Butch Ware

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Minneapolis, Ware earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Pennsylvania and taught at Northwestern, the University of Michigan, and now, UC Santa Barbara. As a leading voice on Black Liberation Traditions, he brings unmatched depth, integrity, and vision to the political arena. Ware is not a politician playing the game. He’s a movement builder, truth-teller, and revolutionary educator stepping up to lead.

A lifelong activist and organizer for justice, Ware was the Vice Presidential nominee for the Green Party in 2024, and now a candidate for Governor of California, promoting a vision of economic, environmental, and social justice for all Californians.

An experienced public servant, Ware has managed projects on four continents, while always working in service of local communities – organizing teach-ins, grassroots education forums, and standing on the front lines against genocide, imperialism, and racial injustice.