Supporters of the idea that the working class needs its own political party petitioned for three months to put Working Class Party on the ballot in Illinois' Fourth Congressional District, with Ed Hershey as its candidate. They talked to people on the streets, outside of supermarkets and drug stores, on train platforms, at festivals and parks. Many people who liked the idea could not sign the petition due to immigration status or because they lived outside of the district. Even with these difficulties, Working Class Party submitted 7,849 signatures to the state. This was well more than the 5,000 required by Illinois law. As a result, voters in this district on the Southwest Side of Chicago and in the nearby suburbs will be able to vote for Working Class Party in November. Instead of the usual two parties of the bosses, workers in this part of Illinois will be able to vote for their own interests in this election.
Workers face high prices, inadequate schools, not enough good-paying jobs and unaffordable housing. The pandemic exposed a broken health care system that allowed corporations to make fortunes while we got sick and died.
In the November 2022 elections, Working Class Party will have candidates running in three states.
Gary Walkowicz, Working Class Party candidate in 2020 for Michigan's 12th Congressional district, spoke at the party's convention on June 26th, 2022. A video recording and the text of his speech follow below.
Andrea Kirby, candidate of the Working Class Party in Michigan's 9th congressional district, and Kathy Goodwin, WCP candidate in the 5th congressional district, were invited guest speakers at a public meeting of The Spark in Detroit on March 6th, 2022. Their main remarks were re-recorded on March 13th.