Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign got some more bad news from a must-win swing state on Monday. In Wisconsin, a key battleground state, the state Supreme Court has rejected a Democratic effort to remove Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein from the November ballot.
The challenge, brought by David Strange of the Democratic National Committee, argued that Stein’s candidacy could divert votes from Vice President Kamala Harris, potentially benefiting former President Donald Trump. However, the court issued an unsigned order dismissing the appeal without explanation, permitting Stein to remain in the race. The decision is significant as Wisconsin is known for its closely contested elections where every vote matters. “It is ordered that the petition for leave to commence an original action is denied. We determine that the petitioner is not entitled to the relief he seeks; and, it is further ordered that all other pending motions are denied as moot,” the court stated.
Stein announced her third presidential run in November 2023 via X, following her tenure as campaign manager for Cornel West, who later opted for an independent bid. Stein’s campaign emphasizes anti-war policies, a Green New Deal, universal healthcare, and ending genocide. Her candidacy has raised concerns within the Democratic Party about potentially siphoning crucial left-wing support away from Harris in the general election as she did from then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016, when Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win the state in years.
Wisconsin has been a pivotal battleground state in the last two presidential elections. In 2016, it was crucial to Donald Trump’s victory, marking the first time a Republican candidate won Wisconsin since 1984. Trump’s win was by a narrow margin of just under 23,000 votes, underscoring the state’s swing state status and highly competitive races. In 2020, the pendulum swung the other way, with Joe Biden winning Wisconsin by a similarly slim margin of around 20,000 votes.
BREAKING: Big win against the anti-Democratic Party’s war on democracy and voter choice! Wisconsin voters still have an anti-genocide, pro-worker, climate action choice this year!
Help us celebrate: pitch in to our ballot access fund and spread the word! https://t.co/n7tw1uYuyh pic.twitter.com/EVMkeLO2RW
— Dr. Jill Stein? (@DrJillStein) August 26, 2024
Stein lauded the court’s decision today, remarking that the Green Party “beat back the DNC’s attack.” She said: “Today justice prevailed.” Michael White, co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party, dismissed the complaint as a “mark of fear by the Democratic Party,” asserting that it only served to energize Stein’s supporters. “It was an inevitable conclusion because the complaint had no merit to begin with and we knew that,” he stated. Meanwhile, Democrat National Committee spokesperson Adrienne Watson described the decision as “disappointing,” arguing that the Green Party should not be on the ballot.
Stein first ran for president in 2012, appearing on the ballot in 36 states and capturing about 0.36% of the popular vote. She made a second bid in 2016, running in 44 states plus Washington, D.C., and garnered approximately 1.07% of the vote.