Socialist Action | |
|---|---|
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| Secretary-General | Jeff Mackler |
| Founded | 1983 (1983) |
| Newspaper | Socialist Action[1] |
| Youth wing | Youth for Socialist Action[2] |
| Ideology | Trotskyism |
| Political position | Far-left |
| International affiliation | Fourth International[3] (until 2025)[4] |
| Members in elected offices | 0 |
| Website | |
| socialistaction | |
Socialist Action is aTrotskyistpolitical party in the United States. SAct formed in 1983, when its members were expelled from theSocialist Workers Party.
SAct describes itself as arevolutionary socialist party fighting for true democracy, becausecapitaliststates "cannot be used as tools of the working class, but have to be smashed".[5]
Notable members includeJeff Mackler.
In 1983, theSocialist Workers Party (SWP) expelled two groups: First, theFourth Internationalist Tendency (FIT). Second, the group that would coalesce around theSocialist Action (SAct) newspaper. SAct argued that they were expelled for defendingTrotskyist ideas ofPermanent Revolution, class independence, and continued support for theFourth International.[6] The first issue of its newspaper contained no listing of an editorial board.[7]
In 1985, SAct split in two. Those who split createdSocialist Unity (SU).[7] In 1986, SU merged withWorkers Power and theInternational Socialists to formSolidarity.[8]
After the split, SAct reorganized as a Trotskyist party.[7][9] SAct planned a Central America solidarity conference.[9]
In 2004, SAct won the right to refuse to disclose its campaign donors, because of demonstrable government harassment of socialist candidates, as didCommunist Party USA,Freedom Socialist Party, andSocialist Workers Party.[10]
In 1992, during theGulf War, SAct was active in theSan Francisco Bay Area antiwar movement through the National Campaign Against the War in the Middle East, which competed with theWorkers World Party-led Coalition Against a Vietnam War in the Middle East.[11]
In 2019, a minority faction was expelled or resigned membership from Socialist Action and re-established asSocialist Resurgence.[12]
Socialist Action is aTrotskyist andRevolutionary socialist party.
The party has claimed that theEuromaidan revolution inUkraine was a "US-backed fascist coup", alongside claiming that Ukraine banned the Russian language.[13] TheFourth International congress deemed positions of Socialist Actioncampist and decided to break off relations with the organisation in 2025.[4]
Socialist Action (SA) has fieldedelectoral candidates in the United States forlocal,state, andfederal offices.
One SA member, Adam Ritscher, won an uncontested election.[14] No SA member has won a contested election.
| Year | Presidential candidate | Vice presidential candidate | Popular votes | % | Electoral votes | Result | Ballot access | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Jeff Mackler | Heather Bradford | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | Lost | 0 / 538 | SA failed to achieve ballot access or official write-in access in any state | [15][16] |
| 2016 | Jeff Mackler | Karen Schraufnagel | 15 | 0.00% | 0 | Lost | 0 / 538 | SA only obtained official write-in access inNew York | [17][18] |
In2020, SAct again nominated Mackler.[15] SAct again gained noballot access orwrite-in status in any state, and thus received zero votes.
In2016, SAct nominated their first presidential ticket, selecting national secretaryJeff Mackler forpresident and Karen Schraufnagel forvice-president.[17]
| Year | Candidate | Chamber | State | District | Votes | % | Result | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Fred Linck | Senate | Connecticut | At-Large | 70 | 0.01% | Lost | write-in candidate | [19][20][21] |
| 2010 | Christopher Hutchinson | House | Connecticut | CT-1 | 955 | 0.4% | Lost | write-in candidate | [22][23] |
| 2006 | Jeff Mackler | Senate | California | At-Large | 108 | 0.00% | Lost | write-in candidate | [24][25] |
In 2018, SA member and Iraq War veteran[19] Fred Linck hoped to run as Socialist Action candidate for United States Senate in Connecticut. The party submitted over 11,000 signatures to the Connecticut Secretary of State, but too many were disqualified for Linck to be placed on the November ballot. Linck asserted that local officials incorrectly invalidated signatures.[26] Despite being left off the ballot, Linck continued to run for office as an official write-in candidate, and ultimately received 70 votes, or 0.01%.[20]
| Year | Candidate | Office | Area | State | District | Votes | % | Result | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Adam Ritscher | Board of Supervisors | Douglas County | Wisconsin | 6th | 42 | 100% | Won | Uncontested election | [14][27] |
In 1988, SA member Sylvia Weinstein ran forSan Francisco Board of Education, in which she won 21,000 votes. Weinstein also ran in 1985 and 1986.[28]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)| International | |
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