Howie Hawkins has run for office 25 times, never winning a single election.

History · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A lifelong activist and retired UPS worker, Howie Hawkins is a central figure in the American Green Party. Despite his consistent electoral defeats, he has been a pivotal force in shaping left-wing policy, including being the first politician to propose a Green New Deal in his 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

Born in 1952, Hawkins has spent decades advocating for anti-war, anti-nuclear, and pro-worker causes. His political identity was forged early; at age 12, he was disillusioned by the exclusion of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party from the 1964 Democratic Convention. This experience fueled his lifelong commitment to building an independent, working-class political movement that operates entirely outside the two-party system. He rejects the strategy of working within the Democratic Party, arguing instead for the immediate creation of a distinct left-wing alternative.

Hawkins’ career is defined by his role as a perennial candidate and party builder. He helped found the Green Party of the United States and has been instrumental in securing ballot access for the party in New York through various gubernatorial runs. His 2010 campaign was particularly significant, as it surpassed the 50,000-vote threshold required to maintain the party's ballot status. By 2014, his gubernatorial bid secured 4.8% of the vote, moving the party to a more favorable position on state ballots. Despite these organizational successes, his personal electoral record remains one of repeated losses, spanning local council races in Syracuse to his 2020 presidential bid.

His platform is rooted in eco-socialism and libertarian municipalism, emphasizing worker control and community-based decision-making. In 2020, he secured the Green Party presidential nomination, running on a platform that included Medicare for All, a federal jobs guarantee, and a $20 minimum wage. While he received over 400,000 votes, he finished with 0.26% of the national total. Today, he remains a dedicated advocate for his vision of a marketless, moneyless, and stateless cooperative commonwealth, continuing to influence the American left through his writing and persistent, if unsuccessful, electoral activism.

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