The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Green Party candidate Jill Stein, allowing her to appear on the state’s ballots for the upcoming presidential election.
The decision came after the Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed a challenge, arguing that Stein’s candidacy could siphon votes from Vice President Kamala Harris, potentially aiding former President Donald Trump. The DNC’s complaint was centered on the Green Party’s lack of statewide officeholders or legislative candidates authorized to nominate presidential electors, according to the New York Post.
However, 2016 exit polls show that 55% of third-party voters would have stayed home if their choice wasn’t on the ballot. It is unlikely that Green Party voters would have little impact on the 2024 Presidential Election.
Stein celebrated the ruling as a “big win against the anti-Democratic Party’s war on democracy and voter choice,” while Wisconsin Green Party Co-Chair Michael White saw the DNC’s efforts as a sign of fear. DNC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson expressed disappointment, stating that Stein’s candidacy violates the law.
Wisconsin, a critical battleground state, was narrowly won by President Biden in 2020, and Stein’s 31,000 votes in 2016 were seen as a factor in Hillary Clinton’s loss to Trump. The ruling underscores the potential impact third-party candidates could have on the 2024 election, particularly in closely contested states like Wisconsin.
