Socialists participate in the electoral process to present socialist alternatives. Beginning with the candidacy of Eugene V. Debs in 1900, the Socialist Party ran a presidential ticket in every U.S. presidential election but one until 1956. Since the Socialist Party was re-constituted in 1973, we have once again run a presidential ticket in every election but one. Socialist Party presidential campaigns have reached millions of Americans and have been a crucial component of the American socialist movement.

Socialist Party presidential campaigns allow our party and movement to reach out to a larger audience than it can reach in any other way. Whether through speaking engagements, interviews, rallies, the internet, campaign literature, coverage in national, international, and local media throughout the country, debates, or simply our presence at the top of the ballot, Socialist Party presidential campaigns are an invaluable method to educate the public both about the socialist movement and the bankruptcy of the capitalist parties and their system. Socialist Party presidential campaigns are additionally a central means of activating and growing the Socialist Party by both providing a single effort that all Socialist Party members throughout the country can actively get behind in a large variety of ways and by bringing new members and locals into the Socialist Party.

Below is some information about our presidential tickets.

  • 2008: Brian Moore of Florida and Stewart Alexander of California
  • 2004: Walt Brown of Oregon and Mal Herbert of Vermont -- 10,837 votes
         (On the ballot in eight states, write-in votes counted in another eleven.)
  • 2000: David McReynolds of New York and Mary Cal Hollis of Colorado -- 5,602 votes
         (On the ballot in seven states, write-in votes counted in another seven.)
  • 1996: Mary Cal Hollis of Colorado and Eric Chester of Massachusetts -- 4,764 votes
         (On the ballot in five states, write-in votes counted in another seven.)
  • 1992: J. Quinn Brisben of Illinois and Barbara Garson of New York -- 3,057 votes
  • 1988: Willa Kenoyer of Michigan and Ron Ehrenreich of New York -- 3,882 votes
  • In 1984, the Socialist Party supported the Citizens Party ticket of Sonia Johnson and Richard Walton
  • 1980: David McReynolds of New York and Diane Drufenbrock of Wisconsin -- 6,898 votes
  • 1976: Frank P. Zeidler of Wisconsin and J. Quinn Brisben of Illinois -- 6,038 votes
  • 1956: Darlington Hoopes and Samuel H. Friedman -- 2.044 votes
  • 1952: Darlington Hoopes and Samuel H. Friedman -- 20,065 votes
  • 1948: Norman Thomas and Tucker P. Smith -- 139,569 votes
  • 1944: Norman Thomas and Darlington Hoopes -- 79,017 votes
  • 1940: Norman Thomas and Maynard C. Krueger -- 116,599 votes
  • 1936: Norman Thomas and George A. Nelson -- 187,910 votes
  • 1932: Norman Thomas and James H. Maurer -- 884,885 votes
  • 1928: Norman Thomas and James H. Maurer -- 267,478 votes
  • In 1924, the Socialist Party supported the Progressive Party ticket of Robert M. La Follette and Burton K. Wheeler
  • 1920: Eugene V. Debs and Seymour Stedman -- 913,693 votes
  • 1916: Allan L. Benson and George Kirkpatrick -- 590,524 votes
  • 1912: Eugene V. Debs and Emil Seidel -- 901,551 votes
  • 1908: Eugene V. Debs and Ben Hanford -- 420,793 votes
  • 1904: Eugene V. Debs and Ben Hanford -- 402,810 votes
  • 1900: Eugene V. Debs and Job Harriman -- 87,945 votes (as the Social Democratic Party)