Constitution Party (United States)
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:00:55 PM Wikipedia source
The Constitution Party, named the U . Taxpayers' Party until 1999, is an ultraconservative political party in the United States that promotes a religiously conservative interpretation of the principles and intents of the United States Constitution. The party platform is based on originalist interpretations of the Constitution and shaped by principles which it believes were set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and the Bible. The party was founded by Howard Phillips, a conservative activist, after President George H. W. Bush violated his pledge of "read my lips: no new taxes". During the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections, the party sought to give its presidential nomination to prominent politicians including Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot, but was unsuccessful and instead selected Phillips as its presidential nominee in three successive elections. Michael Peroutka was given the presidential nomination in 2004, followed by Chuck Baldwin in 2008 (although he faced opposition from multiple state affiliates), Virgil Goode in 2012, Darrell Castle in 2016, Don Blankenship in 2020 and Randall Terry in 2024. In 2000, Rick Jore, a three-term Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives, became a member of the Constitution Party and the first member of the party to hold a seat in a state legislature as a Constitution Party member in 2006. He was defeated in the 2000, 2002 and 2004 elections; however, he was elected to the Montana state legislature in 2006, the first Constitution Party candidate to be elected. In 2002, Greg Moeller became the first member of the party to win a partisan election. The Constitution parties of Minnesota and Colorado have both achieved major party status once. As of June 2024, the Constitution Party has 28 members who have been elected to city council seats and other municipal offices across the United States. In terms of registered members, the party ranks fifth among national parties in the United States.
Infobox
Chairman
Justin Magill
Founded
1990 (1990) (as U . Taxpayers' Party) 1999 (1999) (as Constitution Party)
Split from
Republican Party
Headquarters
408 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603
Membership (2021)
137,367
Ideology
Christian right Christian reconstructionism Ultraconservatism Paleoconservatism Social conservatism Fiscal conservatism
Political position
Far-right
Colors
Red, white and blue (national colors) Purple (de facto)
Senate
0 / 100
House of Representatives
0 / 435
State Governors
0 / 50
State upper chambers
0 / 1,972
State lower chambers
0 / 5,411
Other elected offices
25 (June 2025)
Tables
· Voter registration and notable members
1992
1992
Year
1992
RV.
247,995
%
0
Change
1994
1994
Year
1994
RV.
246,951
%
0
Change
1996
1996
Year
1996
RV.
306,900
%
0
Change
0 %
1998
1998
Year
1998
RV.
317,510
%
0
Change
2000
2000
Year
2000
RV.
348,977
%
0
Change
2002
2002
Year
2002
RV.
325,828
%
0
Change
2004
2004
Year
2004
RV.
367,521
%
0
Change
2008
2008
Year
2008
RV.
438,222
%
0
Change
2010
2010
Year
2010
RV.
476,669
%
0
Change
0 %
2012
2012
Year
2012
RV.
77,918
%
0
Change
0 %
2016
2016
Year
2016
RV.
92,483
%
0
Change
2018
2018
Year
2018
RV.
105,668
%
0
Change
2020
2020
Year
2020
RV.
118,088
%
0
Change
2021
2021
Year
2021
RV.
137,367
%
0
Change
| Year | RV. | % | Change |
| 1992 | 247,995 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 246,951 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 306,900 | 0 | 0 % |
| 1998 | 317,510 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 348,977 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 325,828 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 367,521 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 438,222 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 476,669 | 0 | 0 % |
| 2012 | 77,918 | 0 | 0 % |
| 2016 | 92,483 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 105,668 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 118,088 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 137,367 | 0 | |
· Electoral results › President
1992
1992
Year
1992
Presidential nominee
Howard Phillips
Home state
Virginia
Previous positions
Chairman of The Conservative Caucus
Candidate for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district
(1970)
Candidate for United States Senator from Massachusetts
(1978)
Vice presidential nominee
Albion W. Knight
Home state
Florida
Previous positions
Presiding Bishop of the United Episcopal Church of North America
(1989–1992)
Votes
43,369 (nil%)
0 EV ( )
1996
1996
Year
1996
Presidential nominee
Howard Phillips
Home state
Virginia
Previous positions
(see above for previous positions)
Nominee for President of the United States
(1992)
Vice presidential nominee
Herbert Titus
Home state
Oregon
Previous positions
Lawyer, writer
Votes
184,656 (0 %)
0 EV ( )
2000
2000
Year
2000
Presidential nominee
Howard Phillips
Home state
Virginia
Previous positions
(see above for previous positions)
Nominee for President of the United States
(1992; 1996)
Vice presidential nominee
Curtis Frazier
Home state
Missouri
Previous positions
Nominee for United States Senator from Missouri
(1998)
Votes
98,020 (0 %)
0 EV ( )
2004
2004
Year
2004
Presidential nominee
Michael Peroutka
Home state
Maryland
Previous positions
Lawyer
Founder of the Institute on the Constitution
Vice presidential nominee
Chuck Baldwin
Home state
Florida
Previous positions
Pastor, radio host
Votes
143,630 (0 %)
0 EV ( )
2008
2008
Year
2008
Presidential nominee
Chuck Baldwin
(campaign)
Home state
Florida
Previous positions
Nominee for Vice President of the United States
(2004)
Vice presidential nominee
Darrell Castle
Home state
Tennessee
Previous positions
Lawyer
Votes
199,750 (0 %)
0 EV ( )
2016
2016
Year
2016
Presidential nominee
Darrell Castle
(campaign)
Home state
Tennessee
Previous positions
Nominee for Vice President of the United States
(2008)
Vice presidential nominee
Scott Bradley
Home state
Utah
Previous positions
Nominee for United States Senator from Utah
(2006; 2010)
Votes
203,069 (0 %)
0 EV ( )
2020
2020
Year
2020
Presidential nominee
Don Blankenship
Home state
West Virginia
Previous positions
Former CEO of Massey Energy
Republican candidate for U . Senate from West Virginia (2018)
Vice presidential nominee
William Mohr
Home state
Michigan
Previous positions
Chairman of the U . Taxpayers Party of Michigan
Votes
60,023 (nil%)
0 EV ( )
2024
2024
Year
2024
Presidential nominee
Randall Terry
(campaign)
Home state
Tennessee
Previous positions
Anti-abortion activist
Candidate in the 2012 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Vice presidential nominee
Stephen Broden
Home state
Texas
Previous positions
Pastor
Republican candidate for U . House in Texas (2010)
Votes
41,107 (nil%)
0 EV ( )
2024 (alternate)
2024 (alternate)
Year
2024 (alternate)
Presidential nominee
Joel Skousen
Home state
Utah
Previous positions
Survivalist and consultant from Utah
Vice presidential nominee
Rik Combs
Home state
Missouri
Previous positions
Businessman and 2020 Libertarian nominee for governor from Missouri
Votes
12,783 (nil%)
0 EV ( )
| Year | Presidential nominee | Home state | Previous positions | Vice presidential nominee | Home state | Previous positions | Votes | Notes |
| 1992 | Howard Phillips | Virginia | Chairman of The Conservative Caucus Candidate for Massachusetts's 6th congressional district (1970) Candidate for United States Senator from Massachusetts (1978) | Albion W. Knight | Florida | Presiding Bishop of the United Episcopal Church of North America (1989–1992) | 43,369 (nil%) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 1996 | Howard Phillips | Virginia | (see above for previous positions) Nominee for President of the United States (1992) | Herbert Titus | Oregon | Lawyer, writer | 184,656 (0 %) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 2000 | Howard Phillips | Virginia | (see above for previous positions) Nominee for President of the United States (1992; 1996) | Curtis Frazier | Missouri | Nominee for United States Senator from Missouri (1998) | 98,020 (0 %) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 2004 | Michael Peroutka | Maryland | Lawyer Founder of the Institute on the Constitution | Chuck Baldwin | Florida | Pastor, radio host | 143,630 (0 %) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 2008 | Chuck Baldwin (campaign) | Florida | Nominee for Vice President of the United States (2004) | Darrell Castle | Tennessee | Lawyer | 199,750 (0 %) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 2012 | Virgil Goode (campaign) | Virginia | Member of the Virginia Senate (1973–1997) Member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th district (1997–2009) | Jim Clymer | Pennsylvania | Nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania (1994; 1998) Chair of the Constitution Party (1999–2012) Nominee for Attorney General of Pennsylvania (2000) Nominee for United States Senator from Pennsylvania (2004) | 122,388 (0 %) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 2016 | Darrell Castle (campaign) | Tennessee | Nominee for Vice President of the United States (2008) | Scott Bradley | Utah | Nominee for United States Senator from Utah (2006; 2010) | 203,069 (0 %) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 2020 | Don Blankenship | West Virginia | Former CEO of Massey Energy Republican candidate for U . Senate from West Virginia (2018) | William Mohr | Michigan | Chairman of the U . Taxpayers Party of Michigan | 60,023 (nil%) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 2024 | Randall Terry (campaign) | Tennessee | Anti-abortion activist Candidate in the 2012 Democratic Party presidential primaries | Stephen Broden | Texas | Pastor Republican candidate for U . House in Texas (2010) | 41,107 (nil%) 0 EV ( ) | |
| 2024 (alternate) | Joel Skousen | Utah | Survivalist and consultant from Utah | Rik Combs | Missouri | Businessman and 2020 Libertarian nominee for governor from Missouri | 12,783 (nil%) 0 EV ( ) |
· Electoral results › House of Representatives
2000
2000
Election year
2000
No. of overall votes
122,936
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
2002
2002
Election year
2002
No. of overall votes
99,306
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2004
2004
Election year
2004
No. of overall votes
132,613
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2006
2006
Election year
2006
No. of overall votes
68,031
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2008
2008
Election year
2008
No. of overall votes
136,021
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2010
2010
Election year
2010
No. of overall votes
123,841
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2012
2012
Election year
2012
No. of overall votes
118,102
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2016
2016
Election year
2016
No. of overall votes
127,376
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2018
2018
Election year
2018
No. of overall votes
74,956
% of overall vote
nil
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2020
2020
Election year
2020
No. of overall votes
82,567
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2022
2022
Election year
2022
No. of overall votes
44,314
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
2024
2024
Election year
2024
No. of overall votes
225,303
% of overall vote
0
No. of representatives
0 / 435
+/-
0
General election results source:
General election results source:
Election year
General election results source:
| Election year | No. of overall votes | % of overall vote | No. of representatives | +/- |
| 2000 | 122,936 | 0 | 0 / 435 | |
| 2002 | 99,306 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2004 | 132,613 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2006 | 68,031 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2008 | 136,021 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2010 | 123,841 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2012 | 118,102 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2016 | 127,376 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2018 | 74,956 | nil | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2020 | 82,567 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2022 | 44,314 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| 2024 | 225,303 | 0 | 0 / 435 | 0 |
| General election results source: | ||||
United States Senate · Electoral results › Senate
1998
1998
Election year
1998
No. of total votes
183,588
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2000
2000
Election year
2000
No. of total votes
286,816
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2002
2002
Election year
2002
No. of total votes
60,456
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2004
2004
Election year
2004
No. of total votes
404,853
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2006
2006
Election year
2006
No. of total votes
133,037
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2008
2008
Election year
2008
No. of total votes
240,729
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2010
2010
Election year
2010
No. of total votes
338,593
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2012
2012
Election year
2012
No. of total votes
140,636
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2014
2014
Election year
2014
No. of total votes
100,395
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2016
2016
Election year
2016
No. of total votes
93,315
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2018
2018
Election year
2018
No. of total votes
57,932
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2020
2020
Election year
2020
No. of total votes
110,851
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2022
2022
Election year
2022
No. of total votes
40,419
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
2024
2024
Election year
2024
No. of total votes
64,984
% of vote
0
No. of seats won
0
General election results source:
General election results source:
Election year
General election results source:
| Election year | No. of total votes | % of vote | No. of seats won |
| 1998 | 183,588 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 286,816 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 60,456 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 404,853 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 133,037 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 240,729 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 338,593 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 140,636 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 100,395 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 93,315 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 57,932 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 110,851 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 40,419 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 64,984 | 0 | 0 |
| General election results source: | |||
· Electoral results › Best results in major races
President
President
Office
President
Percent (%)
1
District
Utah
Year
2008
Candidate
Chuck Baldwin
1
1
Office
1
Percent (%)
Alaska
District
2016
Year
Darrell Castle
0
0
Office
0
Percent (%)
Washington
District
2016
Year
Darrell Castle
US Senate
US Senate
Office
US Senate
Percent (%)
5
District
Utah
Year
2010
Candidate
Scott Bradley
5
5
Office
5
Percent (%)
Oregon
District
2008
Year
David Brownlow
4
4
Office
4
Percent (%)
Pennsylvania
District
2004
Year
Jim Clymer
US House
US House
Office
US House
Percent (%)
30
District
North Carolina District 6
Year
2024
Candidate
Kevin Hayes
21
21
Office
21
Percent (%)
Florida District 16
District
2002
Year
Jack McClain
16
16
Office
16
Percent (%)
Alabama District 1
District
2010
Year
David M. Walter
Governor
Governor
Office
Governor
Percent (%)
36
District
Colorado
Year
2010
Candidate
Tom Tancredo
15
15
Office
15
Percent (%)
Nevada
District
1974
Year
James Houston
12
12
Office
12
Percent (%)
Pennsylvania
District
1994
Year
Peg Luksik
| Office | Percent (%) | District | Year | Candidate |
| President | 1 | Utah | 2008 | Chuck Baldwin |
| 1 | Alaska | 2016 | Darrell Castle | |
| 0 | Washington | 2016 | Darrell Castle | |
| US Senate | 5 | Utah | 2010 | Scott Bradley |
| 5 | Oregon | 2008 | David Brownlow | |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 2004 | Jim Clymer | |
| US House | 30 | North Carolina District 6 | 2024 | Kevin Hayes |
| 21 | Florida District 16 | 2002 | Jack McClain | |
| 16 | Alabama District 1 | 2010 | David M. Walter | |
| Governor | 36 | Colorado | 2010 | Tom Tancredo |
| 15 | Nevada | 1974 | James Houston | |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 1994 | Peg Luksik |
References
- Ballot Access Newshttp://ballot-access.org/2021/03/28/march-2021-ballot-access-news-print-edition/
- Boundlesshttps://web.archive.org/web/20150116140223/https://www.boundless.com/political-science/textbooks/boundless-political-science-textbook/interest-groups-7/minor-political-parties-58/ideological-third-parties-and-splinter-parties-335-8403/
- Onward, Christian Soldiers: The Growing Political Power of Catholics and Evangelicals in the United Stateshttps://books.google.com/books?id=-kxKOrqtQBQC&pg=PA82
- The History of Third Parties
- "Tancredo's New Home In The Constitution Party: A Religious, Paleoconservative Group Without Much Electoral Success"http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/tancredo-s-new-home-in-the-constitution-party-a-religious-paleoconservative-group-without-much-electoral-success
- The American Spectatorhttps://web.archive.org/web/20151208160239/http://spectator.org/articles/43751/constitutionally-contentious
- National Public Radiohttps://web.archive.org/web/20130921054433/http://www.npr.org/elections2010/scorecard/race.php?ID=56
- Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement
- Delirium: The Politics of Sex in Americahttps://archive.org/details/deliriumpolitics0000cohe
- Crimes of Dissent: Civil Disobedience, Criminal Justice, and the Politics of Consciencehttps://archive.org/details/crimeso_lov_2009_00_5251/page/50
- "Goode joins Constitution Party"https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2010/05/goode-joins-constitution-party-026803
- Constitution Partyhttps://www.constitutionparty.com/elections/current-office-holders/
- Winger, Richard (November 21, 2016). "New Voter Registration Nation Totals". ballot-access Archived November 22, 2016, ahttp://ballot-access.org/2016/11/21/new-voter-registration-national-totals/
- The Atlanta Constitutionhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/58703499/the-atlanta-constitution/
- Park Recordhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/58710520/the-park-record/
- Ballot Access Newshttp://www.ballot-access.org/1991/02-09-91.pdf
- Tampa Bay Timeshttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/58710634/tampa-bay-times/
- Ballot Access Newshttp://www.ballot-access.org/1991/04-03-91.pdf