Changes

Because of New York State's 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.

Because of New York State's 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.)

[[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).

[[Doug Hoffman]] is running in the special election for New York Congressional seat 23 in 2009, and has received the endorsement of numerous conservative and Republican leaders.

[[Doug Hoffman]] is running in the special election for New York Congressional seat 23 in 2009, and has received the endorsement of numerous conservative and Republican leaders.