View source for Socialist Action (United States)

{{Short description|Trotskyist political party in the United States}}
{{Other uses|Socialist Action (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox political party
| name              = Socialist Action
| logo              = Socialist Action logo (black).jpg
| colorcode         = red
| secretary_general = [[Jeff Mackler]]
| foundation        = {{start date|1983}}
| ideology          = [[Trotskyism]]
| position          = [[Far-left politics|Far-left]]
| youth_wing        = Youth for Socialist Action<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youthforsocialistaction.wordpress.com|title=Youth for Socialist Action<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=wordpress.com|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819083154/http://youthforsocialistaction.wordpress.com/|archive-date=19 August 2010}}</ref>
| international     = [[Fourth International (post-reunification)|Fourth International]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Organizations {{!}} Fourth International|url=https://fourth.international/en/organisations|website=[[Fourth International (post-reunification)|Fourth International]]|access-date=28 May 2024}}</ref> (until 2025)<ref name="4Int">{{cite web |title=Fourth International Congress: taking the measure of the crisis of capitalism |url=https://fourth.international/en/world-congresses/874/676 |website=Fourth International |access-date=29 March 2025}}</ref>
| newspaper         = ''Socialist Action''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialistaction.org/paper.htm|title=paper|date=20 April 2016|website=socialistaction.org|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413103034/http://www.socialistaction.org/paper.htm|archive-date=13 April 2012}}</ref>
| seats1_title      = Members in elected offices
| seats1            = 0
| website           = {{url|http://socialistaction.org/}}
| country           = the United States
}}
{{Socialism US}}
'''Socialist Action''' is a [[Trotskyist]] [[Political parties in the United States|political party in the United States]]. SAct formed in 1983, when its members were expelled from the [[Socialist Workers Party (US)|Socialist Workers Party]].

SAct describes itself as a [[Revolutionary socialism|revolutionary socialist party]] fighting for true democracy, because [[capitalist]] [[capitalist state|states]] "cannot be used as tools of the working class, but have to be smashed".<ref>{{cite web |title=What We Stand For |publisher=Socialist Action |url=https://socialistaction.org/program/}}</ref>

Notable members include [[Jeff Mackler]].

== History ==

=== Origins ===
In 1983, the [[Socialist Workers Party (US)|Socialist Workers Party]] (SWP) expelled two groups: First, the [[Fourth Internationalist Tendency]] (FIT). Second, the group that would coalesce around the ''Socialist Action'' (SAct) newspaper. SAct argued that they were expelled for defending [[Trotskyist]] ideas of [[Permanent revolution|Permanent Revolution]], class independence, and continued support for the [[Fourth International (post-reunification)|Fourth International]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialistaction.org/swpopenletter.htm|title=SA Open Letter to the Socialist Workers Party<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Socialist Action|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312042353/http://www.socialistaction.org/swpopenletter.htm|archive-date=12 March 2008}}</ref> The first issue of its newspaper contained no listing of an editorial board.<ref name="Alexander">{{cite book |last=Alexander|first=Robert|title=International Trotskyism, 1929-1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement|year=1991|publisher=Duke University Press|location=Durham|pages=891}}</ref>

=== Subsequent history ===
In 1985, SAct split in two. Those who split created [[Socialist Unity (United States)|Socialist Unity]] (SU).<ref name="Alexander" /> In 1986, SU merged with [[Workers Power (United States)|Workers Power]] and the [[International Socialists (United States)|International Socialists]] to form [[Solidarity (United States)|Solidarity]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Evans|first=Leslie|title=Outsider's Reverie: A Memoir|year=2010|publisher=Boryana Books}}</ref>

After the split, SAct reorganized as a Trotskyist party.<ref name="Alexander" /><ref name="Klehr">{{cite book |last=Klehr|first=Harvey|title=Far Left of Center: The American Radical Left Today|year=1988|publisher=Transaction Publishers|pages=68–69}}</ref> SAct planned a Central America solidarity conference.<ref name="Klehr" />

In 2004, SAct won the right to refuse to disclose its campaign donors, because of demonstrable government harassment of socialist candidates, as did [[Communist Party USA]], [[Freedom Socialist Party]], and [[Socialist Workers Party (United States)|Socialist Workers Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FREEDOM SOCIALISTS WIN DISCLOSURE CASE |date=August 1, 2004 |publisher=Ballot Access News |url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2004/0801.html#7 |url-status=live |archive-date=10 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010101502/http://www.ballot-access.org/2004/0801.html#7}}</ref>

In 1992, during the [[Gulf War]], SAct was active in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] antiwar movement through the National Campaign Against the War in the Middle East, which competed with the [[Workers World Party]]-led Coalition Against a Vietnam War in the Middle East.<ref name=Epstein>{{cite journal |last=Epstein|first=Barbara|title=The antiwar movement during the Gulf War|journal=Social Justice|date=Spring 1992|volume=19|issue=47|pages=115–137|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+antiwar+movement+during+the+Gulf+War.-a014142955}}</ref>

In 2019, a minority faction was expelled or resigned membership from Socialist Action and re-established as [[Socialist Resurgence]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Anatomy of a Split in Socialist Action |url=https://socialistaction.org/2019/10/22/anatomy-of-the-recent-split-in-socialist-action/ |website=Socialist Action |date=23 October 2019}}</ref>

== Ideology ==

Socialist Action is a [[Trotskyist]] and [[Revolutionary socialism|Revolutionary socialist]] party. 

The party has claimed that the [[Euromaidan]] revolution in [[Ukraine]] was a "US-backed fascist coup", alongside claiming that Ukraine banned the Russian language.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hoisted on His Own Petard: Biden’s Hidden Classified Documents Set to Expose U.S. Instigation of 2014 Ukraine Coup |url=https://socialistaction.org/2023/01/14/hoisted-on-his-own-petard-bidens-hidden-classified-documents-set-to-expose-u-s-instigation-of-2014-ukraine-coup/ |website=Socialist Action |access-date=14 November 2024}}</ref> The [[Fourth International (post-reunification)|Fourth International]] congress deemed positions of Socialist Action [[campist]] and decided to break off relations with the organisation in 2025.<ref name="4Int" />

== Election results ==
Socialist Action (SA) has fielded [[Elections in the United States|electoral candidates]] in the United States for [[Local government in the United States|local]], [[State governments of the United States|state]], and [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] offices.

One SA member, Adam Ritscher, won an uncontested election.<ref name=BAN2006 /> No SA member has won a contested election.

=== Presidential elections ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%"
|-
! Year
! Presidential candidate
! Vice presidential candidate
! Popular votes
! %
! Electoral votes
! Result
! Ballot access
! Notes
! Ref
|-
| [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
| [[Jeff Mackler]]
| Heather Bradford
| 0
| {{Percentage bar|0.00|hex=FF0000}}
| 0
| {{no2}} Lost
| {{Composition bar|0|538|red}}
| SA failed to achieve ballot access or official write-in access in any state
| <ref name=SAMackler2020 /><ref name=FEC2020>{{Cite web |title=Federal Elections 2020 |publisher=[[Federal Election Commission]] |date=October 2022 |url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104044534/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2020.pdf}}</ref>
|-
| [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
| [[Jeff Mackler]]
| Karen Schraufnagel
| 15
| {{Percentage bar|0.00|hex=FF0000}}
| 0
| {{no2}} Lost
| {{Composition bar|0|538|red}}
| SA only obtained official write-in access in [[New York (state)|New York]]
| <ref name=SAMackler2016 /><ref name=FEC2016>{{Cite web |title=Federal Elections 2016 |publisher=[[Federal Election Commission]] |date=December 2017 |url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2016.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=December 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202185336/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2016.pdf}}</ref>
|}

In [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]], SAct again nominated Mackler.<ref name=SAMackler2020>{{cite web|url=https://socialistaction.org/2019/07/06/jeff-mackler-for-u-s-president-in-2020-socialist-action-campaigns-for-socialism/|title=Jeff Mackler for U.S. president in 2020: Socialist Action campaigns for socialism|website=Socialist Action|date=July 6, 2019|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> SAct again gained no [[ballot access]] or [[Write-in candidate|write-in]] status in any state, and thus received zero votes.

In [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]], SAct nominated their first presidential ticket, selecting national secretary [[Jeff Mackler]] for [[President of the United States|president]] and Karen Schraufnagel for [[Vice President of the United States|vice-president]].<ref name=SAMackler2016>{{Cite web|url=https://socialistaction.org/2016/06/23/vote-socialist-action-in-2016-jeff-mackler-for-u-s-president/|title=Vote Socialist Action in 2016! Jeff Mackler for U.S. President!|date=2016-06-23|website=Socialist Action|access-date=2017-02-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081341/https://socialistaction.org/2016/06/23/vote-socialist-action-in-2016-jeff-mackler-for-u-s-president/|archive-date=2017-02-11}}</ref>

=== Congressional elections ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%"
! Year
! Candidate
! Chamber
! State
! District
! Votes
! %
! Result
! Notes
! Ref
|-
| [[2018 United States Senate election in Connecticut|2018]]
| Fred Linck
| [[United States Senate|Senate]]
| [[Connecticut]]
| At-Large
| 70
| {{Percentage bar|0.01|hex=FF0000}}
| {{no2}} Lost
| write-in candidate
| <ref name=Courant2018 /><ref name=CTEMS2018 /><ref name=FEC2018>{{Cite web |title=Federal Elections 2018 |publisher=[[Federal Election Commission]] |date=October 2019 |url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2018.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=December 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202170526/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2018.pdf}}</ref>
|-
| [[2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut|2010]]
| Christopher Hutchinson
| [[United States House|House]]
| [[Connecticut]]
| [[Connecticut's 1st congressional district|CT-1]]
| 955
| {{Percentage bar|0.4|hex=FF0000}}
| {{no2}} Lost
| write-in candidate
| <ref name=SAHutchinson2010>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesocialistaction.org|title=Socialist Action CT|website=mysite|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422072147/https://votesocialistaction.org/|archive-date=22 April 2016}}</ref><ref name=CTSOS2010>{{cite web|url=http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/2010_sov.pdf|title=Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill|website=ct.gov|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211044604/http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/2010_sov.pdf|archive-date=11 February 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[2006 United States Senate election in California|2006]]
| Jeff Mackler
| [[United States Senate|Senate]]
| [[California]]
| At-Large
| 108
| {{Percentage bar|0.00|hex=FF0000}}
| {{no2}} Lost
| write-in candidate
| <ref name=SAMackler2006>{{cite web|url=https://socialistaction.org/2006/09/24/news-from-the-jeff-mackler-for-u-s-senate-campaign/|title=News From the Jeff Mackler for U.S. Senate Campaign|website=SocialistAction.org|last1=Grant|first1=Amy|date=September 24, 2006|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref><ref name=FEC2006>{{Cite web |title=Federal Elections 2006 |publisher=[[Federal Election Commission]] |date=October 2019 |url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2006.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404205143/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2006.pdf}}</ref>
|}

In 2018, SA member and Iraq War veteran<ref name=Courant2018>{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2006-05-14-0605140116-story.html|title=HARD HAT, HARD HEAD, MARINE SAVED|newspaper=Hartford Courant|last=Rathi|first1=Richard|date=May 14, 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Socialist-Senate-candidate-Ballot-signatures-13291201.php|title=Socialist Senate candidate: Ballot signatures wrongly disqualified|website=CTPost|last1=Krasselt|first1=Kaitlyn|date=October 8, 2018}}</ref> 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%.<ref name=CTEMS2018>{{Cite web|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/races|title=Public Reporting|website=ctemspublic.pcctg.net|access-date=2020-01-12}}</ref>

=== Local elections ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%"
! Year
! Candidate
! Office
! Area
! State
! District
! Votes
! %
! Result
! Notes
! Ref
|-
| 2006
| Adam Ritscher
| Board of Supervisors
| [[Douglas County, Wisconsin|Douglas County]]
| [[Wisconsin]]
| 6th
| 42
| {{Percentage bar|100|hex=FF0000}}
| {{yes2}} Won
| Uncontested election
| <ref name=BAN2006>{{cite web|url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2006/060106.html#15|title=Ballot Access News -- June 1, 2006|website=www.ballot-access.org|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010103249/http://www.ballot-access.org/2006/060106.html#15|archive-date=10 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 2, 2006 |title=April 4, 2006 Election Results -- City |publisher=[[Douglas County, Wisconsin]] |url=http://douglascountywi.org/April%204,%202006%20Election%20Results%20City.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-date=June 23, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623084159/http://douglascountywi.org/April%204,%202006%20Election%20Results%20City.pdf |access-date=May 31, 2023 }}</ref>
|}

In 1988, SA member Sylvia Weinstein ran for [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] Board of Education, in which she won 21,000 votes. Weinstein also ran in 1985 and 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialistaction.org/news/200109/sylvia.html|title=Sylvia Weinstein, 1926-2001|date=11 September 2001|website=Socialist Action|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020807234842/http://www.socialistaction.org/news/200109/sylvia.html|archive-date=7 August 2002}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Socialism}}
* [[American Left]]
* [[Democratic Socialists of America]]
* [[Socialist Alternative (United States)]]
* [[Green Party of the United States]]
* [[History of left-wing politics in the United States]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.socialistaction.org Socialist Action]
* [http://socialistaction.org/news/newspapersubscribe/ ''Socialist Action'' newspaper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115031519/http://socialistaction.org/news/newspapersubscribe/ |date=2013-01-15 }}

{{United States political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Far-left political parties in the United States]]
[[Category:Fourth International (post-reunification)]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1983]]
[[Category:Trotskyist parties in the United States]]