The Vermont Green Party (VGP) or Vermont Greens formed in 2002[1] and was a state-level political party in Vermont.
They were formed out of organizing around Ralph Nader's presidential campaigns in 1996 and 2000. The VGP was one of two established state green parties that refused to place the 2004 national presidential nominee, David Cobb on its ballot line, endorsing Nader's independent campaign instead.[2] The party ran statewide and local candidates from 2002 to 2010, but was split by internal tensions and both factions dissolved by 2011 and were absorbed back into the Progressive Party.
History
Murray Bookchin and his friends, inspired by The Greens of West Germany, formed the Green Party in Burlington, Vermont. Rudolf Bahro, one of the founding members of The Greens, met Bookchin and the Greens in 1983.[3]Howie Hawkins stated that Bookchin inspired him to become involved with Green politics.[4] The Progressive Coalition accused the Greens of attempting to spoil the 1989 Burlington mayoral election and for causing Erhard Mahnke, the Progressive president of the city council, to lose reelection in 1990. Internal disagreements on how to respond to spoiler accusations resulted in the party disbanding a splinter group, Northern Vermont Greens, being formed.[5]
The VGP endorsed the Progressive Party's Michael Badamo for Governor in 2002[8] and Ralph Nader's independent run in 2004. Due to the breakup of the Vermont Green Party, Green presidential nominees, Cynthia McKinney in 2008 and Jill Stein in 2012, ran as write-in candidates in Vermont.[9]
aAs of January 2021, the original GPAK is no longer affiliated to the GPUS, following disagreements with the national party during the 2020 presidential election bAs of July 2021, the original GGP is no longer affiliated to the GPUS, following disagreements over amendments passed in the GGP party platform cAs of December 2020, the original GPRI is no longer affiliated to the GPUS, following disagreements with the national party during the 2020 presidential election
