Party activity prior to 2023 The Bronx Conservative Party became active in 1962, shortly after the founding of the New York State Conservative Party. Through the 1960s–1990s, the Bronx Conservative Party played a minor but visible role in borough politics, at times endorsing candidates who were rejected by major parties. The party's electoral presence was intermittent, with limited ballot access and occasional cross-endorsements. By the 2000s and 2010s, activity slowed considerably. While the party occasionally endorsed congressional challengers or local candidates, membership and public visibility declined. This period of reduced operations set the stage for the organization's revival in 2023.
Klapper candidacy controversy In the 2010 New York State Senate elections, the Bronx Conservative Party nominated Raphael M. Klapper, an ophthalmologist from Riverdale, as its candidate in the 31st District. Klapper, however, had died months earlier of
pancreatic cancer. Despite his death, the petition process advanced, and his name remained on the ballot. Klapper received 828 votes—about two percent of the total—without campaigning.
Adriano Espaillat, the Democratic candidate, ultimately won the seat with nearly 40,000 votes. The episode drew scrutiny from the
Board of Elections and the
Manhattan District Attorney’s office, with questions raised about how the signatures had been gathered and why the nomination was allowed to proceed. Conservative Party officials later described the incident as a “fluke,” while Klapper's family expressed frustration that he had been listed as a candidate without his knowledge or consent.
Recent developments The party experienced a period of minimal activity prior to 2023. During the 2023 election cycle, the Bronx Conservative Party demonstrated renewed activity, marked by an increase in candidate submissions and expanded community engagement. For the 2024 election cycle, the party successfully submitted multiple candidates for elected office. In 2025, the party endorsed candidates for Bronx and citywide legislative seats and organized community events related to its platform.
Association with President Donald J. Trump In the 2024 presidential election cycle, the Bronx Conservative Party endorsed
Donald J. Trump. When Trump held a rally in
Crotona Park, none of the Bronx Republican or Conservative candidates were invited to speak or mentioned on stage. Despite this, the Bronx Conservative Party publicly welcomed Trump's visit and later credited his appearances with energizing local enrollment and visibility. International media have also sought the party's perspective on Trump's policies in New York City. For example,
Italian outlet
La7 requested comments from the Bronx Conservative Party, with Vice Chairman Gonzalo Duran serving as spokesperson. == Electoral history ==