A familiar face in third-party politics is causing ripples in the Democratic party's strategy for the upcoming presidential election.
NewsNation reported that Democrats are intensifying efforts to counter the potential impact of Green Party candidate Jill Stein on the 2024 presidential race.
Democrats are now worried that Stein's candidacy could impact key swing states, similar to 2016. With Kennedy no longer in the race, the party's focus has turned to other third-party candidates.
Doug Gordon, a Democratic election operative and co-founder of UpShift Strategies, emphasized the gravity of Stein's candidacy:
The threat from Jill Stein's candidacy is real and growing by the day. Stein was instrumental to Trump getting a first term and she could be key to giving him a second term.
This sentiment echoes throughout the Democratic party, with many viewing Stein's campaign as a potential repeat of 2016, where her votes in key states were seen as contributing to Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has launched a targeted campaign against Stein in battleground states. Billboards in Wisconsin and Arizona label her a "spoiler" candidate, with one ad in Phoenix depicting Stein wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat.
Stein is expected to appear on ballots in twelve states, including crucial battlegrounds such as Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Recent polling in Pennsylvania shows Stein with 1% support, a margin that could prove decisive in a tight race.
The Green Party candidate's presence on state ballots has faced legal challenges. In Wisconsin, an appeal to remove Stein from the ballot was rejected by the state Supreme Court, allowing her to compete alongside other third-party candidates.
Democratic organizations are collaborating to remind voters of Stein's role in the 2016 election outcome. Joel Payne, chief communications officer for MoveOn, expressed strong opposition to Stein's campaign:
She's funded, supported and co-opted by extremist Trump MAGA loyalists who know she cannot win but that she only serves to make it easier for Trump to win.
The party's efforts extend to targeting younger voters, with groups like "Voters of Tomorrow" using social media platforms to discourage support for Stein among Generation Z.
While Stein remains the primary focus, Democrats are also monitoring other third-party candidates. Cornel West and Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver are on the ballot in several states, potentially impacting the electoral math in close races.
In North Carolina, where Vice President Harris holds a narrow lead over Trump, third-party candidates collectively account for 4% of support in recent polling. However, local activists note that on-the-ground conversations remain primarily focused on the two major party candidates.
The Democratic strategy to counter Stein and other third-party candidates reflects the party's determination to avoid a repeat of 2016. With polls indicating a tight race, even small percentages of support for alternative candidates could prove decisive in determining the next occupant of the White House.
