The Examiner
by Billy Wharton
November 3rd, 2010

With 32% of the precincts reporting the Howie Hawkins campaign has declared a victory in the 2010 Gubernatorial race. No, Hawkins was not elected as the state’s new governor. It was not that kind of victory. Instead, the Green Party is poised to achieve the necessary 50,000 votes in the statewide election to secure automatic ballot access for the next four years.

"Voters," Peter LaVenia, co-chair of the NY State Green Party stated, "are fed up with Democrats and Republicans taking their votes for granted, and are open to hearing ideas from a party not beholden to Wall St. and special interests." LaVenia claimed the Green pledges of an end to wars, addressing the unemployment crisis and support of single-payer healthcare attracted independent and progressive voters.

Democratic Party candidate Andrew Cuomo took the opposite tact by shifting his campaign far to the right. The shift revealed the real agenda of the Democrats for the next four years that features sharp budget cuts and attack on public employees and their unions. "We are not rich and poor," Governor elect Andrew Cuomo claimed during his acceptance speech, "but we are one NY." However, New Yorkers will wake up tomorrow rich and poor, with a Governor intent on cutting back on already reduced public services.

The Greens, for one, intend to continue the fight post-election. "The Green Party intends to be an independent force in NY State politics for working New Yorkers," LaVenia continued, "Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature is on notice - this is one party that doesn't sell its ballot line for influence." This refers to the Working Families Party, the ostensibly progressive group, who capitulated to Cuomo’s budget cut plan in exchange for an endorsement.

If the Howie Hawkins’ campaign is any indication, the fight back will come in the form of a united front. All sorts of socialists, radicals, progressives and independents were attracted to his campaign. They saw in his opposition the hope for a better New York. Now is the time to fight for it and permanent ballot status certainly helps.

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Billy Wharton is the editor of the Socialist WebZine. His articles have been published by the Washington Post, Counterpunch and In These Times. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it