The Reform Party of New Jersey, also known as New Jersey Reform Party, was originally founded as the state party organization for

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

of the

Reform Party of the United States of America The Reform Party of the United States of America (RPUSA), generally known as the Reform Party USA or the Reform Party, is a centrist political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot. Perot believed Americans were disillusione ...

History

The Reform Party of New Jersey was independent party founded in 1996 to support

Ross Perot Henry Ross Perot (; June 27, 1930 – July 9, 2019) was an American business magnate, billionaire, politician and philanthropist. He was the founder and chief executive officer of Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems. He ran an inde ...

's presidential campaign and run in the

1996 United States presidential election The 1996 United States presidential election was the 53rd quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic President Bill Clinton defeated former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, the Republican nominee ...

. In 1997, the party fielded two candidates, George Guzdeck and Carmen Zarelli, for the

New Jersey General Assembly The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for ...

in New Jersey's 7th legislative district, 7th legislative district. In 1998 the party ran Frank C. Falzone, Beverly Kidder, and Richard Rivera for Congress. Kidder's campaign, dubbed "Mrs. Kidder for Congress," challenged Rush D. Holt, Jr., Rush Holt and Michael Pappas in New Jersey's 12th congressional district. Kidder described why she ran saying: "I am running because there is a vacuum in the 12th District — and all vacuums are filled." She received 749 votes. Also in 1998, Daniel Nozza ran as a candidate for councilperson in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth using the slogan "Reform Party", with the support of a unsanctioned faction of the party. The party splintered over Pat Buchanan 2000 presidential campaign. Ira Goodman, the party's Chairman, resigned in protest after Pat Buchanan's allies seized control, saying that he "had enough of this nonsense going on with Pat Buchanan." Goodman was, himself, a Reform Party congressional candidate. He earned 1,358 votes. Goodman had tried to petition

to campaign a third time. USA Today reported that Goodman had, initially, been supportive of Reform Party nominee Pat Buchanan, until he spoke with some of Buchanan's supporters. He later said: "Buchanan supporters are extreme social conservatives who want to push their agenda. Only Perot can help get us back on track." Following Goodman's resignation, Buchanan's supporters did gain control over the party. Local radio host Joe Sansone became the party's new chairman. Sansone made it clear he supported Buchanan's campaign, saying: "I won't pretend to be neutral. My loyalty is to Pat Buchanan. Because his loyalty is to the United States of America." Around this time, the Reform Party of the United States sought an injunction against the New Jersey party, seeking the prevent them from using the "Reform Party" branding. Pat DiNizio made an unsuccessful run in the 2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey running on the Reform Party ticket. He finished 4th with 19,312 votes (0.64%). The campaign was chronicled in the 2001 documentary film ''Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington.'' His campaign tactics were unique, in that he traveled the state by Streetcar, trolley and often traversed the streets of New Jersey with an acoustic guitar, asking for votes through improvised songs. DiNizio said he supported the Reform Party because: "I like where they are coming from, and yes, that includes Jesse Ventura, Mr. Ventura."

Electoral history

In the early 2000s the party ceased activities, but Reform Party remain a voter registration option. In 2004, Reform Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader appeared on New Jersey's ballot as an independent. He received 18,730 votes. Ted Weill, the national party's candidate in the 2008 United States presidential election, was not on New Jersey's ballot.

Sources

{{Reform Parties in the United States Defunct political parties in the United States Political parties disestablished in 2000 Political parties established in 1995 Politics of New Jersey Reform Party of the United States of America 1995 establishments in New Jersey 2000 disestablishments in New Jersey Political parties established in 2010