Staff Reports
A recent court ruling in Georgia has left four independent and third-party candidates out in the cold when it comes to appearing on the presidential ballot. The final decision now rests with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, but things are looking bleak for those seeking to spice up this election cycle with some variety besides the typical blue versus red showdown.
The administrative law judge, Michael Malihi, delivered the verdict—a crushing blow for individuals like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, as well as Jill Stein from the Green Party and Claudia De la Cruz from the Party for Socialism and Liberation. These candidates were ruled ineligible in a case that’s undoubtedly a playbook move by the Democrats, who seem worried that an assortment of independent voices might swipe votes from their candidate, the Vice President herself, Kamala Harris. It’s almost comical how terrified the Democratic Party is that less-than-mainstream candidates could steal even a smidge of their precious voter base, particularly when Biden’s margin of victory in Georgia was slimmer than a butter knife.
Kennedy stirred the pot just days before the ruling by announcing that he would be withdrawing his name in Georgia and other battleground states as he throws his weight behind Donald Trump. It’s not every day an independent candidate trades loyalty to the left for a red hat, but it’s a sign that the party line isn’t as solid as they’d like it to seem. Kennedy seems to have caught on to the idea that endorsing Trump could actually mean making a bigger impact than running solo, which is perhaps a strategy the Democrats didn’t foresee.
As Raffensperger’s office mulls over the judge’s decision, it’s important to note the absurdity of the requirements placed on independent candidates. They need to submit petitions in the names of presidential electors rather than their own names. This leaves many scratching their heads, wondering if this legal maneuvering is just a disguised attempt to keep the establishment’s control over the ballot. Alternately, it raises the question of whether this isn’t just another case of bureaucratic gymnastics designed to box out competition.
4 independent and third-party candidates should be kept off Georgia presidential ballot, judge rules https://t.co/0AeP1u4oNf
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 26, 2024
And let’s not overlook the heavy-handed tactics used against candidates. For instance, Kennedy was disqualified partly because a New York court deemed his listed address a “sham.” What’s next—a residency check for campaigning in a different state? The absurdity here is astounding. Also under scrutiny, Jill Stein’s hopes of leveraging a new Georgia law to squeeze onto the ballot were dashed as Malihi determined she couldn’t prove her party’s qualification in the required number of states before the impending ballot deadline. You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the Democratic camp, knowing they won’t have to deal with an independent candidacy that might threaten their electoral dreams.
Democrats have been paying attention to every loophole they can exploit to keep their monopoly on voices vying for the White House, all while claiming to champion diversity and choice. Yet, here they are, stacking the deck against candidates who, though not in the major two-party system, might just invigorate a political discussion that feels stale at best. If there was ever a moment to rally around the principle of democratic choice, this would be it, but who needs that when they can just play a game of legal whack-a-mole? So while the Democrats may enjoy this temporary victory, the eyes of fed-up voters are on them, and they won’t be forgotten come election day
