Alliance; Reform) 		File:Flag of California.svg California Businessman and perennial candidateScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". File:Kanye West at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival-2 (cropped).jpg
Kanye West

(campaign)
(Independent; Birthday)

File:Flag of Wyoming.svg Wyoming Rapper, producer and fashion designer;
2020 presidential candidateScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		60,160 (0.34%)
0 EV 		[14]
2024 File:Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
(Independent campaign) 		File:Flag of California.svg California Environmental lawyerScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
File:Nicole Shanahan (54233355738) (cropped).jpg

Nicole Shanahan 		File:Flag of California.svg California AttorneyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 681,450 (0.46%)
0 EV 		Suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.[15]

Following the split within the American Independent Party into factions led by Jim King and Ed Noonan, the Noonan faction has maintained control over the party's operations and ballot access in California. The party did not nominate Chuck Baldwin, the 2008 Constitution Party presidential candidate, nor Virgil Goode, the 2012 nominee, and both candidates were unable to secure independent positions on the California presidential ballot.

California gubernatorial candidates

Electoral results of American Independent Party candidates in California gubernatorial elections
Year Candidate # Votes % Votes
1970 Bill Shearer 65,847 1.01
1974 Edmon V. Kaiser 83,869 1.34
1978 Theresa F. Dietrich 67,103 0.97
1982 James C. Griffin 56,249 0.71
1986 Gary V. Miller 50,547 0.68
1990 Jerome McCready 139,661 1.81
1994 Jerome McCready 133,888 1.55
1998 Nathan Johnson 37,964 0.45
2002 Reinhold Gulke 128,035 1.71
2003 Charles Pineda, Jr. 1,104 0.01
2003 Diane Beall Templin 1,067 0.01
2006 Edward C. Noonan 61,901 0.71
2010 Chelene Nightingale 166,312 1.65
2014 No CandidateTemplate:Efn N/A N/A
2018 No CandidateTemplate:Efn N/A N/A
2021 No CandidateTemplate:Efn N/A N/A

List of chairs and vice chairs

  • Bill Shearer: 1967–1999
  • Nathan Johnson: 1999–2002
  • Jim King:Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 2002–2004
  • Nancy Spirkoff: 2004–2006
  • Edward C. Noonan/Mark Seidenberg: 2006–2008
  • Disputed: Jim King and Markham Robinson claim chairmanship: 2008–2024
  • Victor Marani/James Mallamace: 2024–current[16]

California membership issues

In 2016, approximately 3% of California's 17.2 million voters were registered with the American Independent Party (AIP), ranking it as the third-largest political party in the state by registration, following the Democratic (43%) and Republican (28%) parties and those who registered as "no party preference" (24%).[17]

However, it has long been proposed by political analysts that the party, which has received very few votes in recent California elections, maintains its state ballot status because people join the American Independent Party mistakenly believing that they are registering as "independent" voters.[18][19]

A 2016 Los Angeles Times investigation suggested that a significant number of voters registered with the AIP may have done so under the misconception that they were registering as independent, unaffiliated voters, which is officially designated as "no party preference" in California. A poll of voters registered with the AIP indicated that a majority may not have intended to register with the party. The investigation highlighted potential confusion caused by the party's name.[20][17]

A 2016 poll conducted of California voters registered with the AIP showed that 73% identify themselves as "no affiliation" and 3% identify themselves as "undecided."[17] Upon learning the AIP platform, 50% of registered AIP voters wanted to leave the AIP.[17] A Times review of voting records revealed a wide array of Californians have fallen victim to this error, including celebrities such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Demi Moore, Emma Stone, and Kaley Cuoco.[17] Similarly, in 2008, Jennifer Siebel, then-fiancée of San Francisco's former Democratic mayor Gavin Newsom, attempted to change her party affiliation from Republican to unaffiliated, but "checked the American Independent box thinking that was what independent voters were supposed to do."[21]

This confusion results in accidentally registered AIP members being unable to vote in presidential primary elections and, in prior years, in all partisan primary elections other than those of the AIP.[18][17] A number of California registrars of voters had expressed concern over the confusion that the party's name causes.[17] Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, said that the California voter form was "confusing and somewhat misleading."[20] However, since the advent of the "top-two" blanket primary in California in 2012, all voters may participate in non-presidential primary elections where nominations for public office are to be made. Presidential nominations and elections of members of party county central committees are still restricted to voters registered in the party where such contests are held, but a party may choose to allow voters with No Party Preference to vote in their presidential primary.[22] In addition, voters are able to re-register to the party of their choosing on election day via election day registration, mitigating the issue further.[23]

To address the confusion, the State Legislature passed SB 696 in 2019 to prohibit political parties in California from having the word "independent" within their names. The bill was specifically targeted at the American Independent Party. However, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill.[24]

References

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  1. ↑ Chrostopher D. Rodkey, "Third Parties" in Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints and Voices (eds. Roger Chapman & James Ciment: 2d ed: Routledge, 2015), p. 665.
  2. ↑ ""Conservative third parties since the New Deal" in The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History (Vol. 1) (eds. April Kazin, Rebecca Edwards & Adam Rothman: Princeton University Press, 2010), p. 195.
  3. ↑ Tennessee Blue Book, Tennessee Secretary of State, 1971, 1973 "Elections"
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Quirk, Cody. "AIP holds its State Convention, endorses Chuck Baldwin and reaffirms CP affiliation Script error: No such module "webarchive".", Third Party Watch, June 30, 2008.
  6. ↑ a b Bock, Alan. "American-Independent split Script error: No such module "webarchive".". Orange County Register Horserace '08. Wednesday, July 2, 2008.
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Quirk, Cody. "Statement from Jim King, AIP Chairman Script error: No such module "webarchive".", Third Party Watch, July 22, 2008.
  9. ↑ Winger, Richard. "Keyes Wins California Lawsuit on Procedural Issue", Ballot Access News, August 26, 2008.
  10. ↑ Garris, Eric. "California Ballot: Alan Keyes Replaces Chuck Baldwin on American Independent Party Ticket Script error: No such module "webarchive".", Third Party Watch, July 22, 2008.
  11. ↑ And political party if different from the AIP.
  12. ↑ Joseph Sobran was the original vice presidential nominee, but he withdrew from the ticket and was replaced by Frazier.
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b c d e f g John Myers, Christine Mai-Duc & Ben Welsh, Are you an independent voter? You aren't if you checked this box, Los Angeles Times (April 17, 2016).
  18. ↑ a b Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  19. ↑ Voting at the Political Fault Line: California's Experiment With the Blanket Primary (eds. Bruce E. Cain & Elisabeth R. Gerber, University of California Press, 2002), p. 219. Template:ISBN.
  20. ↑ a b Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Notes

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External links

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