Labor–Farm Party of Wisconsin

Labor-Farm Party of Wisconsin
Chairman	William Osborne Hart
Spokesperson	Owen Coyle
Deputy Leader	Dennis Boyer
Founded	1982
Dissolved	1987
Ideology	Left-wing
Politics of the United States Political parties Elections

The Labor–Farm Party of Wisconsin (also Wisconsin Labor and Farm Party, or LFP) was an independent left-leaning political party in the state of Wisconsin. In 1984, William Osborne Hart, one of the party's founders, intended to run for President of the United States and failed due to a Wisconsin Supreme Court deliberation. This, as well as other factors, led to the party's dissolution.

History

The party was active in Wisconsin politics during 1982–1987. The party was formed "in reaction to the resurgence of conservatism as a political force in the 1980s". Its platform demanded larger government intervention with regard to factory and farm operations, protecting farmers' and workers' welfare, and shared civil rights concepts with members of the "Rainbow Coalition" of feminists, the LGBT lobby, as well as included other notions.^[1]

Before the 1984 presidential election, the LFP wanted for William Hart, one of the party's founders, to run as a presidential candidate. This failed due to a Supreme Court of Wisconsin decision,^[2] and Hart subsequently resignation from the party.

The party concentrated its efforts in an attempt to defeat Les Aspin in 1986, then Wisconsin's 1st congressional district Representative. The Labor and Farm Party was generally not successful, a reason which led to its dissolution in 1987.^[1] However, Lucille Berrien ran for State Treasurer of Wisconsin in 1990 with the LFP, but lost to Cathy Zeuske.^[3] Several party members then went on to form the Progressive Party and the Wisconsin Green Party in the 1990s.^[1]

After Hart's resignation, Kathryn Christensen became its de facto head. Mary K. Baum ran for minor offices in 1986 on its ticket and for Governor as an independent.^[1]

References

1. "Labor and Farm Party Records, 1982-1987". University of Wisconsin-Madison. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
2. "Labor & Farm Party v. Elections Board". Justia. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
3. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 908. Retrieved May 18, 2020.