The following American politicians are members of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) who have held elected office in the United States.
The CPUSA used to field candidates under its own banner, or under the banner of a third party, such as the Nonpartisan League.
Rodney Salisbury was the first Communist to be elected to office in the United States.[1]
As of 2023[update], no Communist Party member has been elected to office in the federal government.
As of 2023[update], one Communist Party member has been elected to office in a state government.
Name | District | State | Office | Term Start | Term End | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles E. Taylor | unk | Montana | Senate | January 5, 1925 | March 13, 1929 | ran as Montana Farmer-Labor Party candidate, but not open Communist | [2][1][3] |
As of 2023[update], six Communist Party members have been elected to a mayor's office or city council office.
Name | State | Area | Office | District | Term Start | Term End | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Karl Emil Nygard | Crosby | Minnesota | Mayor[a] | At-Large | January 3, 1933 | January 2, 1934 | [4] |
Name | State | Area | Office | District | Term Start | Term End | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denise Winebrenner Edwards | Pennsylvania | Wilkinsburg | Borough Council | Ward 3 | January 2018 | January 2024 | ran as Democratic Party candidate, but also open Communist Party member | [5] |
Name | State | Area | Office | District | Term Start | Term End | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wahsayah Whitebird | Wisconsin | Ashland | City Council | Ward 6 | April 17, 2019 | April 2021 | [6] | |
Denise Winebrenner Edwards | Pennsylvania | Wilkinsburg | Borough Council | Ward 3 | January 1998 | January 2010 | ran as Democratic Party candidate, but also open Communist Party member | [7][8] |
Kenny Jones | Missouri | St. Louis | Board of Aldermen | Ward 22 | 1983 | 2002 | [9] | |
Benjamin J. Davis Jr. | New York | New York City | City Council | At-large | March 1, 1943 | December 31, 1949 | ||
Peter Cacchione | New York | New York City | City Council | At-large | January 1, 1942 | November 6, 1947 |
Name | State | Area | Office | District | Term Start | Term End | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rodney Salisbury | Montana | Sheridan County | Sheriff | At-Large | 1922 | 1928 | ran as Montana Farmer-Labor Party candidate, but not open Communist | [1] |