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Alyson KennedyNorth American political and trade unionist
Date of Birth: 11.06.1950
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Alison Kennedy
- Early Life and Activism
- Labor Union Involvement
- Political Campaigns
- 2016 Presidential Campaign
Alison Kennedy
Alison Kennedy is a North American political and labor activist. She is a member of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and was the SWP's candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 presidential election.
Early Life and Activism
Kennedy was born in Indianapolis into a working-class family. She became involved in the socialist movement in the United States while living in Louisville, Kentucky. She worked in coal mines in Alabama, Colorado, Utah, and West Virginia.
In 1977, Kennedy was the SWP's candidate for Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, running against incumbent Republican Mayor Ralph Perk. She received 1,225 votes, losing to left-wing Democratic candidate Dennis Kucinich.
Labor Union Involvement
In 1981, Kennedy joined the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). In 2004, she became a strike leader in Utah, for which she faced prosecution.
Political Campaigns
In 2000, Kennedy ran for the United States Senate as a write-in candidate after the death of nominee Mel Carnahan.
In the 2008 presidential election, Kennedy was the SWP's vice presidential candidate, running with Roger Calero (and in some states with James Harris due to Calero's lack of US citizenship). Calero/Kennedy received 5,127 votes, while Harris/Kennedy received 2,424 votes.
2016 Presidential Campaign
On February 12, 2016, Kennedy was nominated as the Socialist Workers Party's candidate for President of the United States (with Osborne Hart as vice presidential candidate). Kennedy was the second woman nominated for president by the SWP (the first being Linda Jenssen in 1972). Kennedy ran in seven states: Utah, Louisiana, Colorado, Minnesota, Tennessee, Washington, and New Jersey.
