The Green Party of Washington State is excited to announce that on Saturday, July 11, Howie Hawkins and running mate Angela Walker were nominated by the Greens across the U.S. to be the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees.
Hawkins won with 59.15% of the vote at the Party’s national convention. Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s convention was held online via Zoom webinar platform and included 358 delegates from 47 states and caucuses.
In acceptance speeches, Hawkins and Walker highlighted the nexus of climate change and social justice and the importance of enacting a real Green New Deal.
Hawkins expressed gratitude for all those who have supported their candidacy including the more than 4,000 contributors who helped the campaign to qualify two weeks ago for federal primary matching funds. He noted the immediate task is to ensure ballot access in every state. Washington is currently collecting petition signatures for ballot access to meet a July 25 deadline.
Hawkins also reiterated his support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) nationwide call to defund police. He emphasized the Green Party’s defense of people of color against U.S. imperialism, adding “Defunding police is not enough. We must defund the military.”
The Green Party of Washington State joins in solidarity with our presidential candidates, BLM, and people of color across the world in calling for an end to militarism, war, and occupation, and the human and ecosystem destruction that results.
Following workshops on amendments in the days preceding the convention, the Green Party delegates also voted to confirm the Party’s new national platform.
Among the convention highlights were speeches by Maine Green candidate for U.S. Senate Lisa Savage who is running a strong campaign for Republican Susan Collins seat and 2016 candidates Dr. Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka and Party co-chair Dr. Margaret Flowers among many other leaders across the nation and even Australia.
Washington Greens are proud that one of our own, Margaret Elisabeth (Washington), was among those elected to a new national steering committee as co-chair. The other new co-chair is Tamar Yager (Virginia) with Anita Rios (Ohio) re-elected to a second term. Hillary Kane (Pennsylvania) was re-elected as treasurer. They join continuing co-chairs Gloria Mattera (New York), Kristin Combs (Pennsylvania), Tony Ndege (North Carolina), Trahern Crews (Minnesota), and Secretary David Gerry (Massachusetts).
Greens currently holding public office and Green candidates running for local, state, and federal office were also featured in a series of press conferences during the convention.
The Green Party of Washington State is making a call to registered voters who believe in Democracy to support its Nominating Petition for U.S. President / Vice President by signature in order to ensure everyone has a voice. The Party had requested a state reprieve from signature gathering during the pandemic but was regrettably denied, so volunteers are gathering signatures. Registered voters are asked to please visit to sign the petition for ballot access: https://greenpartywashington.org/2020/06/10/convention/.
Videos and texts of many of the speeches and press conferences are available here:
https://www.gp.org/workshop_videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZfnQZquRwx_F6yZg3g9kOw
Hawkins/Walker Campaign Website: https://howiehawkins.us/