New Farmer Labor Parliamentary Group
The New Farmer Labor Parliamentary Group, also known as the New Farmer Labor Caucus or simply as New Farmer Labor, was a parliamentary group and ideological caucus in the Parliament of Superior, primarily in the House of Delegates, that represented some of the most left-wing and socialist members of the Farmer Labor Party. Founded in 2003, it was created by Michael Rockwell as a means of representing the left wing of Superior's politics and to push the Farmer Labor Party to the left.
| New Farmer Labor Parliamentary Group | |
|---|---|
| Chairperson |
Michael Rockwell (first) Melissa Butler (last) |
| Founded | July 2, 2003 |
| Dissolved | September 30, 2021 |
| Succeeded by | New Labor Party of Superior |
| Ideology |
Socialism Social democracy Democratic socialism Left-wing populism Internal factions: • Republicanism • Liberal socialism • Cosmopolitanism |
| Political position |
 Left-wing |
| National affiliation | Farmer Labor Party |
| Official colors | Red, Green |
| House Farmer Labor seats |
12 / 34 |
| House of Delegates |
12 / 262 |
|
Politics of Superior Political parties Elections | |
Commonly known as the Left Caucus or the Left Faction, New Farmer Labor adhered to a very socialist platform supporting both social democratic and democratic socialist principals viewing the former as a pathway to the latter as well as pushing for left populism opposing outsourcing, military intervention, deregulation and neoliberalism. In recent years, the party has moved to pushing for a more post-capitalist, progressive and international policy and for a more egalitarian and just society.
The group was lead by Melissa Butler, a Member of Parliament from Minnesota and former Secretary of Commerce, Labor, and Transportation in the Third Granholm Administration, from 2013 until its dissolution and had 12 members in the House of Delegates by 2021. During the Granholm government judiciary scandal, New Farmer Labor condemned Jennifer Granholm and the Executive Mansion for the alleged intimedation of political allies and state officials, especially George Hargreeves, and called on her to resign and own up to her mistakes. The group would censure party leader Atal Bohtar after he reaffirmed the party's backing for Granholm and would dissolve on September 30, 2021 to form the New Labor Party of Superior.
History
Ideology
Membership
Members (2013–2021)
- Melissa Butler, MP from Edina (Minnesota's 2nd district)
- Linda Sarkour, MP from South Des Moines (Iowa's 4th district)