Green Party of Pennsylvania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader
267-977-0570 and [email protected]
Temperature of PA Green Party Returns to Normal
By GPPA Secretary Bryarr Misner
Since the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) State Committee Meeting on January 11, I have had some time to step back and reflect on where we are as a party and the direction in which we are heading together. What stood out to me most is how quickly the overall tone and energy across the Green Party has shifted in a positive way.
We are now seeing that change show up in real ways -- more people coming to state meetings, stronger turnout and participation at the county level, and renewed engagement in places like Allegheny County's committee and assembly meetings. That does not happen overnight or by accident. It is the result of people intentionally reaching out, showing up, and doing the work to make our spaces feel welcoming again.
Since I took office as Secretary in November 2025, I have heard from many members who shared that the temperature of the Green Party feels better -- more open, more collaborative, and less intimidating. I appreciate hearing that, but I want to be clear: that shift is not about me alone. It is about a lot of people choosing to engage differently, listen more closely, and create space for others to participate.
I want to recognize everyone -- at both the state and county level -- who have helped make that possible. Whether you're organizing meetings, onboarding new members, answering questions, or just being willing to help, it all adds up. People notice, and it matters.
It has been really enjoyable for me to work with our newly elected GPPA Steering Committee members. Tony Dastra, Elizabeth Schongar, and Wendy Keslick have each brought fresh energy, thoughtful questions, and a genuine willingness to collaborate. I am grateful to be working alongside them.
I also want to give a big thank-you to GPPA Co-chair Tim Runkle, who has put a lot of time into helping onboard both me and our newly-elected Co-chair Colleen Schmotzer. I have worked closely with Colleen through the 2024 Abandon Harris campaign, and she is also the person who first invited me into the Green Party. I know firsthand how much care and effort she brings to this work, and I am glad to be serving alongside her.
This is a moment, I believe, for new voices and new faces to learn how the Green Party works at both the statewide and county level. My goal as Secretary is to make that process less confusing and more transparent -- clearer rules, easier-to-find proposal submissions, and a better sense of how members can plug in and help.
I am proud to be part of a team which is focused on supporting issues that matter broadly to our membership, not just a select few. I am looking forward to continuing this work together and to building a Green Party that feels welcoming, accountable, and grounded in shared values.
The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA), https://www.gpofpa.org, is an independent political party which stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. GPPA candidates promote public policy based on the Green Party’s Four Pillars: grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, and social justice/equal opportunity. For further information about GPPA, please email [email protected]. Please follow GPPA on social media: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gpofpa/; Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pagreenparty/; and X, https://x.com/GreenPartyofPA
Bryarr Misner (he/him) is a community organizer from Beaver Falls in Allegheny County. Bryarr's email address is [email protected]
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