Conservative Party of New York

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The Conservative Party of New York is an American political party active only in the state of New York. It was founded in 1962 by a group including J. Daniel Mahoney and Charles Edison, out of frustration with the perceived liberalism of the state's Republican Party. An early supporter was National Review editor William F. Buckley, who served as the party's candidate for mayor of New York City in 1965. In 1970, James Buckley, brother of William, was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Conservative Party candidate; however, in 1976, he ran for reelection as a candidate of the Republican and Conservative Parties, losing to Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In the 2004 U.S. Senate election, the Conservative Party endorsed Marilyn O'Grady to oppose Republican candidate Howard Mills and incumbent Democratic Senator Charles Schumer.

In most cases, the Conservative Party's strategy is to endorse the same candidate as the Republicans, but to withhold its support from candidates it decides to be too liberal. For example, the Conservative Party withheld its support from Republican Rudy Giuliani's fusion campaigns for New York City mayor in 1989, 1993 and 1997; its lack of support in 1989 was one important factor in Giuliani losing that year^{[citation needed]}. However it has also endorsed Democratic candidates as well, such as controversial former Buffalo mayor and presidential candidate Jimmy Griffin, who also had Republican endorsement. No Republican has won statewide office in New York without Conservative Party support since 1974.[1]

[edit] The Conservative Party in the New York State Elections 2006

The Conservative Party has been significant in influencing the decisions of the New York Republican Party. The party lobbied against Jeanine Pirro's candidacy for New York United States Senate election, 2006 against Hillary Clinton. Pirro was a moderate Republican and was supported by Governor George Pataki and other GOP leaders who saw her as the only candidate who could compete against Clinton. Under pressure from the Conservative Party and factions within the GOP, Pirro withdrew from the race in November 2005 to run for state attorney general. Most Conservative Party state and county leaders supported John Spencer, former mayor of Yonkers, New York. Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long has endorsed John Faso[2], the former House Minority Leader and Republican State Comptroller nominee in 2002. He has also received the endorsements of county branches of the Conservative Party. Bill Weld, John Faso's primary contender, has received lukewarm support from the Conservative Party due to his support of abortion rights and same sex marriage.

[edit] External links

• The Conservative Party of New York State.
• BUCKLEY, James Lane (1923-) Biographical Information, Congressional biography, the Conservative Party's former U.S. Senator.
• Book review of Fighting the Good Fight: A History of the New York Conservative Party by George Marlin.