The United Alliance Party is expanding its petitioning infrastructure across New York State, positioning itself as a vehicle for candidates seeking access to the ballot under the state’s evolving election framework.
Founded in 2025, the organization is preparing to field an expanded slate of candidates in the 2026 election cycle. What began as a New York City based effort is now scaling statewide, with a focus on providing candidates with a structured and compliant pathway to run for office.
The organization was founded by Gonzalo Duran, Chairman of the United Alliance Party and Vice Chairman of the Bronx Conservative Party. His work has focused on civic participation and candidate development, particularly among veterans and community based leaders entering the political process for the first time.
A central component of the party’s model is the provision of administrative and operational support for independent petitioning. The United Alliance Party manages key aspects of the petitioning process, including coordination, compliance guidance, and filing structure. For many candidates, these administrative requirements represent the primary barrier to entry. By centralizing this function, the organization enables candidates to focus on voter engagement and campaign development.
The expansion comes in the context of significant changes to New York’s election system following reforms enacted under former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The removal of multiple party lines and the dissolution of the Independent Party altered the ballot access landscape, increasing the complexity of independent petitioning and reducing alternative pathways for candidates.
In response to these structural changes, the United Alliance Party developed as an independent petitioning entity.
In its first year, eight candidates ran under the organization’s banner in 2025, representing one of the largest independent slates in New York City that cycle. The candidates reflected a cross section of political affiliations, including Democrats, Republicans, and Conservatives, unified through a shared petitioning framework.
Initial outcomes included multiple public events across New York City, two candidates reaching matching funds status, and Duran receiving more than 490,000 votes in the New York City Public Advocate race through fusion voting.
The organization is now building on that foundation, with plans to expand its model across additional counties and districts in 2026.
Duran stated:
“Every citizen has the right to vote, and every citizen should have a viable path to run for office. As the system changed, many candidates were left without the infrastructure needed to participate. Our approach is to provide that structure, reduce barriers, and ensure that access to the ballot remains achievable for those willing to serve.”
As the 2026 election cycle approaches, the United Alliance Party is positioning itself as an operational platform for candidates navigating New York’s petitioning requirements, with a focus on access, compliance, and scalability across the state.