Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein’s campaign announced she’s nearly reached Pennsylvania’s criteria to make the 2024 election ballot, drawing the long-shot presidential candidate closer to taking votes away from her challengers, most likely President Joe Biden.
Stein’s campaign has confirmed to the Washington Examiner that Stein is just hundreds of votes away from recording the 5,000 signatures required to get on the presidential ballot ahead of Pennsylvania’s Aug. 1 deadline. Pennsylvania is expected to be one of the closest races in the presidential election.
Alex Casper, Green Party of Pennsylvania secretary, said they do not plan to stop at 5,000 signatures, alleging a history of Democrats and Republicans “being harsh in Pennsylvania” against people’s rights to petition and run for office. The party plans to receive 10,000 signatures by July 27.
“We are confident that if we keep our volunteer efforts strong that we will be on the ballot this time,” Casper told the Washington Examiner. “We need all our boots on the ground to take down the duopoly’s regime at the ballot.”
The Green Party was on Pennsylvania’s ballot in 2012 and 2016 and organized a write-in campaign that ultimately fell flat in 2020.
During the 2016 presidential race, the Democratic Party’s nominee, Hillary Clinton, was frustrated by Stein’s third-party candidacy, complaining the doctor siphoned vital votes away from her and helped hand the election to Republicans and former President Donald Trump.
In 2016, Stein received 49,941 votes in Pennsylvania, a state Clinton lost by 44,292. In 2020, Biden won Pennsylvania by 1.2%.
In an election that is expected to be extremely close, the Democratic National Committee has launched a special team to prevent a repeat of Clinton’s 2016 loss.
Led by top strategists Ramsey Reid, Mary Beth Cahill, and Lis Smith, the DNC launched its first team to counteract third-party and independent candidates’ efforts.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Stein is running on a platform focused on environmental issues, implementing the Green New Deal, wiping out student debt, rolling out an economic bill of rights, ending “the endless war machine,” and calling for a ceasefire in Israel.
In April, Stein made headlines when she was charged with assaulting a police officer at a pro-Palestinian protest. Stein has brought her controversial support for Gaza to the forefront of her campaign, planting herself as a firm Jewish advocate of Gaza.