The Conservative Party of New York State
From Conservapedia
The Conservative Party of New York State is a political party in New York State (USA) that was formed during the early 1960's in response to the liberal leanings of the state Republican Party (which was dominated by then Governor Nelson Rockefeller). It remains an influential third party in that very liberal state. Though it keeps its independence from the state Republican Party, it cross endorses the Republican Party for President consistently. In state elections, ever since Nelson Rockefeller left the Governorship, it also has been cross-endorsing Republican candidates for governor (but not always without interparty strife with the Republicans and intra-party strife within the Conservative Party). [1]
Because of New York State's unique fusion voting, a candidate can be the nominee of more than one political party. The Conservative Party therefore can either nominate the candidate of the Republican Party (or very rarely, the Democratic Party or another party), or run their own candidate. This way if the Republican candidate is too liberal, the Conservative Party can deny them their ballot line and run against them, but if the Republican candidate is a conservative, people can vote for them on the Conservative or Republican ballot lines and either way will count toward that candidate's total vote.
James L. Buckley was elected to the United States Senate in 1970 running on the Conservative Party ticket (and only the Conservative Party ticket; the Republican nominee was liberal Republican Charles Goodell.) In a three way race with the Republican and Democrat nominees splitting the liberal vote, Buckley easily won election and served one term from 1971-1977, becoming the last "third party" candidate to ever win election to the U.S. Senate (Dean Barkley was the most recent "third party" senator but he was appointed to fill a vacant seat, not elected.)
