NEW YORK (AP) — Progressive activist Cornel West mentioned Thursday that he’s not operating for president beneath the Inexperienced Get together banner. As an alternative, the high-profile African American thought chief will run as an unbiased.
“I’m operating as an Unbiased candidate for President of america to finish the iron grip of the ruling class and guarantee true democracy!” West wrote on the social media platform X, previously referred to as Twitter.
“Persons are hungry for change,” he added. “They need good insurance policies over partisan politics. We have to break the grip of the duopoly and provides energy to the individuals.”
West faces lengthy odds in his quest to develop into the primary candidate not affiliated with a significant political occasion to win the presidency. However Democrats are quietly involved that he may make a major influence within the 2024 contest by successful even a small portion of the vote in key states that may in any other case go to President Joe Biden.
Some Democrats are nonetheless upset about Inexperienced Get together nominee Jill Stein’s presidential bid in 2016, when she gained extra almost 1.5 million votes in an election that Republican Donald Trump gained by the slimmest of margins over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
In the meantime, West will not be the one unbiased or third-party candidate positioned to affect the 2024 presidential contest. Present Democratic presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is extensively anticipated to launch an unbiased or third-party bid subsequent week. Additionally, the centrist group No Labels is actively securing poll entry for a yet-to-be-named candidate.
It stays to be seen whether or not West can collect the tens of hundreds of signatures required to qualify for the poll in essential states. With out the infrastructure of a proper occasion, such signature gathering will fall largely to grassroots volunteers.
“As Dr. West’s marketing campaign for president grows, he believes one of the best ways to problem the entrenched system is by focusing 100% on the individuals, not on the intricacies of inside occasion dynamics,” West’s marketing campaign mentioned in a written assertion. “Our Structure offers for Unbiased candidates to achieve poll entry in all states, and Dr. West has begun in search of poll entry as an Unbiased, unaffiliated with any political occasion.”
Within the assertion, West’s marketing campaign additionally acknowledged persevering with to share the Inexperienced Get together’s “values and dedication to justice.”
“It’s long gone time to cease ping-ponging between Republicans and Democrats whereas hundreds of thousands of our pals and neighbors lack housing, well being care, first rate jobs, clear air, clear water, nutritious meals, and a wholesome atmosphere,” the marketing campaign mentioned.
