In a recent Instagram story, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, criticized Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, labeling her runs for the presidency as “predatory.” Ocasio-Cortez pointed out that while Stein has campaigned multiple times, the Green Party has struggled to establish a grassroots presence, achieving minimal success in local elections.
Stein notably gained attention in 2016 when her vote totals in several key states exceeded Donald Trump’s victory margins, leading to claims that she played a spoiler role. This drawn ire from Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, who accused Stein of being a “Russian asset.”
In her Instagram story, Ocasio-Cortez expressed frustration that the Green Party seems overly focused on presidential elections, noting that they have never held federal office and have limited representation in state legislatures. She commented, “If you run for years in a row and your party has not grown… that’s bad leadership.” She argued that Stein’s lengthy nomination without tangible growth in the party reflects poorly on her leadership.
As of now, Stein is set to be on the ballot in multiple states, while the Green Party holds positions in a few others, a result of varying ballot access rules.
Ocasio-Cortez added that although she supports third-party candidates, running for president comes with responsibility. She stated, “If you’re running for president, you are the de facto leader of your party,” underscoring that a lack of effective strategy and growth calls into question Stein’s authenticity.
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Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has engaged in legal actions to restrict third-party access to ballots. This includes failed attempts to remove independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from ballots in North Carolina and New Jersey. Recently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to Stein’s candidacy in the state, which was viewed as an attempt by the Democratic Party to maintain control over potential voter splits.
Stein, who received close to 1.5 million votes in 2016, defended her party by stating that many Stein supporters were non-voters previously. She emphasized her focus on important issues like climate change and economic justice rather than political attacks.
In a twist, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris may also face the challenge of competing with the “Justice for All Party” candidate, Cornel West, who is backed by Republican strategists aiming to siphon votes from Democrats in pivotal states.
Trump has even commented favorably on both candidates, suggesting that their presence could significantly impact the election landscape.