Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance recently questioned the Left’s outrage at Green Party nominee Dr. Jill Stein being on the November ballot while pointing out that they are trying to keep former third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on the ballot despite his endorsement of Donald Trump. Vance suggested that Democrats should consider their own actions in regard to spoilers, as Kennedy had more support than Stein and they are working to prevent him from being removed from the ballot. He emphasized that the best person to vote for in November is Trump, followed by anyone not named Kamala Harris.
Kennedy has faced legal challenges to have his name removed from the ballot since dropping out of the race, with Democrats initially filing lawsuits to keep him off the ballot. Progressives have accused Kennedy of working with Trump and MAGA to disrupt the ballot counting process in several states. Stein, an ecologically-oriented physician, has run for president under the Green Party banner multiple times, despite facing criticism for continuing her candidacy during close races. The Democratic National Committee has labeled Stein a Russian “useful idiot” and suggested that a vote for her is a vote for Trump.
The New York Times recently published an article detailing the controversy surrounding Stein’s presidential bid, including criticism from hecklers, family members, and political figures. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell both expressed strong disapproval of Stein’s candidacy, with O’Donnell attributing Trump’s rise to power partially to Stein’s involvement. The Times also reported that Democratic operatives have been working to aid far-right Constitution Party nominee Randall Terry’s ballot access for reasons similar to Republicans supporting Stein. Stein’s campaign motto of “Forget the lesser evil, fight for the greater good” has been a consistent theme throughout her third-party bids.
Stein responded to the backlash in an interview with Fox News Digital, claiming that the Democratic Party’s smear campaign has actually increased publicity for her campaign. She criticized the DNC and other prominent Democrats for their attacks on her and her supporters, suggesting that their efforts to discredit her have only strengthened her resolve. Stein also accused Kamala Harris of prioritizing killing Palestinian children over winning the election and called for a weapons embargo to Israel. Despite the criticism and opposition she has faced, Stein remains steadfast in her belief that Americans should reject the two-party system and work towards a greater good, rather than settling for the lesser evil in elections.
Overall, the controversy surrounding Jill Stein’s candidacy, as well as the treatment of other third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., highlights the ongoing debate over the influence of spoilers in American politics. Stein’s continued presence on the ballot and the efforts to remove Kennedy after he endorsed Trump raise questions about the role of third parties in shaping election outcomes. As the race for the presidency narrows, the scrutiny of third-party candidates and their impact on the major party candidates intensifies, with accusations of being Russian assets and spoilers complicating an already contentious electoral landscape.
