2008 Green Party presidential primaries
First place (popular vote or delegate count)
Cynthia McKinney (22)
Ralph Nader (3)
Jesse Johnson (1)
Uncommitted (2)
States/districts not holding contests
The Green Party of the United States held primaries in several states in 2008. Cynthia McKinney won most of the primaries and was formally nominated as the party's nominee during the 2008 Green National Convention .
Candidates
Candidate
Most recent position
Campaign
Delegates
Delegations with plurality
Cynthia McKinney of California
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1993–2003, 2005–2007)
(Campaign • Website )
(36.42%)
22
AZ , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , MD , ME , MI , MN , PA , NC , NE , NY , OR , RI , TN , WA , WI
Kent Mesplay of California
Inspector at the Air Pollution Control District of San Diego County (2001–2015)
(Website Archived 2020-11-11 at the Wayback Machine )
(3.52%)
None
Jesse Johnson of West Virginia
2006 Senate candidate and 2004 gubernatorial candidate for the Mountain Party
(3.23%)
1 WV
Kat Swift of Texas
Activist , Bookkeeper
(Website )
(2.87%)
None
Jared Ball of Maryland
Professor and journalist
(1.32%)
None
Elaine Brown of California
Black Panther Party chairwoman 1974-1977
(1.08%)
None
Howie Hawkins of California
Activist
(0.96%)
None
Alternate ballot options
Ralph Nader of Connecticut
Independent Presidential Candidate (2004)
(Campaign • Website )
(16.6%)
3 MA , CA , VA
No preference/ Other/ Uncommitted
N/A
(5.90%)
1 AR
Schedule
This section
needs expansion . You can help by
adding to it .
(April 2017 )
Winning
Projected delegates[ 4]
Date
State
Candidate
Vote
Percent
Ball
Brown
Hawkins
Johnson
McKinney
Mesplay
Nader
Swift
Other
Total[ 5] [ 6]
February 1
Florida
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
-
11
1
2
1
-
16
February 5
Arkansas
Uncommitted
438
56%
1
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
4
8
California
Ralph Nader
21,726
61%
3
7
-
3
45
3
102
5
-
168
Illinois
Cynthia McKinney
1,513
57%
5
-
8
-
25
6
-
-
-
44
Massachusetts
Ralph Nader
744
40%
1
1
-
-
9
1
15
1
4
32
February 10
Maine
Cynthia McKinney
36
81.81%
1
-
-
4
16
1
-
1
-
-
February 12
D.C.
Cynthia McKinney
214
41%
1
-
-
-
7
-
1
1
6
16
March 1
Mississippi
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
North Carolina
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
2
5
1
-
-
-
8
March 4 -April 4
Ohio
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
March 3
Minnesota (caucus)
Cynthia McKinney
187
60.91%
—
March 11
Virginia
Ralph Nader
-
-
-
-
1
2
-
3
1
1
8
March 25
Arizona
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
1
6
1
-
-
-
8
March 29
New Jersey
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
Wisconsin
Cynthia McKinney
77
79%
0
0
0
0
19
2
1
1
1
24
March 31
Washington
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
10
1
-
1
-
12
April 7
Rhode Island
Cynthia McKinney
27
75%
-
-
-
2
6
-
-
-
-
8
April 9
Indiana
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
7.5
0.5
-
-
-
-
-
8
April 13 - May 10
Pennsylvania
Cynthia McKinney
-
53%
-
-
-
3
17
1
4
1
6
32
May 10
Missouri
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
April 26
Connecticut
Cynthia McKinney
33
66%
0
0
0
1
13
1
2
-
3
20
April 27
West Virginia
Jesse Johnson
-
-
-
-
-
6
2
-
-
-
-
8
May 3
Colorado
Uncommitted
-
-
-
1
-
-
2
-
-
-
9
12
Georgia
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
1
-
8
Maryland
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
4
6
3
-
3
-
16
South Carolina
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
Tennessee
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
1
-
1
1
8
Utah
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
May 13
Nebraska
Cynthia McKinney
40
58%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
May 17
Delaware
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
-
-
-
-
8
Iowa
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
1
3
1
-
-
-
3
8
May 31
Montana
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
New York (state)
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
-
23
3
3
-
2
24
June 7
New Mexico
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
Oregon
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
1
23
-
-
-
-
24
June 8
Minnesota (convention)
Cynthia McKinney
—
-
-
-
-
11
-
-
-
1
12
New York City
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
2
9
1
-
-
-
12
June 14
Texas
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
Vermont
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
June 26–27
Michigan
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
-
-
-
-
13
1
3
1
6
24
-
Delegates not awarded by contests
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
112
Total
United States
—
—
—
11
9
8
27
304½
29½
24
139
50
836
Results
This section
needs expansion . You can help by
adding to it .
(February 2017 )
February
Florida primary (February 1)
The Green Party held a mail-in primary in Florida on February 1.[ 5]
Florida Green Party presidential primary (February 1, 2008)[ 4]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
11
Ralph Nader
-
-
2
Kent Mesplay
-
-
1
Kat Swift
-
-
1
Total
-
100%
16
Arkansas primary (February 5)
County results of the Arkansas Green presidential primaries, 2008. Uncommitted
Tie
Cynthia McKinney
Jared A. Ball
No Votes
Arkansas Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[ 4] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Uncommitted
438
55.94%
4
Cynthia McKinney
157
20.05%
2
Jared A. Ball
81
10.34%
1
Kent Mesplay
61
7.79%
1
Kat Swift
46
5.87%
0
Total
783
100%
8
California primary (February 5)
The California primary took place on February 5. Ralph Nader won, despite not running for the nomination of the party.
California Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[ 4] [ 9] [ 11] [ 12]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Ralph Nader
21,726
60.61%
102
Cynthia McKinney
9,534
26.60%
45
Elaine Brown
1,598
4.46%
7
Kat Swift
1,084
3.02%
5
Kent Mesplay
727
2.03%
3
Jesse Johnson
619
1.73%
3
Jared Ball
556
1.55%
3
Total
35,844
100%
168
Illinois primary (February 5)
The Illinois primary took place on February 5.
Illinois Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008[ 4] [ 7] [ 9] [ 11] [ 13]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
1513
56.62%
25
Howie Hawkins
464
17.37%
8
Kent Mesplay
384
14.37%
6
Jared A. Ball
311
11.64%
5
Total
2,672
100%
44
Massachusetts primary (February 5)
The Massachusetts primary took place on February 5. Six candidates appeared on the ballot. Ralph Nader won, despite not running for the nomination of the party.
Town results of the Massachusetts Green presidential primaries, 2008. Ralph Nader
Cynthia McKinney
Kat Swift
Jared Ball
Kent Mesplay
Elaine Brown
No Votes
Massachusetts Green-Rainbow presidential primary, February 5, 2008[ 9] [ 11] [ 14]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Ralph Nader
744
39.91%
32
Cynthia McKinney
474
25.43%
-
Kat Swift
60
3.22%
-
Jared Ball
42
2.25%
-
Kent Mesplay
39
2.09%
-
Elaine Brown
38
2.04%
-
Others
273
25.1%
-
No preference
194
10.41%
-
Blank votes (not tallied)
77
n/a
n/a
Total
1,941
100%
32
Maine caucuses (February 10)
Maine Green Party caucuses, February 10, 2008[ 4] [ 15]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
36
81.81%
16
Jesse Johnson
4
9.09%
2
Kent Mesplay
1
2.27%
1
Kat Swift
3
6.81%
1
None of the above
3
6.81%
-
Total
44
100%
-
District of Columbia primary (February 12)
The District of Columbia primary took place on February 12.
District of Columbia Green Party presidential primary, February 12, 2008[ 7] [ 9] [ 11] [ 16]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
214
41.07%
-
Write-ins (scattered)
145
27.83%
-
No Candidate
56
10.75%
-
Howie Hawkins
34
6.53%
-
Kat Swift
21
4.03%
-
Jared A. Ball
19
3.65%
-
Kent Mesplay
17
3.26%
-
Jesse Johnson
15
2.88%
-
Total
521
100%
16
March
Mississippi caucuses (March 1)
Mississippi held caucuses on March 1.[ 5]
North Carolina (March 1)
Mississippi held their vote on March 1.[ 5]
Minnesota caucuses (March 4)
The party also held a caucus and mail-in vote on March 4.[ 4]
The delegates were assigned by a vote at the state convention on June 8.[ 17]
Minnesota Green Party presidential caucuses, March 4, 2008[ 7] [ 11] [ 17] [ 18]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
Cynthia McKinney
114
60.96%
Undecided/No Candidate/None of the Above
33
17.65%
Ralph Nader
19
10.16%
Kent Mesplay
10
5.35%
Kat Swift
9
4.81%
Jesse Johnson
1
0.53%
Write-in
1
0.53%
Total
187
100%
Wisconsin Presidential Preference Convention (March 29)
Wisconsin selected their delegates at the "Wisconsin Green Party Spring Gathering and Presidential Preference Convention" on March 29. While only McKinney and Mesplay were on the ballot, several other candidates received votes as write-ins.[ 3]
Wisconsin Presidential Preference Convention, April 7, 2008[ 4] [ 5]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
77
79%
19
Kent Mesplay
-
10%
2
Ralph Nader
-
5%
1
Kat Swift
-
2%
1
Uncommitted
-
2%
1
Jesse Johnson
-
1%
0
Total
100%
24
April
Ohio primary (March 4–April 4)
Ohio held a vote-by-mail primary from March 4 through April 4.[ 19]
Rhode Island convention (April 7)
Rhode Island Green Party convention, April 7, 2008[ 11] [ 20]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
27
75%
6
Jesse Johnson
9
25%
2
Total
36
100%
8
Indiana caucuses (April 9)
The Indiana caucuses were party-run rather than state-organized.
Indiana caucuses[ 21]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
7.5
Kent Mesplay
-
-
0.5
Total
-
-
8
Connecticut convention (April 26)
The Green Party of Connecticut assigned their delegates based upon a vote held at their annual meeting on April 26, 2008.[ 22]
Connecticut Green Party convention, April 26, 2008[ 11] [ 22]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
33
66%
13
Ralph Nader (write-in)
6
12%
2
Kat Swift
3
6%
1
Kent Mesplay
2
4%
1
Jesse Johnson
2
4%
1
Noam Chomsky (write-in)
1
2%
-
Mike DeRosa (write-in)
1
2%
-
Al Gore (write-in)
1
2%
-
Barack Obama (write-in)
1
2%
-
Total
50
100%
20
May
Maryland primary (May 3)
Maryland held a primary where voters could either mail-in their ballots before April 30 or vote in-person at the Maryland Green Party Annual Assembly on May 3.[ 23]
Maryland Green Party primary, May 3, 2008[ 4] [ 23]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
6
Jesse Johnson
4
Kat Swift
3
Kent Mesplay
3
Total
-
100%
16
South Carolina convention (May 3)
South Carolina held a party convention on May 3.[ 24]
Missouri convention (May 10)
Missouri held a state convention on May 10.[ 5]
Pennsylvania caucuses (April 13—May 10)
The Green Party of Pennsylvania's presidential caucuses were held April 13-May 10. These caucuses were party-sponsored rather than state-run.
Green Party of Pennsylvania caucuses, April 13-May 10, 2008[ 25]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
-
52.76%
17
None of the above
-
14.17%
5
Uncommitted
-
4.72%
Ralph Nader
-
11.02%
4
Jesse Johnson
8.66%
3
Kent Mesplay
-
4.72%
1
Kat Swift
-
2.36%
1
Total
-
100%
32
Nebraska primary (May 13)
The Nebraska primary took place on May 13.[ 5]
County results of the Nebraska Green presidential primaries, 2008. Cynthia McKinney
Jesse Johnson
Kat Swift
Kent Mesplay
Tie
No Votes
Nebraska Green Party presidential primary, May 13, 2008[ 5] [ 9]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
40
57.97%
-
Jesse Johnson
13
18.84%
-
Kat Swift
8
11.59%
-
Kent Mesplay
8
11.9%
-
Total
69
100%
8
Iowa convention (May 17)
The Iowa convention took place on May 17.
Iowa Green Party presidential convention, May 17, 2008[ 26]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
3
Kat Swift
-
-
2
Jesse Johnson
-
-
1
Kent Mesplay
-
-
1
Uncommitted
-
-
1
Total
-
-
8
Montana convention (May 31)
Montana appointed their eight delegates at a state convention on May 31.[ 27]
New York state primary (May 31)
The New York Green Party ballots were publicly counted on May 31. The primary was a party-run mail-in primary.[ 28]
This primary awarded 28 of New York's 40 delegates. New York City held a separate primary to award the remaining 12 delegates.[ 29]
New York state primary,[ 30]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
21
Kent Mesplay
-
-
3
Ralph Nader
-
3
Jesse Johnson
-
-
0
Uncommitted
-
2
Total
-
-
28
June
Minnesota convention (June 8)
The Minnesota party previously held a caucus and mail-in vote on March 4.[ 4] The delegates, however, were assigned by a vote at the state convention on June 8.[ 17]
Minnesota Green Party convention, June 8, 2008[ 5] [ 7] [ 11] [ 17]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
11
Undecided/No Candidate/None of the Above
-
-
1
Ralph Nader
-
-
0
Kent Mesplay
-
-
0
Kat Swift
-
-
0
Jesse Johnson
-
-
0
Write-in
-
-
N/A
Total
-
100%
12
New Mexico primary (June 8)
The New Mexico Green Party held its vote on June 8. A total of seventeen votes were cast, with 11 going to McKinney, 4 votes going to "none of the above", and 1 vote each going to Kat Swift, Kent Mesplay, and Jesse Johnson.[ 28]
New Mexico Green Party presidential Primary, June 8, 2018[ 30]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
11
64.7%
-
Kat Swift
1
5.9%
-
Kent Mesplay
1
5.9%
-
Jesse Johnson
1
5.9%
-
None of the above
4
23.5%
-
Total
17
100%
-
New York City primary (June 8)
A second vote awarding New York's remaining 12 delegates was held on June 8 in New York City to appoint a remaining 12 of New York's delegates.[ 29]
New York City primary Green Party presidential Primary, May 31, 2008[ 30]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
-
-
9
Jesse Johnson
-
-
2
Kent Mesplay
-
-
1
Total
-
-
12
Texas convention (June 14)
The selection of Texas ' delegation took place on June 14 at the state Green convention, held at S.H.A.P.E.'s Harambee Center in Houston .[ 31]
Michigan convention (June 26–27)
The Michigan convention took place June 26–27 at the Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall, Michigan .[ 32]
Michigan Green Party presidential convention, July 26–27, 2008[ 32]
Candidate
Votes
Percentage
National delegates
Cynthia McKinney
-
64%
13
Ralph Nader
-
17%
3
Kat Swift
-
-
1
Kent Mesplay
-
-
1
Total
-
-
19
References
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^ "Green Party National Convention Roll Call Vote Saturday 12 July 2008" . www.thegreenpapers.com . The Green Papers. July 30, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2017 .
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^ a b c d e f g h i "Size of State / Caucus Delegations" . Archived from the original on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-13 .
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^ "2008 California Green Primary" (PDF) .
^ "2008 Illinois Primary Vote Totals" .
^ "2008 President Green-rainbow Primary" . Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth . Government of Massachusetts . February 5, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2008 .
^ "2008 Green Party Presidential Nomination Delegate Count" . Archived from the original on 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2018-05-11 .
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^ a b c d "2008 President Green convention" . June 8, 2012.
^ "Minnesota Secretary of State: Election Night Reporting" . caucusresults.sos.state.mn.us . Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2022 .
^ "Vote in the Primary" . www.ohiogreens.org . Green Party of Ohio. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2022 .
^ Reynolds, Mark (April 8, 2008). "Local Green Party backs ex-Ga. legislator for President". Providence Journal . Providence, Rhode Island.
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^ a b "Maryland Green Party" . www.mdgreens.org . Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2022 .
^ "2008 Presidential Primary Dates and Candidate filing deadlines for Ballot access" (PDF) . Federal Election Commission. August 14, 2008.
^ "LATEST NEWS" . www.greenparty.pa.org . Green Party of Pennsylvania. 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2017 .[permanent dead link ]
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^ a b "NM and NYC results are in" . www.greenpartywatch.org . May 10, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2018 .
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^ a b Hardy, Ronald (June 28, 2008). "Green Party of Michigan State Convention" . Retrieved February 25, 2017 .
Presidential tickets Presidential primaries Convention Parties by state and territory Related organizations History Related articles a As of January 2021, the original
GPAK is no longer affiliated to the GPUS, following disagreements with the national party during the
2020 presidential election b As of July 2021, the original
GGP is no longer affiliated to the GPUS, following disagreements over amendments passed in the GGP party platform
c As of December 2020, the original
GPRI is no longer affiliated to the GPUS, following disagreements with the national party during the 2020 presidential election