2022 Green Party of Sierra leadership election
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The 2022 Green Party of Sierra leadership election took place on December 28, 2022 to elected the next leader of the Green Party of Sierra. A leadership election was triggered on November 26, 2022, after party leader Jonathan Mueller, who was elected in 2016, resigned after historic defeats in the 2022 Sierran federal election, in which Mueller himself was defeated in.
A total of four major candidates ran for the leadership position, though only one (Mark de Klerk) was a member of Parliament at the time of the election. While candidates generally agreed on party policies, the primary debate during the election was centered around the Green Party's continued partnership with the Social Democrats, specifically with Susan Kwon. Candidates identified as moderates in the race pushed for distance between the party and Kwon, while those who had been identified as progressives supported remaining aligned with the Social Democrats.
The 2022 leadership election was the closest leadership election in Green Party history. After three days of counting, Mark de Klerk, a member of Parliament from Plumas, narrowly defeated former chair of the Green Party of Kings Richard Dubose with a 2.1% margin. After a brief recount held on January 1, de Klerk was declared the winner of the race and was sworn in as leader of the Green Party
Background
In 2016, Jonathan Mueller was elected leader of the Green Party and succeeded Estella Tate, a Native Sierran community organizer and environmentalist who lead the party between 2001 until 2016 when she resigned due to health issues and fears of the ability to lead the party into the 2016 Sierran federal election. Under Mueller, the Green Party made some gains in parliament and would be part of a the Progressive coaltiion under Susan Kwon between 2020 and 2022. During the 2022 election, Mueller was defeated by Reilly Moore in Grand Appleton and he became the most recent party leader to lose re-election. Mueller announced his resignation on November 26 following the beginning of the leadership election which was automatically triggered, took responsibility for the party's poor showing in the election, and thanked the Green Party base for supporting him as leader.
Candidates
Declared
- Richard Dubose, former Chair of the Green Party of Kings (2012–2018) and perennial candidate.
- Mark de Klerk, MP for Coastal Lowlands (Plumas's 1st district) (2016–present).
- Paige Reilly, environmental activist and author.
- Rashida Sadiq, environmental activist and president of the Foundation for the Ethical Care of Animals
Declined
- Estella Tate, community organizer, former MP for Northwood Pines (1998–2016), and former party leader (2001–2016). (endorsed de Klerk)
- Hope Goodart, MP from Northwood Pines (2020–present). (endorsed de Klerk)
Endorsements
- Federal officials
- Jonathan Mueller, K.S. Surgeon General (2020–2022), Leader of the Green Party (2016–present), and MP from Grand Appleton (2013–2022)
- Alice Waters, K.S. Senator from Shasta (2008–present)
- Hope Goodart, MP from Northwood Pines (2020–present)
- K.S. Members of Parliament
- Estella Tate, former MP for Northwood Pines (1998–2016), former Leader of the Green Party (2001–2016)
- Provincial officials
- Kaitlyn Gans, Governor of Shasta (2014–present)
- Organizations
- Newspapers and other media
- K.S. Members of Parliament
- Connie Melgar, MP for San Francisco Core (2016–present)
- Steve Bertrand, MP for Modoc Outlands (2004-present)
- Lou Geering, former MP for Sierra at-large
- Individuals
- Howie Burrow, radio talk show host
- Organizations
- K.S. Members of Parliament
- Adam Kamber, MP for Redwoods Basin (2020–present)
- Provincial officials
- Julian Saenz, Lieutenant Governor of Shasta (2014–present)
- Individuals
- Hans Wheeler, president of Green Future CAS
- Dave Camden, writer, author, and film director (Democratic-Republican)
- Joe Daily, president of the Authors for Sustainable Writing
- Federal officials
- Hunter Dubois, former Suregon General (2014–2016)
- K.S. Members of Parliament
- Christian Hardsock, MP for Willow Place (2011–present)
- Provincial officials
- Reggie Rey, Speaker of the Shasta Provincial Legislature (2014–present)
- Individuals
- Hank Castello, vice president of the Foundation for the Ethical Care of Animals
- Helena Dobbs, actress and animal rights activist
- Karl White, actor and animal rights activist
- Organizations