H.W.P. Harold Washington Party

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The Harold Washington Party (HWP) was created and incorporated in Illinois as a Chicago political party in 1989. The impetus for its formation was the passing of its namesake, the mayor who had recently died in office. Harold Washington was Chicago’s first Black mayor. A Democratic former lawyer and congressman, Washington won two terms in mayoral office but died just seven months into his second term. The HWP focused on mobilizing Black voters who were disappointed with the mainline Democratic Party and a noted lack of dedication in the party to addressing issues facing Black Americans.

The party nominated Timothy Evans for the 1989 special election for mayor, who received 41% of the vote; they also slated candidates for other positions throughout Cook County. In 1990, a court decision eliminated HWP nominees from ballot access after criticism that votes were being diverted from the Democratic Party. Journalistic reports state that this led to an increase in support for Democratic Party candidates.