June 5, 2012 – Voters in Colorado now have another choice when they select their candidate in the 2012 Presidential elections.  Socialist Party USA (SP-USA) Presidential candidate, Stewart Alexander, and Vice Presidential candidate, Alex Mendoza, have been qualified by the Colorado Board of Elections to appear on the ballot on election day, November 6, 2012.  Colorado is the first of several states that will include the Socialist Party USA candidates as a part of a national effort to gain ballot access.

The Socialist Party USA is America’s voice for democratic socialism.  The SP-USA supports the creation of a radical democracy where regular people have a direct voice on issues related to public budgets, how their work sites operate and in their community.  We believe that things like housing, healthcare, a clean environment and a good job are human rights and should be guaranteed.

“I am really happy that this campaign will provide the people of Colorado with a socialist alternative to Obama and Romney,” said Stewart Alexander.  “Socialism is an idea whose time has come.  I think that if Coloradoans take a look at our program, they will find ideas they agree with — such as full employment, environmentalism and democratic rights in our workplaces.”

Stewart Alexander is a longtime activist from Murrieta, California, who has worked with the NAACP and the Florida Consumer Action Network.  In 1988, Alexander ran for Mayor of Los Angeles, personally visiting over 14,000 residences to get the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. In 2005, he ran on the Peace & Freedom Party ticket for California Lieutenant Governor. Alexander has been an active member of the Socialist Party USA and was elected the Party’s presidential candidate at the SP-USA National Convention in Los Angeles, on October 15, 2011.

Alejandro (Alex) Mendoza was born in Riverside, California to working-class Mexican parents. The lack of living-wage work forced the Mendoza family to return to Mexico in 1981.  Alex eventually returned to the United States, settled in Texas and joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he experienced a political awakening about the horrors of war.  He currently owns an environmentally friendly lawn care company and is active in the Socialist Party of Texas.

The Socialist Party USA anticipates appearing on about a dozen ballots across the country.  Restrictive ballot access laws prevent third parties from presenting their candidates on the ballots of every state in the country.  A combination of high signature gathering requirements and fees serve to ensure the continued dominance of the Democratic and Republican parties.  The SP-USA joins with other third parties in calling for open access to the ballot to provide Americans with real electoral choices.

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About Alexander-Mendoza 2012
On October 15, 2011, Stewart Alexander and Alejandro “Alex” Mendoza were elected by the Socialist Party USA National Convention in Los Angeles, CA to represent the party as its presidential ticket. Stewart Alexander is a working man from Murrietta, California and Alex Mendoza is a self-employed landscaper from Dallas, Texas. For more information about the Socialist Party, visit http://www.sp-usa.org. To schedule interviews or appearances with Stewart Alexander or Alex Mendoza, contact media@stewartalexanderforpresident2012.org.