Are you tired of corporate interests and special interest groups compromising candidates?

Are you tired of the same lies, over and over again, in order to scheme your vote?

Are you tired of major parties and their privileged loyalists keeping other parties off the ballot at election time?

Are you tired, yet?

Be seen being Green. Escape the two party trap.

The Montgomery County, PA Green Party Supports the EQAT-led Actions Urging Vanguard to Divest from Fossil Fuels

The Montgomery County Green Party, is a local branch of the Green Party of Pennsylvania

Authored by Tristan H. Edited by Alexander N.

Authorized 02/16/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Montgomery County Green Party formally expressed its solidarity and support for the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) in their prolonged struggle to bring pressure to bear against the investment firm, Vanguard, one of the largest investors in the world in the fossil fuel industry.

Founded in 2009, the Earth Quaker Action Team has engaged in, and organized various grassroots campaigns, such as Bank Like Appalachia Matters, the fight against the Keystone XL Pipeline, and Power Local Green Jobs. These campaigns, all fighting in the interest of social and climate justice, and grassroots organizing, have had success in creating change of policy, boosting sustainable and equitable development, and raising consciousness about the most critical issues of our time.

This constant advocacy for community-based organizing, social justice, and climate justice coalesced into their ongoing partnership in the international Vanguard S.O.S. movement, starting in 2021. Today they still hold consistent and frequent meetings, trainings, and events in a continuous effort to fight against Vanguard’s destructive lust for profit. We also praise the other elements of the Vanguard S.O.S. movement for their efforts and cooperation towards that end.

As our world continues to be threatened by the ever-growing problem of climate change, its catastrophic effects, and our contrarily ineffectual governance across the world, the duty of combatting climate change has fallen onto the general populace. The question is not just what kind of future we are going to have, but whether we are going to have a future at all. That is why grassroots movements and organization are so extremely important, for only we, the working class, can apply the pressure necessary to make the changes needed for the preservation, and improvement, of our world.

Facebook: /montcogreens | Twitter: @MontcoPAGreens | Website: https://montcopagreens.com/ 

Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 13, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected] 

Green Party Celebrates International Women’s Day 2026

By Erin King

International Women’s Day (IWD) will be celebrated by Green Party members on Sunday, March 8, this year. The IWD theme for 2026 will be “Give to Gain.” The Green Party National Women’s Caucus says it “will organize and act to advance Women's rights and concerns with the ultimate goals of maximizing . . . a voter, activist, leadership, candidate and officeholder base of Women, that is reflective of the great diversity of this nation.”

Another year, another chance to do better, despite the ongoing human catastrophes occurring here and overseas—war and genocide, mass starvation, state-sanctioned rape and pedophilia, police beating and jailing protesters for lawfully protesting, and billionaires allowed the impunity to wreck whatever tiny scraps of democracy the West hasremaining, at whim.

Over the past year alone in America, we’ve seen no end to greedflation, as evidenced by skyrocketing homelessness, grocery prices continuously climbing, and our own government caring less and less about the wellbeing and basic human rights of its own citizens.

Many people, families included, live in their vehicles, working multiple jobs to survive, while others are forced to decide between paying for life-sustaining medications or food. On a grand scale, Americans now feel little to no sense of safety in their own neighborhoods, largely due to our federal government’s acts of terrorism committed by ICE and the CBP against anyone they deem suspicious.

Renee Good was an American woman, mother, daughter, partner, sister, neighbor, and friend. Despite doing nothing other than driving and going about her usual day, she is no longer with us because a lawless bully of an ICE agent decided in the moment that he had the right to decide who lives or dies. The agent, Jonathan Ross, also uttered the statement, “Fucking bitch,” immediately after shooting her four times—not because Ms. Good did something to deserve her execution, but simply because Mr. Ross wanted to kill a woman who wasn’t kissing his ass.

One minute, Renee Good was smiling and joking. Seconds later, she was fighting for her life behind a blood-soaked airbag. And she was never a threat to anyone. This is the kind of brutal injustice with which Black Americans have been all too familiar many decades before the existence of ICE and to this day. This is also the type of savage violence that many people, especially women—as shown in endless TikTok and Upscrolled videos—in Germany, the U.S., the UK, Australia, and Israel are experiencing in real time for protesting crimes against humanity at home and abroad by their respective governments.

Marimar Martinez is another recent victim of the U.S. federal border patrol, who was unjustifiably shot five times by agent Charles Exum, but fortunately survived the encounter and was able to testify against him at trial. The list of atrocities committed by the U.S. government just since the last IWD is miles long. It makes me wonder how best to support those on the receiving end of so much unfair, often deadly, oppression, of which any of us could be a target. This is every American’s fight.

My hope is that something wonderful can somehow spring from these senseless tragedies and others like them. Because the insanity isn’t over and none of us knows when it will be.

Giving money or time can go a long way towards helping to heal a society’s worst ills, once we each make the conscious choice to play a part in ensuring there are far fewer victims of government indifference, overreach, and tyranny. Donating whatever funding or time we can, even if it’s only one dollar or one hour per week, to organizations such as the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the National Coalition for the Homeless, and Path Forward can help women and families suffering from homelessness and food insecurity. A nation is nothing without the strength and health of its citizens, and creating affordable housing for all is a major goal that must be actualized for the greater good.

Organizations such as the Fines and Fees Justice Center, The Bail Project, and the Institute for Justice assists persons with lower incomes and the poor with paying court costs when they find themselves having to fight against a biased and unbalanced legal system. By giving to these causes, we push the system to work harder for those without a voice, which benefits us all.

In honor of Renee Good, who was a member of the LGBTQA+ community, I implore more people to give support to the Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project, The Giving Block/GLAD Law, or SAGE Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders, to help marginalized individuals and communities take vital steps towards equality. Please do not forget TRIAL International, which is a non-governmental organization that fights impunity for international crimes, including sexual violence, and supports victims seeking justice.

The late Mother Teresa was quoted as saying, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” I truly wish more human beings thought this way. The more of us that firmly decide to give even small amounts of our energy to help others on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis, the more we will see change in the right direction.

Giving is its own reward and a form of empathy that can mean more than we realize to someone in need. Giving can literally mean the difference between life and death. We gain on so many levels as a society when we recognize our shared humanity and make the time to act on it with great love.

The Green Party and its political candidates, for whom we campaign and confidently show our support, stand firmly against any and all forms of discrimination and inequality targeting women and LGBTQA+ persons. The Green Party is also committed to grassroots initiatives, which are necessary for growing a solid base of everyday citizens who believe in true democracy and equality without the interference of corporate entities.

Walk proudly. Embrace Solidarity. Remember that to give is to gain so much on this International Women’s Day and beyond.

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 

Erin King is a member of the Green Party of Centre County, PA. During 2025, Erin was an elected member at large of the Green Party of Pennsylvania Steering Committee.

END OF ITEM

Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 6, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected] 

Green Party Women are Ready to Run

By GPPA Co-chair Colleen Schmotzer

The Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics offers a course with the trademark name “Ready to Run,” for women who are considering a campaign for public office. The day-long program at Chatham University provides training and mentoring by campaign professionals and office holders.

I recently attended a Ready to Run campaign training designed for women. The day was quite informative, and I was pleased to see approximately ten women I knew from the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA). We heard from various guest speakers who detailed the different teams essential for running a successful campaign. It was interesting to learn that the size of the campaign team can vary significantly depending on the specific office being sought, and that sometimes, a modest donation of $50.00 can be enough to win a seat. The organizers provided breakfast, lunch, and a snack, which was greatly appreciated. 

The event concluded with a panel of four accomplished women. Among them was the Chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Party, who emphasized the critical importance of women participating in politics. She shared an anecdote about a friend who successfully won a seat by running as an independent, highlighting that breaking traditional party lines can be a viable strategy.

One of the Green Party members who accompanied me to Ready to Run was Kat Marquez. Here’s what she thought of the training. "As a queer, non-binary person of color, the Democrats and Republicans have never had my interest in mind, and thus I can align with the beliefs of our local Green Party. It is frustrating that; 1. there was no one on the Ready to Run panel who wasn't from the two major parties, and 2. the two major parties aren't telling the full story. The Green Party of Allegheny County (GPOAC) did have a local candidate run for County Council At-Large during 2025, and one of the major parties challenged our signatures and took us off the ballot. This is exactly what is happening statewide -- this perpetuation of the duopoly that continuously shuts down true democracy of the people." 

When the floor opened for questions, I took the opportunity to ask, "What strategies can third parties, such as the Green Party, employ to effectively challenge the two-party duopoly?"  The Chair's response was direct: "Nothing. It's either you're a Democrat or Republican. That's it. You will never win being a third-party person." I chose to respond by stating assertively, "Watch! I will do it, you will see me there." This declaration was met with applause from the room, after which the question-and-answer session resumed.

Pam Bruno, another one of my Green Party sisters, told me, “After attending the learning seminar hosted by Chatham University, I feel I came out with a useful amount of newfound knowledge. For me, the most important information that could be used to promote the Green Party are the number of elected seats which remain uncontested, along with the small amount of funding it would take to win them. I'm not interested in running for an office, but with what I learned, I am now sure that I could aid in supporting a candidate's campaign.”

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 

GPPA Co-chair Colleen Schmotzer (she/her) has been working group coordinator on the Green Party of Allegheny Steering Committee. During 2025, she was a GPPA Steering Committee member at large.

END ITEM

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] 

END ITEM

Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, December 15, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected] 

Green Party of PA Members Active in King Day of Service

By Tristan Holland 

As the new year approaches, so do holidays dedicated to maintaining the progressive gains made in years gone by. As Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service draws near on  January 19, 2026, forward-looking and progressive peoples around Pennsylvania organize events to celebrate his contributions to the civil rights movement in which he utilized nonviolent and peaceful forms of struggle to fight against systemic discrimination. 

This coming year will be no different, as The King Center is hosting the King Holiday Observance Kick-Off, as well as aiding in the organization of events in their MLK Day of Service Project, which seek to foster community through education, various volunteer activities, and collaboration with local institutions. Other organizations, such as Global Citizen, have various events already prepared for the Martin Luther King Day of Service.

Green Party members are encouraged to show their support for the efforts made by Dr. King, and to safeguard the liberties and progress gained in the wake of the civil rights movement. The Green Party will keep pushing against the injustices that still exist and disenfranchise millions at home and abroad. In order to do this, there must be a start somewhere, and that start is to begin local community organizing, to build connections, strength, and support for a working class movement. Only through this form of independent struggle will we be able to make change in our society. That is why opportunities like the King Day of Service should not slip by us. They can be an instrumental step to gain experience and to incorporate other struggles into a wider battle for a better future.

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

Tristan Holland is a registered member of the Green Party of Montgomery County, PA.

For more information:

The King Center, https://thekingcenter.org/

Global Citizen, https://volunteer.globalcitizen365.org/kingday   

“Green Party Endorses STOP U.S. Wars” M.L.K. Week of Action.” Green Party of PA, GREEN STAR, January, 2023,
https://www.gpofpa.org/greenstar_january_2023 

END OF ITEM

Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 17, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected]

Two Green Party Candidates Reflect on 2025 Election Campaign

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) had nominated three candidates for local office during 2025. Michael Bagdes-Canning was nominated for re-election as Mayor of Cherry Valley in Butler County. Tony Dastra was nominated for two offices, Mayor and City Councilor of Lancaster City in Lancaster County. Alex Noyle was nominated for Auditor of East Norriton Township in Montgomery County.

To help them focus their answers, GREEN STAR asked our candidates four questions. Two of those candidates were kind enough to share their thoughts about the election.

GREEN STAR: Based on your campaign this year, what advice would you offer to Greens who plan to run for office in 2026 or 2027?

Michael Bagdes-Canning:
“My advice based on my campaign for Mayor in Cherry Valley would not be a one size fits all sort of thing. I think the determining factor in the success of my campaign was familiarity -- my neighbors know who I am, they know what I stand for, they know my character. That is based on living in this community for 43 years, serving on Borough Council / Mayor since 1989.

“I do think that some of that is generalizable. If you are going to mount a successful campaign, voters have to know who you are, what you stand for. They need to feel comfortable with you. Running as a Green, that is particularly true. Face it, we have been painted as spoilers, far-left tree huggers, purists. We as Greens need to counter that by showing up and genuinely engaging with our neighbors. Getting them familiar with Green values.”

Alex Noyle:
“This was our first time in a true three-way race against the duopoly, and we finished with 340 votes (6.68%). This is about 1/3 of our 1,092 votes in the 2023 two-way race. I’m confident a big chunk of that gap is Republicans who just voted Green as an anti-Democrat protest vote last time, and stuck to their own candidate this year. We did retain a small number of Republican votes, but we also discovered that our true base is primarily composed of three groups: independents, third party voters, and disillusioned Democrats. So, 340 votes is a much clearer count of people who actually share our vision -- not ‘lesser evil’ voters. That’s the base we’re going to be building on in the future.

“We strongly urge Greens running in 2026 or 2027 to operate on a primary day timetable even though our deadlines are later. You want to be ahead of any surprises, not scrambling at the end. A dependable campaign manager and treasurer are crucial to your success as a candidate, and so is the growth of your local Green Party chapter.”

GREEN STAR: Voters in your district began voting by mail-in ballot on October 1. How do you think mail-in voting affected your campaign?

Michael Bagdes-Canning:
“About 20% of the voters in Cherry Valley voted by mail-in ballot, but the affect was negligible on the result. My campaigning was done via home visits. My wife Karen and I visited every home in Cherry Valley to distribute a voters guide -- telling people how to vote for write-in candidates -- NOT ME. I DID make sure I distributed those BEFORE the mail-in ballots were sent out. Karen, who is an inspector, told me that almost every voter showed up with that piece of paper.”

Alex Noyle:

“As in 2023 we didn’t do well with mail-in voters, which was expected because we did nothing to reach them. Next time we’re sending mailers to addresses we can’t realistically canvass, especially apartments and multi-family housing.”

GREEN STAR: What effect did your volunteers at the polls have on the election outcome?

Michael Bagdes-Canning:
“The only volunteer I had at the polls was me, and I didn't spend a whole lot of time at the polls -- less than an hour. All of my campaigning was done prior to the election. Due to our screwed up election laws, in tiny communities like Cherry Valley, it is far easier for me, a Green, to get on the ballot than it is for Democrats (it is impossible for them) or Republicans (near impossible). It was important to me to elect a Borough Council (four of the five seats were up), Auditors (3), Tax Collector (1), and Judge/Inspectors (3). Without those roles being filled, the borough cannot function. I think my neighbors appreciated the time and effort I put into making that happen.”

Alex Noyle: “The scientific approach we took to this race gave us a clearer sense of what actually works. Volunteers at the polls were by far our most effective tactic, yard signs came second, and canvassing slipped to third. Very different from 2023 in the 1-on-1 with a Democrat, where canvassing was our #1 tactic.”

GREEN STAR: Do you plan to run again for office as a Green Party candidate?

Michael Bagdes-Canning:
“I am 72. I am approaching my "sell by" date. I have already run for County Commissioner, State Representative (twice), and Lieutenant Governor of PA. I learned a lot during those campaigns. 

"However, I have things that I am passionate about, things that I want to leave behind: 

• I want the generations that come after mine to have a stable environment, clean air, water, and soil. 
• I want to ensure that we have a government that serves the many, not the rich.
• I want to work to repair the damage done through manipulation -- pitting neighbor against neighbor, city dwellers against rural denizens, housed against un-housed, immigrants against citizens.

“So what that means is, I want to spend the rest of my time feeding those passions, continue the organizing work that I do in those realms through Pennsylvania Action on Climate, March on Harrisburg, and the PA Poor People's Campaign.

“Sure, if four years from now I still have the energy, I will run for Mayor of Cherry Valley again. However, I am actively trying to plant the seeds among my neighbors to make me obsolete. We have an amazing group of people in the Green Party of Pennsylvania who are better faces for a forward-looking Green Party than this grizzled geezer. I'd be happy to be a guide on the side.”

Alex Noyle:

“I plan to run with the Montco Greens again in 2027 and will be seeking endorsements from other minor parties as well. I ran out of time to approach others this year. The 2025 election season is over, but our work to turn East Norriton Green is just getting started. We are planting the seeds. Thank you, everyone, for your support, this election may be over but this campaign is certainly not. Like Sisyphus, we will keep on pushing.”

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

END OF ITEM