New Socialist party is certified in Maryland

As of Jan. 17, The Bread and Roses Party, a self-identified socialist group, is now a certified political party in Maryland. In order to receive the certification from the Maryland Board of Elections, founder Jerome Segal of Silver Spring submitted 10,194 valid signatures, almost 2 percent more than the requirement in Maryland.

After his defeat to Senator Ben Cardin in the Democratic primary, Segal fought in court in an attempt to put his name on the ballot as a Bread and Roses candidate in last year’s general election. Although these efforts were unsuccessful, it is highly likely that Maryland voters will now see this new party listed on the ballot in 2020.

“I’m delighted,” Segal stated after his party’s certification. “It’s been a long effort to get here.” Based on polling he has conducted, Segal also mentioned that he is confident Maryland residents are ready for alternatives to the two-party system.

Segal, who has been called Maryland’s Bernie Sanders, supports free college education and government-guaranteed employment for all citizens, as well as accessible start-up entre­pre­neur­ship training. The terms “bread” and “roses” in the party’s name stand for a decent society (a primary objective of Sanders) and beauty, meaningful work, moderate consumption and more leisure time to do what really matters in life, respectively.

Article by MoCo Student Staff Writer Elena Moore of Damascus High School