The Upstate Jobs Party was formed to advocate on issues and approaches we believed helped or hindered job creation in Upstate NY.

Through our website, social media presence, press coverage, gathering and other activities, we promoted awareness of related issues to the general public in Upstate NY.

We screened and endorsed candidates who embraced UJP principles and platform. We did not coordinate such communications with any candidate, nor did we get involved in any candidate’s campaign operations, or the candidate’s own advertising or messaging.

Our goals included attracting a gubernatorial candidate to run on the UJP line in the 2022 election. Success in this effort was defined as securing 50,000 votes statewide for the candidate on the UJP line, thereby helping qualify UJP as a constituted political party in NY State.

As a constituted political party, UJP was more attractive for all candidates to consider listing on the UJP line, which in turn helped us build broader support for these important principles.

At the time, New York State was one of only seven states that permitted fusion voting – where candidates running for office can list on more than one line of the ballot.

Even major party candidates wanted to list on additional minor party lines like UJP because:

• It was an avenue to show support for a platform with principles the candidate was aligned with

• The minor party had a block of voters who received the candidate visibility of their support with the party’s platform

• In the voting booth, candidates listing on multiple lines instantly looked more credible than a candidate listing only on one line

Politicians in Upstate New York all understand the importance of creating jobs as part of their own campaign messaging to get elected. Instead of embracing the failed economic development policies of the past, UJP presented clear pathways towards building a sustainable job creating future that was attractive to voters, and could build a base of support across candidates and elected officials from a broad spectrum of party affiliation.

Please contact info@upstatejobs.org.

The Upstate Jobs Party was a volunteer organization. Our leadership committee was actively seeking more volunteers to help with refining the UJP party platform, communicating the UJP message, and assisting with volunteer recruitment and governance such as candidate screening, compliance registration and other party matters.

We welcomed support and participation from all people, regardless of their location, who embraced our principles of removing  job creation obstacles and mobilizing support to create new jobs by leveraging regional assets that helped people start and grow companies in Upstate New York.

For the 2019 election cycle, voting on the UJP line was limited to the races where we endorsed candidates in local elections.

Candidates seeking to list on the Upstate Jobs Party ballot line could contact the Party to review requirements and processes to be considered as a candidate.