David Lombardo is reporting for Capitol Confidential although its gubernatorial candidate Stephanie Miner did not win the race, she did garner enough votes to earn the fledgling Serve America Movement Party formal recognition in New York for the next four years. Miner received more than 51,300 votes statewide in the November 6 election. SAM was launched this year with bipartisan support as an alternative to the Democratic and Republican parties. Michael Willner, a member of the SAM board of directors, said the party is in its formative stages, and will “soon” be crafting rules and choosing a state chair. He said the will be a “very active party,” but said it is unlikely they will put together a slate of candidates to run in local elections in 2019. SAM hopes to field its own candidates in the future, but they have not ruled out the possibility of cross endorsing candidates from other parties, Willner said. If the Serve America Movement is successful in securing ballot access in the majority of states by 2020, it is likely they will back an independent candidate for president. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential.