Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) received 832 votes in Indiana, according to certified results. The 2024 election was the first time Hoosiers could vote for candidates of the PSL, and marked a resurgence of support for socialism. The last time revolutionary socialists received so many votes in Indiana was 1936, when 1,090 Hoosiers voted for the Communist Party USA (CPUSA).
The Party for Socialism and Liberation was formed in 2004 and calls for the “socialist reorganization of society.” The PSL says this is necessary because neither capitalist party presents solutions to the emergencies facing our society that speak to the root causes or reflect the scale of the response necessary to resolve them in the interest of working people. According to the PSL, “This reality will not change without a socialist revolution.”
Across the United States, more than 166,000 people voted for the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s candidates, setting a new record for the most votes nationwide for revolutionary socialists. The old record was set in 1932 by CPUSA, when they received 103,307 votes—including 2,187 in Indiana—in the midst of the Great Depression. Just like in the 1930s, while crises like war, climate change, and economic recessions pile up, workers from all backgrounds in Indiana and around the country are considering socialism as another path forward.
Indiana is known as a solidly “red” state. The dominance of the Republican party in Indiana may make it seem impossible for a third party to make headway, but organizers with the Party for Socialism and Liberation remain optimistic about the future.
“The PSL has seen tremendous growth in Indiana recently despite the state’s conservative reputation,” said Indiana campaign organizer Noah Leininger. “We have organizers in Indianapolis, Kokomo, Fort Wayne, Muncie, Michiana, and many more new organizers joining across the state in cities, towns, and rural communities. Hoosiers want to turn this ‘red’ state a different shade of red, and we’re working to do just that.”
The Party for Socialism and Liberation is building a party for the working class. With members young and old, from all national backgrounds, and in all different sectors of work, the PSL is active across the country organized in dozens of cities and towns. Indiana’s branches have defeated legislative attacks on homeless people and those providing aid to them, organized tornado relief for communities, and defended all segments of the working class when they have come under assault from both Republican and Democratic Party politicians. In the Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia campaign launch video, the question posed was: “Corporate America has two parties. Shouldn’t the working class have at least one?”
The Party for Socialism and Liberation’s Claudia De la Cruz for President campaign had to overcome obstacles to achieve its 832 votes in Indiana. For one, they decided to run a write-in campaign rather than petition for ballot access, which would have required nearly 37,000 signatures from Indiana voters, a requirement that candidates from the Democratic and Republican Parties never have to plan around.
It also took work to make sure PSL’s votes were being properly counted. “We had watchers at the polls to ensure that votes for our candidates were counted properly. There were county clerks who told us they were not going to count votes for us,” said Cecilia Gomez, another Indiana campaign organizer. “But they don’t have a choice. State law is clear that clerks must count votes for declared write-in candidates like Claudia and Karina. Once we explained that and informed them that we knew our rights to enforce it, our votes were counted.”
While 800 votes may pale in comparison to Trump’s 1.7 million votes in the state, Gomez is optimistic. “Our party is able to punch well above its weight, whether at the ballot or in everyday spaces. This campaign made a significant impact in Indiana with just a handful of organizers because of the nature of our party and the discipline of our organizers. When we think of those votes as 800 new organizers across the state, we will be able to make a tremendous impact in our communities to benefit the lives of working and oppressed Hoosiers.”
“That’s exactly what we plan to do,” Gomez said. Following the campaign, PSL organizers are mobilizing to fight back against Trump’s billionaire agenda on January 20th at Monument Circle. The protest, which begins at 12 pm, is part of a nation-wide demand for a future that centers the needs of the people over the interests of the wealthy elite.
Organizations that are interested in endorsing this action are encouraged to reach out via email to info@indyliberationcenter.org. People interested in learning about or joining the Party for Socialism and Liberation can visit their website at www.pslweb.org.
Featured image: Volunteers for the Vote Socialist 2024 campaign pose for pictures while performing street outreach at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Credit: Indianapolis Liberation Center
