Helen Halyard

Who is Helen Halyard?

Helen Halyard was a third-party candidate for President of the United States in the 1992 presidential election, representing the Socialist Equality Party, also called the Workers League. One of the relatively few African-American candidates to run for President, she had previously run twice as their vice-presidential candidate, as Edward Winn's running mate, also African-American.

She ran for the United States House of Representatives from New York's 14th congressional district in 1974, losing to Fred Richmond. In 1976 she ran for the House again, for New York's 19th congressional district, losing to incumbent Charles B. Rangel.

In 1982 she ran against and lost to incumbent Donald W. Riegle, Jr. for United States Senator from Michigan. She was the party's candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1984. She also ran for Mayor of Detroit in 1985 and 1989.

Living in Detroit, Michigan in 1988, she was then the chair of the party's presidential effort, having to lead a petition to get onto the ballot in Alabama, and criticized Jesse Jackson's campaign.