The Socialist Party of California (SPCA) was a
socialist political party in the
U.S. state of
California. Founded in the early 1900s, it had been the state chapter of the
Socialist Party USA since being re-chartered in 2011. As of July 2020, it was no longer listed as active by the national organization.
In 1972 the
Socialist Party of America changed its name to "
Social Democrats, USA" by a vote of 73 to 34 at its December National Convention.[3] Renaming the Party as SDUSA was meant to be "realistic" as the Party had not run a presidential candidate since the
1956 elections.
Socialist Party USA affiliation
The following year, 1973, the
Socialist Party USA was formed out the core members of the Debs Caucus. The Socialist Party of California was ultimately reorganized under the Socialist Party USA banner. The chapter's membership increased during the
presidential election of 2008 under the
Vice Presidential nominee and
2012Presidential nominee
Stewart Alexander. In June 2011, the Party was re-charted under current State Chair Mimi Soltysik. The Party hosted the October 2011 Socialist Party National Convention, which was held in
Los Angeles.[4] The Socialist Party of California operated with locals in the counties of
Los Angeles,
Ventura, and the
San Francisco Bay Area.
As of July 2020 the SPCA is removed from the SPUSA register of active state parties and the website is inactive.
^Leader, Leonard (Winter 1980). "Upton Sinclair's EPIC Switch: A Dilemma for American Socialists". Southern California Quarterly. 62 (4). University of California Press: 361–385.
doi:
10.2307/41170900.
JSTOR41170900.