The Oregon Progressive Party is a minor political party in the U.S. state of Oregon. Originally called the Oregon Peace Party, it was accepted as the sixth minor statewide political party in Oregon on August 22, 2008. This allowed the party to nominate Ralph Nader as its candidate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. In September 2009, the party changed its name to the Oregon Progressive Party, to "more accurately reflects the party's positions" on issues besides peace, including "social justice, consumer advocacy, environmental protection, and worker's rights."
Membership
Following the renaming of the party to the Oregon Progressive Party in September 2009, membership in the Oregon Peace Party ceased to exist by Oregon law. Party leaders are encouraging its members to re-register with the renamed Oregon Progressive Party. During May 2010 the party had 391 members and in June 2010 the number had grown to 817 members. Currently, the number of registered progressives stands at approximately 1900. The Progressive Party has nominated a slate of candidates for the 2010 general election, including one Democrat, Peter DeFazio (a 12-term member of Congress from Oregon's 4th Congressional District).
Platform
The party's 2010 platform outlines the following positions and policies:
- Political campaign contribution limits for state and local elections
- Creation of a state "Bank of Oregon" modeled on the state Bank of North Dakota
- Making the current bicameral Oregon State Legislature a unicameral legislature like the Nebraska Legislature by abolishing the Oregon State Senate and folding its duties into the Oregon House of Representatives
- Support legal same-sex marriage in the state
- Creation of a single-payer health care system either at the state level or national level
- End of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
- A balanced federal budget, except in times of national emergency
- Usage of 100% renewable energy without any fossil fuels, offshore oil drilling, or nuclear power
- Cut the military budget of the United States
- End of the federal War on drugs
See also
- Ralph Nader presidential campaign, 2008
- Pacific Green Party, nominated Nader for Oregon ballot in 2000
- Ballot access
- Politics of Oregon
Footnotes
External links
- Oregon Progressive Party (official website)
