Reform Party Of Minnesota
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Reform Party of Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ross Perot |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Dissolved | 2011 |
| Headquarters | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Ideology | Centrism, Populism, Fiscal conservatism |
| Political position | Center |
| Colors | Navy Blue, Red |
| Website | |
| reformpartymn.org (Archived) | |
Overview
The Reform Party of Minnesota (RPMN) was a centrist political party active in the U.S. state of Minnesota from 1995 until 2011. It gained national prominence in 1998 with the election of Jesse Ventura as Governor, the highest-ranking victory for any third-party candidate in modern Minnesota history. Following a high-profile schism in 2000, the majority of its members formed the Independence Party of Minnesota, leaving the Reform Party as a minor organization until its final dissolution.
History
The Ventura Era (1995–2000)
Founded as the state affiliate of Ross Perot's national Reform Party, the RPMN focused on fiscal responsibility and electoral reform. In 1998, Jesse Ventura won a three-way race with 37% of the vote, defeating Republican Norm Coleman and DFLer Skip Humphrey. Despite his victory, Ventura faced a "divided" government where the Reform Party held no seats in the state legislature, forcing him to govern through compromise with the two major parties.
The 2000 Split
Internal tensions reached a breaking point in February 2000. Ventura, citing the "hopelessly dysfunctional" nature of the national party and the looming nomination of Pat Buchanan, announced his disaffiliation.
- On March 4, 2000, the state party voted to break from the national Reform Party.
- The majority of the infrastructure rebranded as the Independence Party of Minnesota.
- A "rump" faction remained loyal to the national Reform Party, retaining the name Reform Party of Minnesota.
Post-2000 Decline and 2011 Dissolution
After the split, the party struggled for relevancy. While the Independence Party maintained major-party status and high-profile candidates like Dean Barkley, the Reform Party of Minnesota saw its influence evaporate.
The party maintained a digital presence at reformpartymn.org throughout the 2000s, but activity was largely administrative. By 2011, the party ceased all electoral activity. Its final federal filings showed zero assets, leading to its formal dissolution as a registered political entity in Minnesota.
Election Results
While the 1998 Gubernatorial win was the party's peak, it fielded several candidates for federal and state offices before the 2000 split and minor candidates thereafter.
Statewide Elections
| Year | Candidate | Office | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ross Perot | President | 257,704 | 11.7% | Lost |
| 1998 | Jesse Ventura | Governor | 773,713 | 37.0% | Won |
| 2000 | Pat Buchanan | President | 22,111 | 0.9% | Lost |
Legislative and Federal House Elections
In 1998, the party fielded several candidates for the Minnesota House of Representatives and U.S. Congress, though none were successful. Following the 2000 split, almost all third-party legislative candidates in Minnesota ran under the Independence Party banner rather than the Reform Party.
Financials and FEC Status
Federal Election Commission (FEC) records for the party (Committee ID: C00318089) track its rise and fall. During the 1998 cycle, the party managed significant contributions due to Ventura's popularity. After 2000, the FEC filings transitioned to "Limited Activity" reports.
- 2000–2004: Drastic drop in individual contributions following the Ventura exit.
- 2010–2011: Termination reports filed; the committee officially dissolved with no remaining cash-on-hand.
See also
References
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