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Working Families Party

Updated: Wikipedia source

Working Families Party

The Working Families Party (WFP) is a progressive minor political party in the United States. Founded in New York in 1998, it has active chapters in nearly two dozen states. The Working Families Party was first organized in 1998 by a coalition of labor unions, community organizations, members of the now-inactive national New Party, and a variety of advocacy groups such as Citizen Action of New York and ACORN: the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. The party is primarily concerned with healthcare reform, raising the minimum wage, universal paid sick days, addressing student debt, progressive taxation, public education, energy, and environmental reform.

Infobox

National director
Maurice Mitchell
Founders
Bertha LewisDan Cantor
Founded
1998; 27 years ago (1998)
Merger of
New PartyCitizen Action Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
Headquarters
New York City, New York, U.S.
Membership (November 2024)
59,779 (registered voters in state of New York)
Ideology
mw- ProgressivismSocial democracyDemocratic socialism
Political position
Center-left to left-wing
Colors
mw- Blue and white (formerly) Purple and orange (current)
Seats in the Senate
0 / 100
Seats in the House
0 / 435
Governorships
0 / 50
State upper house seats
0 / 1,972
State lower house seats
0 / 5,411
Philadelphia City Council
2 / 17
Hartford City Council
2 / 9

Tables

· Notable elected officials
Ed Gomes
Ed Gomes
Name
Ed Gomes
Office
Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 23rd district
Took office
2015
Left office
2016
Wildaliz Bermúdez
Wildaliz Bermúdez
Name
Wildaliz Bermúdez
Office
Member of the Hartford City Council
Took office
2016
Left office
2021
Kendra Brooks
Kendra Brooks
Name
Kendra Brooks
Office
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the at-large district
Took office
2020
Left office
present
Joshua Michtom
Joshua Michtom
Name
Joshua Michtom
Office
Member of the Hartford City Council
Took office
2020
Left office
present
Tiana Hercules
Tiana Hercules
Name
Tiana Hercules
Office
Member of the Hartford City Council
Took office
2022
Left office
2023
Nicolas O'Rourke
Nicolas O'Rourke
Name
Nicolas O'Rourke
Office
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the at-large district
Took office
2024
Left office
present
Alex Thomas
Alex Thomas
Name
Alex Thomas
Office
Member of the Hartford City Council
Took office
2024
Left office
present
Name
Office
Took office
Left office
Ref.
Ed Gomes
Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 23rd district
2015
2016
Wildaliz Bermúdez
Member of the Hartford City Council
2016
2021
Joshua M. Hall
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 7th district
2017
2018
Kendra Brooks
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the at-large district
2020
present
Joshua Michtom
Member of the Hartford City Council
2020
present
Tiana Hercules
Member of the Hartford City Council
2022
2023
Nicolas O'Rourke
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the at-large district
2024
present
Alex Thomas
Member of the Hartford City Council
2024
present

References

  1. Subsequently elected as a member of the Democratic Party in 2016
  2. Subsequently elected as a member of the Democratic Party in 2018, 2020 and 2022
  3. www.elections.ny.gov
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  4. "Progressives contemplate post-Cuomo politics"
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  5. Prospect.org
    http://prospect.org/article/meet-working-families-party-whose-ballot-line-play-new-york
  6. "Bernie Sanders Calls the Working Families Party 'the Closest Thing' to Socialism"
    https://observer.com/2016/11/bernie-sanders-calls-the-working-families-party-the-closest-thing-to-socialism/
  7. "The Working Families Party is looking to oust seven Assembly Democratic incumbents"
    https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2022/06/working-families-party-looking-oust-seven-assembly-democratic-incumbents/368352/
  8. POLITICO
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/18/hochul-endorsed-mamdani-now-comes-the-hard-part-00570052
  9. New York Daily News
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  10. The Atlantic
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  11. The Columbus Dispatch
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  12. San Francisco Chronicle
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  13. "Dan Cantor's Machine"
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  14. Sekou 2020, p. 99-101.
  15. New York Times
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  16. Sekou 2020, p. 103.
  17. Sekou 2020, p. 108.
  18. openDemocracy
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  19. Working Families
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  20. Politico
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  21. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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  22. Daily News
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  23. New Political Science
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  24. Nahmias, Laura; Pazmino, Gloria. "The rise of Tish James". Politico PRO. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  25. The New York Times
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  26. Ballot-access.org
    http://www.ballot-access.org/2006/05/17/working-families-party-qualified-as-political-body-in-california/
  27. Ballot-access.org
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  28. Ballot-access.org
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  29. Ctpost.com
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  30. Crain's New York Business
    http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20151120/POLITICS/151129991/working-families-party-goes-local-to-broaden-reach
  31. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/08/working-families-party-endorses-bernie-sanders-for-president/
  32. Medium.com
    https://medium.com/@WorkingFamilies/wfp-endorses-hillary-clinton-bd946de4e801
  33. ctmirror.org
    https://ctmirror.org/2017/04/25/wfp-wins-hartford-seat-gop-keeps-seat-in-watertown/
  34. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/us/politics/working-families-party-elizabeth-warren.html
  35. CNBC
    https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/16/sen-warren-wins-working-families-party-endorsement-beating-sanders.html
  36. Vox
    https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/9/16/20868862/working-families-party-endorsement-bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren
  37. twitter.com
    https://twitter.com/WorkingFamilies/status/1237016542795239425
  38. Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/2019/02/mandela-barnes-delivers-wfp-state-of-the-union-response/
  39. Working Families Party
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  40. Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/2021/04/rep-jamaal-bowman-delivers-wfp-response-to-biden-joint-address/
  41. Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/2022/03/rep-rashida-tlaib-delivers-2022-wfp-response-to-state-of-the-union-address/
  42. Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/2023/02/rep-delia-ramirez-to-deliver-wfps-2023-state-of-the-union-response/
  43. Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/live-2024-wfp-response-to-state-of-the-union/
  44. Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/2025/02/rep-lateefah-simon-to-deliver-wfp-response-to-trumps-address-to-congress/
  45. "NYS Board of Elections Governor Election Returns Nov. 3, 1998"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120823020649/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/1998/GOVWEB.pdf
  46. Spectrum News NY1
    https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2020/10/28/nyc-elections-2020-whos-running-working-families-party-wfp-charles-schumer
  47. Politico PRO
    https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/05/23/the-rise-of-tish-james-433405
  48. "2006 U.S. House of Representatives Candidates | SCVotes.org"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20060921082214/http://www.scvotes.org/candidacy/2006/08/15/2006_u_s_house_of_representatives_candidates
  49. "2006 State House Candidates - SCVotes.org"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20061018231047/http://www.scvotes.org/candidacy/2006/08/15/2006_state_house_candidates
  50. Ballot-access.org
    http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/11/25/working-families-party-elected-two-members-of-hartford-connecticut-city-council/
  51. "Working Families Party -- The MINOR party with MAJOR possibilities"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081121200520/http://scwfp.org/convention.php
  52. "Platt Wins Big Endorsements; Broad Appeal Crosses Party Lines"
    https://archive.today/20120718144338/http://voteplatt.com/news/2008/05/17/platt-wins-big-endorsementsbroad-appeal-crosses-party-lines/
  53. Ballot-access.org
    http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/05/21/south-carolina-working-families-party-nominates/
  54. "Working Families candidates score Bridgeport breakthrough - Connecticut Post"
    http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Working-Families-candidates-score-Bridgeport-204450.php
  55. New York Daily News
    http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/09/04/2009-09-04_caught_in_the_act.html
  56. "The Working Families Party Scam | Room Eight"
    http://www.r8ny.com/blog/mole333/the_working_families_party_scam.html
  57. "CITY HALL SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: Six Council Campaigns, de Blasio Campaign, Discovered Using Working Families Staff, Resources In Test Of City Finance Limits"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090813094909/http://www.cityhallnews.com/news/128/ARTICLE/2053/2009-08-09.html
  58. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/opinion/22sat2.html
  59. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/21/nyregion/21working.html
  60. "With Malloy as governor, Working Families Party pushing paid sick days"
    http://ctmirror.org/story/8558/malloy-governor-working-families-pushing-paid-sick-days
  61. Wnpr.org
    http://wnpr.org/post/working-families-party-celebrates-2011-looks-2012#stream/0
  62. Articles.courant.com
    https://www.courant.com/2011/11/17/working-families-official-to-pay-10000-ethics-fine-2/
  63. "WFP Director Fined For Lobbying Without Badge"
    http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/wfp_director_fined_for_lobbying_without_badge
  64. Ccag.net
    http://ccag.net/
  65. "My Left Nutmeg:: CT 05: CT Working Families Party endorse Donovan"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120419141127/http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/diary/13962/ct-05-ct-working-familes-party-endorse-donovan
  66. Nymag.com
    https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/11/how-cuomo-played-the-working-families-party.html
  67. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/12/nyregion/cuomo-works-to-mend-fences-with-liberals.html?_r=0
  68. "NYS Board of Elections Unofficial Election Night Results"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131107220743/http://nyenr.elections.state.ny.us/
  69. 43rd D. special election result Archived November 7, 2018, at the Wayback Machine at NYS Board of Elections
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  70. Capital New York
    http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/12/8584854/working-families-party-endorses-sanders-overwhelmingly
  71. "Summary"
    http://enr-scvotes.org/sc/64658/18470/en/summaryhtml
  72. "Populists Are on the March in the South: Bernie-Backed Insurgent Randall Woodfin Defeats Birmingham's Incumbent Mayor"
    https://theintercept.com/2017/10/03/populists-are-on-the-march-in-the-south-bernie-backed-insurgent-randall-woodfin-defeats-birminghams-incumbent-mayor/
  73. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/nyregion/cuomo-nixon-wfp-labor-governor-election.html?action=click&contentCollection=N.Y.+%2F+Region&module=RelatedCoverage&region=EndOfArticle&pgtype=article
  74. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/nyregion/cynthia-nixon-cuomo-working-families-party.html
  75. Newsday
    https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/cuomo-nixon-molinaro-1.21518093
  76. Forbes
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecarter/2020/08/08/electing-a-mother-as-vp-vote-mama-resoundingly-says-yes/
  77. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/us/politics/working-families-party-elizabeth-warren.html
  78. Lack of Transparency Surrounding Working Families Party's Warren Endorsement Raises Concerns
    https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/18/lack-transparency-surrounding-working-families-partys-warren-endorsement-raises
  79. Bernie Sanders Probably Won the WFP Membership Vote
    https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/09/working-families-party-elizabeth-warren-endorsement
  80. "Working Families Party wins City Council seat in historic Philly election"
    https://billypenn.com/2019/11/05/working-families-party-wins-city-council-seat-in-historic-philly-election/
  81. The Nation
    https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/working-parties-family-sanders/
  82. Medium
    https://medium.com/@WorkingFamilies/making-trump-a-one-term-president-is-our-moral-mandate-4190e3151278
  83. NY1
    https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/decision-2021/2021/04/14/stringer-gets-working-families-party-s-endorsement-in-mayor-s-race
  84. New York
    https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/05/working-families-party-endorses-wiley-and-morales-for-mayor.html
  85. NY1
    https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2021/06/04/nyc-elections-2021-whos-running-maya-wiley-working-families-party-wfp-number-one-endorsement
  86. Philadelphia Inquirer
    https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philly-at-large-council-results-2023-20231108.html
  87. "WFP: "There is no military solution to this conflict, and there never has been""
    https://workingfamilies.org/2023/10/wfp-there-is-no-military-solution-to-this-conflict-and-there-never-has-been/
  88. The Nation
    https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/working-families-party-response-to-biden-will-demand-new-course-on-gaza/
  89. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/02/us/politics/biden-gaza-blank-ballots-new-york-primary.html
  90. "Certified 2024 Democratic Presidential Primary Results"
    https://elections.ny.gov/certified-2024-democratic-presidential-primary-results
  91. "Electing Kamala Harris is Part Of Our Plan to Win for Working People in 2024"
    https://workingfamilies.org/2024/07/electing-kamala-harris-is-part-of-our-plan-to-win-for-working-people-in-2024/
  92. "California Working Families Party Endorses Barbara Lee for U.S. Senate"
    https://workingfamilies.org/2023/07/california-working-families-party-endorses-barbara-lee-for-u-s-senate/
  93. New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/nyregion/nyc-mayor-working-families-party.html
  94. ranktheslate.nyc
    https://www.ranktheslate.nyc/
  95. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/30/working-families-party-picks-zohran-mamdani-first-in-ranked-choice-endorsements-for-nyc-mayor-00378768
  96. City & State NY
    https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/06/progressives-pull-ramos-endorsements-after-she-backs-andrew-cuomo/405885/
  97. City & State NY
    https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/04/wfp-will-not-give-general-election-ballot-line-andrew-cuomo/404264/
  98. enr.boenyc.gov
    https://enr.boenyc.gov/rcv/026916_1.html
  99. NBC News
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2025-elections/new-york-city-mayor-results
  100. New Jersey Monitor
    https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/04/14/newark-mayor-celebrates-nod-from-progressive-groups-in-bid-to-become-governor/
  101. New Jersey Globe
    https://newjerseyglobe.com/campaigns/n-j-working-families-party-endorses-13-assembly-candidates/
  102. Working Families Party
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  103. Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/state/washington/
  104. Politico
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  105. Connecticut Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/2022/02/connecticut-working-families-party-names-sarah-ganong-new-state-director/
  106. Philadelphia Inquirer
    https://www.inquirer.com/news/sue-altman-george-norcross-new-jersey-20191119.html
  107. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/14/us/politics/democrats-convention-choice-reflects-philadelphias-resurgence.html
  108. nwLaborPress
    https://nwlaborpress.org/2015/09/oregon-working-families-party-minor-party-strives-to-be-a-major-player-in-oregon/
  109. "Working Families Make Promising Debut in Maryland Elections"
    http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/16891/working_families_party_makes_promising_debut_in_maryland_elections
  110. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2013/10/30/d-c-working-families-coalition-launches-targets-minimum-wage-hike/
  111. www.jsonline.com
    http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/marina-dimitrijevic-to-lead-new-wisconsin-working-families-party-b99547653z1-320199091.html
  112. Working Families
    http://workingfamilies.org/2017/08/announcing-west-virginia-working-families-party/
  113. www.cnn.com
    https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/13/politics/maurice-mitchell-working-families-party-interview/index.html
  114. CT Mirror
    https://ctmirror.org/2015/02/24/ed-gomes-wins-big-will-resume-state-senate-career-at-79/
  115. Ballotpedia
    https://ballotpedia.org/Wildaliz_Bermudez
  116. CT Mirror
    https://ctmirror.org/2017/04/25/wfp-wins-hartford-seat-gop-keeps-seat-in-watertown/
  117. Philly Mag
    https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/11/06/kendra-brooks-working-families-party/
  118. Ballotpedia
    https://ballotpedia.org/Joshua_Michtom
  119. Working Families Party
    https://workingfamilies.org/2023/02/working-families-party-hartford-city-councilmembers-josh-michtom-and-tiana-hercules-announced-their-intention-to-seek-reelection-in-2023-along-with-pastor-alex-thomas-their-new-running-mate/
  120. WHYY
    https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-election-2023-nicolas-orourke-kendra-brooks-working-families-party-city-council-at-large-race/
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