A presidential primary was organized by the Reform Party to determine the party's nominee for president of the United States in the 1996 election. Voting took place by mail, telephone, and electronically. Voting began on August 11, 1996, and continued until August 17, when the results were announced.
Businessman and party founder Ross Perot initially announced he would not seek the presidency again after losing the 1992 United States presidential election, but subsequently entered the race on July 11. The former governor of Colorado Dick Lamm was his opponent. Lamm carried Alaska, Colorado, the District of Columbia, and Minnesota, while Perot won the remaining states and defeated Lamm by a nearly two-to-one margin in the national membership vote.
In 1995, former presidential candidate Ross Perot's lobbying group United We Stand America decided to become a political party. Thus, the Reform Party of the United States of America was created.
During the 1996 presidential primaries, the Reform Party was seeking an alternative candidate to party founder Ross Perot, who stated he didn't plan on running for president again. Reform Party activist Mark Sturdevant urged Colorado Governor Richard Lamm to seek the party's nomination. Initially hesitant, Lamm decided that if Ross Perot didn't run then he would enter the presidential race.
Lamm was assured Perot had no intention of running, and he entered the Reform Party's primaries on June 9, with Ed Zschau as his running mate.
Lamm remained a registered member of the Democratic Party, stating: "you can't become a member of the Reform Party in Colorado. There is no Reform Party in Colorado.... I can participate by staying a Democrat. I couldn't become a member of the Reform Party if I wanted to, but I am encouraging people to sign petitions so that they can get on the ballot here in Colorado. We've got to be on the ballot in all 50 states."
On March 19, Perot hinted that he may enter the Reform Party presidential primaries. Later that summer, Perot announced his presidential candidacy. Most Reform Party members supported Perot, and he was the overwhelming victor during the primaries.
Lamm addressed the Reform Party's 1996 National Convention, held in Long Beach, California. In his speech, he criticized President Bill Clinton, saying: "no nation has ever borrowed its way to greatness!" He also blasted Political Action Committees for running dishonest commercials, and stated he hoped the Reform Party would become a "truth telling, straight talking political party... run by ordinary citizens."
His speech received a standing ovation, and he congratulated Ross Perot on his primary victory.