D.C. Statehood Green Party

The D.C. Statehood Green Party, also known as the D.C. Statehood Party, is a political party in Washington, D.C. The party is the D.C. affiliate of the national Green Party, but has traditionally been involved primarily with issues related to D.C. Statehood. Party members sometimes call it the second most popular party in the city because in the 2006 election its candidates won more total votes than the Republican candidates. About 1 percent of D.C. voters are registered with the D.C. Statehood Green Party, while 7 percent are Republicans and 75 percent are Democrats.

History
The party began in 1971, when Julius Hobson announced his candidacy for the District's non-voting Congressional Delegate position as a member of the D.C. Statehood Party. Though he lost that race to Walter E. Fauntroy, he would later serve on the D.C. Council. In 1973, the Party was a strong proponent of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which gave limited self-government to the city. From the creation of the city council in 1975 until 1999, the party always had one of the at-large seats, first occupied by Hobson and then by Hilda Mason.

Throughout the 1970s, the party and its members on the council sponsored several initiatives aimed at giving the District more autonomy from the federal government. The high point was the passage of the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment by Congress in 1978, which would have given the District the rights of a state; the amendment failed to receive approval from the necessary 37 states by 1985, and thus did not become part of the United States Constitution.

The statehood movement lost much of its momentum after this and other defeats, though the party continued to field candidates for local offices. It merged with the Green Party prior to the 2000 elections, and endorsed Ralph Nader's campaign for president. Since the merger the D.C. Statehood Green Party has once more found its footing has experienced a period of growth. As of February 2007, eight Statehood Greens currently hold office:

District of Columbia (8)


 * Dave Bosserman, Advisory Neighborhood Council, SMD 1D05
 * Renee Bowser, Advisory Neighborhood Council, ANC 4D02
 * Nate Mathews, Advisory Neighborhood Council, ANC 1B10
 * Nancy Shia, Advisory Neighborhood Council, SMD 1C06;
 * Rick Tingling-Clemmons, Advisory Neighborhood Council, SMD 7D05
 * Bryan Weaver, Advisory Neighborhood Council, ANC 1C03
 * Jane Zara, Advisory Neighborhood Council, SMD 1D01