The Emergence of the Women’s Equality Party

The Women’s Equality Party, created by Andrew Cuomo accomplished its mission last week on Election Day. Their mission was to get enough votes to be on the ballot for the next set of elections in New York State. The Women’s Equality Party was able to receive 51,052 votes to become an official party and be on the ballot permanently for the next four years. Many politicians and citizens of New York are asking the same question about this party. What is next for the newly formed Women’s Equality Party? Right now the future is up in air as Governor Cuomo has stated that the party has a lot of work to do. Now becoming an official party, the W.E.P can focus their time on encouraging women to vote in New York. In order for the W.E.P to be successful, they will need politicians to register as members of the party so they can hold important positions such as party chairman, treasurer, and secretary. (Just to name a few.) Governor Cuomo’s campaign spokesman Matt Wing explained that this new party would be a women’s advocacy party. And the main goal is not only to get women out to vote but to “engage women more actively in the political process.”

Campaign finance reports showed that the Women’s Equality Party committee raised just $69,500, with $30,000 coming from one single donation. To be become a more influential political party the Women’s Equality Party has to raise more money. Bill Lipton, co-chair of the Working Families Party called the Working Families Party a “sham” as he questioned the validity of the party. Gloria Matter, co-chair to the New York State Green Party believes that the W.E.P is a party that is heavily influenced by Governor Cuomo and does not have the same intentions other third parties share in New York State.