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Socialist Alternative (United States)

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Socialist Alternative (United States)

Socialist Alternative (SAlt or SA) is a Trotskyist political party in the United States. SAlt formed as Labor Militant in 1986, when members of the Committee for a Workers' International created a US branch. SAlt describes itself as a revolutionary socialist party fighting for a democratic socialist economy, because it argues that capitalism is fundamentally incapable of serving the interests of the majority of people. SAlt's highest-profile public representative was former Seattle City Councillor Kshama Sawant, who left the party and created her own, Revolutionary Workers, in 2024.

Infobox

Abbreviation
SAlt or SA
Founded
April 1986; 39 years ago (1986-04)(as Labor Militant)
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Newspaper
Socialist Alternative
Membership
≈1,000 (2020)
Ideology
MarxismRevolutionary socialismDemocratic socialismTrotskyism
Political position
Far-left
International affiliation
International Socialist Alternative
Colors
mw- Red
Slogan
"Struggle, Solidarity, Socialism"
Members in elected offices
0

Tables

· Election results › State legislature elections
2014
2014
Year
2014
Candidate
Jessica Spear
Office
State Representative
Area
Washington
District
43-2
Votes
8,606
%
mw- .mw- .mw- 17.7%
Result
Lost
Notes
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate
2012
2012
Year
2012
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
State Representative
Area
Washington
District
43-2
Votes
20,425
%
29.4%
Result
Lost
Notes
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate
Year
Candidate
Office
Area
District
Votes
%
Result
Notes
Ref
2014
Jessica Spear
State Representative
Washington
43-2
8,606
mw- .mw- 17.7%
Lost
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate
2012
Kshama Sawant
State Representative
Washington
43-2
20,425
29.4%
Lost
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate
· Election results › Local elections
2021
2021
Year
2021
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
City Council
Area
Seattle
District
3
Votes
20,656
%
50.4%
Result
Won
Notes
non-partisan recall election, joined Democratic Socialists of America in February
2019
2019
Year
2019
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
City Council
Area
Seattle
District
3
Votes
22,263
%
52.1%
Result
Won
Notes
non-partisan election
2017
2017
Year
2017
Candidate
Ginger Jentzen
Office
City Council
Area
Minneapolis
District
3
Votes
3,844
%
44.2%
Result
Lost
Notes
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate, ranked choice election
2015
2015
Year
2015
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
City Council
Area
Seattle
District
3
Votes
17,170
%
56.1%
Result
Won
Notes
non-partisan election
2013
2013
Year
2013
Candidate
Kshama Sawant
Office
City Council
Area
Seattle
District
2
Votes
93,682
%
50.9%
Result
Won
Notes
non-partisan election
2013
2013
Year
2013
Candidate
Seamus Whelan
Office
City Council
Area
Boston
District
At-Large
Votes
3,118
%
2.6%
Result
Lost
Notes
non-partisan, plurality at-large election
2013
2013
Year
2013
Candidate
Ty Moore
Office
City Council
Area
Minneapolis
District
9
Votes
1,758
%
46.9%
Result
Lost
Notes
ran as Green Party candidate, ranked choice election
2007
2007
Year
2007
Candidate
Matt Geary
Office
City Council
Area
Boston
District
At-Large
Votes
3,025
%
6.5%
Result
Lost
Notes
non-partisan, plurality at-large election
Year
Candidate
Office
Area
District
Votes
%
Result
Notes
Ref
2021
Kshama Sawant
City Council
Seattle
3
20,656
50.4%
Won
non-partisan recall election, joined Democratic Socialists of America in February
2019
Kshama Sawant
City Council
Seattle
3
22,263
52.1%
Won
non-partisan election
2017
Ginger Jentzen
City Council
Minneapolis
3
3,844
44.2%
Lost
ran as Socialist Alternative candidate, ranked choice election
2015
Kshama Sawant
City Council
Seattle
3
17,170
56.1%
Won
non-partisan election
2013
Kshama Sawant
City Council
Seattle
2
93,682
50.9%
Won
non-partisan election
2013
Seamus Whelan
City Council
Boston
At-Large
3,118
2.6%
Lost
non-partisan, plurality at-large election
2013
Ty Moore
City Council
Minneapolis
9
1,758
46.9%
Lost
ran as Green Party candidate, ranked choice election
2007
Matt Geary
City Council
Boston
At-Large
3,025
6.5%
Lost
non-partisan, plurality at-large election

References

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