2000s - The Awakening

The idea of reviving the historical Whig Party was conceived in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan by members in the American Armed Forces. The Modern Whig Party was organized as a national party in late 2007 as a successor to the historical Whig Party.

Among its founding members were Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans dissatisfied with the deep ideological divide between the Republican and Democratic parties. Less than a year into its creation, the Modern Whig Party attracted more than 25,000 members nationally. Shortly after the Modern Whig Party was created, the USA Whig Party and Veterans Party of America merged with the Modern Whig Party.

Mike Lebowitz became the first national chair of the Modern Whig Party. Mike Lebowitz is a Washington, D.C. attorney and advocate for veterans' issues. He served in Iraq as an elite paratrooper in the Pathfinder Company of the 101st Airborne Division in the United States Army

The Party announced its first victory with the election of Whig member Ken Belcher as Constable of Lee County, Alabama in November 2008. In 2009, Ballot Access News reported that a candidate for the 2009 New Jersey Assembly elections was on the ballot under the Modern Whig Party designation. On November 2, 2009, Gene L. Baldassari sought a seat in the New Jersey Assembly, representing its Fourteenth District. Although he was defeated, Mr. Baldassari received great support throughout the nation from the Whig membership and positive reviews from the local media.

On December 12-13, 2009, the Modern Whig Party held its first national leadership council meeting in Washington DC. The party's bylaws and charter were made public shortly thereafter, with the document listing its official name as the Modern Whig Party of the United States of America.

On June 22, 2010, as a testament of the growing influence of the moderate Whigs, the American Centrist Party merged with the Modern Whig Party. Andrew Evans, the former American Centrist Party national chairman was appointed the Modern Whig Party after the merger. The next month the Center Party merged with the Whigs. The Modern Whig Party will continue to unite all moderate political forces as it proceeds with its historic mission to build a great American representative democracy.

During the 2010 election three Whig candidates ran for public office. Jeff Vanke, a college professor, and Kenny Golden, retired Commodore, ran for U.S. Congress in Virginia. Lalig Musserian, small businesswoman and Armenian immigrant, ran for state representative in Massachusetts. These three candidates did well in their campaigns spreading their solutions and the Modern Whig philosophy, to standing ovations at times. The Whig membership grew during the election as the pragmatic moderate Whig message spread. Whig news coverage occurred in local papers, interviews on web TV programs and national radio shows. The Modern Whig Party was also featured in Time magazine, front page of the Wall Street Journal, and CNN.com during the 2010 election year.

The three Whig candidates did well, averaging double digit support on Election Day, with a high of 22%. The election results were a good solid step forward for the Modern Whig Party in its mission to empower the American citizen and bring rational pragmatic solutions to government.

The Modern Whigs remain committed to growing to better serve America. We will uphold the Constitution and will work tirelessly to ensure that America remains the greatest nation on earth and to keep our government of the people, by the people, for the people.