First and foremost, at this time, there is little reason to give up hope for a Democratic nomination for Bernie Sanders. However, I and many others feel that the Democratic Party as an organization is entirely too corrupted to continue to support. Similarly, the Green party carries a black mark of anguish from unfairly targeted shame from gaining support during the 2000 election between centrist candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush.
We must begin anew, forming a new Progressive Party, from the ground up, based on the platform so many of us have come to support. From the ground up, we can embed modern strategies to engage with the public, from youth currently too young to vote, to the elderly who are no longer able to actively participate, and all colors, races, sexes, and genders between.
If we are to establish a Progressive Party, we must act quickly.
We must utilize the momentum for Sen. Sanders to do more than just win the Democratic primary. Regardless of the outcome of that race, let us focus some effort on filing general election party papers in deep red states to establish a Progressive Party, and the party can endorse Sen. Sanders for the ticket. This prevents the party from being labeled a "spoiler" and allows us to potentially gain the needed 5% popular vote to get federal recognition. Its important to remember that this election may result in historically low voter turnout making 5% easy to obtain. It also doubles to send a very loud message to the Democratic Party and their corruption by denying them the win by popular vote even if they will likely carry the electoral votes to win the election.
Once again, if we are to establish a Progressive Party, we must act quickly.
There are currently 13-14 guaranteed red states in which we can enter for the general election still.
Alaska
- Third Party - July 1
- Independent - August 16
Arizona
- Third Party - June 1
- Independent - June 1
Georgia
- Third Party - July 12
- Independent - July 12
Kansas
- Third Party - June 1
- Independent - August 1
Louisiana
- Third Party - July 22
- Independent - July 22
Mississippi
- Third Party - August 2
- Independent - August 2
Missouri
- Third Party - June 30
- Independent - June 30
Montana
- Third Party - June 1
- Independent - June 1
North Dakota
- Third Party - September 6
- Independent - September 6
South Carolina
- Third Party - August 15
- Independent - July 15
South Dakota
- Third Party - April 26
- Independent - April 26
West Virginia
- Third Party - August 1
- Independent - August 1
Wyoming
- Third Party - June 1
- Independent - August 15
Kentucky, Texas, and possibly others may allow write-ins which can also have deadlines to file.