The U.S. has for decades had a strongly enforced two-party system. While there are differences, they both support US imperialist domination of the world — militarily and economically — and have earned their description as “two parties of War and Wall Street.” This presentation will focus on the opportunities and hurdles of creating an anti-imperialist political party that can serve as the electoral arm of the movement. Butch Ware sees five areas which need to be addressed and developed with the goal of winning power to change the United States’ direction: vertical integration, culture, fundraising, team-building and demographics.

Butch Ware ran as the Green Party candidate for Vice President alongside Jill Stein in 2024. Butch earned his BA at the University of Minnesota and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently an associate professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has also taught at Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan. His scholarship focuses on anti-imperialist resistance movements in Africa, the Diaspora, and the Islamic World, as well as the broader intersection of spirituality, social justice, and revolutionary thought. He plans to run for California Governor in 2026.

Laura Wells has been active with the Green Party of California since the party began in 1992. She has run as a candidate for public office, primarily state Controller, and for Governor in 2010, with the platform of public banking and “tax the rich.”