by Gordon Govier
The meeting of the Wisconsin State Committe of the American Solidarity Party (ASP) at a Fitchburg restaurant Saturday started and ended with a prayer. “It’s our first big face-to-face meeting since COVID,” said state party chair David Bovee.
It was not a big meeting. Three committee members were present and a half-dozen interested and curious local residents joined them. The State Committee meets on a monthly basis and meetings post-COVID have been online up to March, 2026.
A few items of business were dispatched, including election of officers. Much of the discussion focused on how to build awareness of the fact that such a national political party exists, a party that allows conservative-leaning people of faith to vote for their cherished values rather than choose a candidate based on what they’re against.
ASP has a platform that reflects Christian values, starting with the belief that human life is sacred, from conception to natural death. In addition to the Sanctity of Life, the platform supports Social Justice, the Centrality of the Family and Care for the Environment, among other issues. “Solidarity wills the good of the other,” proclaims one party publication.
“The party mostly grows through the presidential election cycle,” said Ben Schmitz, the committee treasurer. “People are looking for something different. A lot of people would probably vote for our party’s candidates if they knew about it. The challenge is to get the word out.”
Schmitz first became aware of ASP as it was getting started about ten years ago. Faced with two unacceptable candidates in Democrat Hilary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, ASP’s conservative alternative Mike Maturen seemed much more attractive to him.
Voting for ASPs national ticket has barely registered in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections, typical of a third party. But their numbers have been growing.
The American political system favors only two parties. Third parties such as ASP face high barriers to getting on the ballot, with different rules in every state. So the argument is that it’s a wasted vote for a third party.
Ben Schmitz begs to differ. “Those are the voters that the big two parties are trying to get,” he said. “It’s not a wasted vote.” He advocated for working with other organizations to change the laws to make it easier for third parties to get on the election ballot.
Plans were tentatively made for a presence at the Wisconsin March for Life on April 25, 2026.
The Wisconsin ASP chapter has a growing social media presence.
More information about the American Solidarity Party is available on the national party website.
Full disclosure, this reporter, a conservative political independent, has made occasional contributions to the party.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – attributed to anthropologist Margaret Mead