- National Democratic Party of Alabama
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National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) was a political party active in the state of Alabama, founded by John L. Cashin, Jr. in 1968. The American Bald Eagle was the symbol of the NDPA. It was often opposed by the Democratic Rooster in local democratic elections. The party became a prominent voice for Black voting rights and an important player in local politics in Greene County, Hale County, Perry County, Lowndes County, Dallas County and other Black-dominated communities, but failed to make a lasting impact on state politics.[1][2]
The importance of the NDPA must be viewed in terms of the impact that it had on politics in the Alabama Black Belt. Probate Judge William McKinley Branch (1st Black Probate Judge in the nation} credits Cashin and the NDPA with his success. Branch's nephew, Sheriff without a Gun Thomas Gilmore (2nd elected Black Sheriff in the nation) credits Cashin and the NDPA with his success. Peter Kirksey, 1st Black member of the Greene County Board of Education, cites Cashin and the NDPA for his success. Even after the revolution of the mid-sixties that brought these pioneers to power in Greene County, the shadow of the eagles hovered over Greene County for a generation.
During the 1968 Presidential election, the state's Democratic Party divided on two factions - one, who supported former Governor and American Independent Party nominee George Wallace and those who supported Vice President Hubert Humphrey - a Democratic nominee.
Democrats loyal to Humphrey and national Democratic Party formed NDPA as a vehicle to field a slate of electors pledged to him. Although national Democratic Party supported Humphrey, Wallace was put on ballot in his home state as official Democratic nominee (like Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond in 1948 in some southern states, although Harry S. Truman was Democratic nominee, or in 1964, when Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson was not in ballot in Alabama, and an unpledged electors slate was officially nominated by Alabama's Democrats).
In 1970, John L. Cashin, Jr. ran as the NDPA candidate for governor against George Wallance,[3] getting 15% of the vote.[4]
The NDPA was able to get around hundred of local officials elected, especially in the Western parts of the state.[1][2]
1968 presidential election results in Alabama
- George Wallace/Curtis LeMay (American Independent, as Democratic in Alabama) - 691,425 (65.86%)
- Hubert Humphrey/Edmund Muskie (Democratic, but in Alabama on NDPA ticket) - 196,579 (18.72%)
- Richard Nixon/Spiro Agnew (Republican) - 146,923 (13.99%)
References
Categories:- Defunct political parties in the United States
- Political parties established in 1968
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