Everyone knew the 2024 race was going to have some twists and turns. But no one expected it to go like this.
And this presidential candidate abandoned his party for an independent bid.
Cornel West, a left-wing presidential contender, announced Thursday that he will no longer run for the Green Party’s candidacy and will instead run as an independent.
The transition will almost certainly hinder the Union Theological Seminary professor’s presidential hopes, as the Green Party is already on the ballot in 17 states.
West will be responsible for getting his own name on ballots across the country if he runs as an independent.
West’s team did not provide a detailed reason for the party switch, instead pointing to the restrictions that come with registering with a party.
“The best way to challenge the entrenched system is by focusing 100 [%] on the people, not on the intricacies of internal party dynamics,” the West campaign said in a statement.
West accused the two-party system of impeding “abolition of poverty and homelessness,” dealing with working salaries, and “cutting back on militarism” in a video message posted Thursday morning.
During the 2024 election, the 70-year-old moved parties once previously, initially standing under the People’s Party banner before switching to the Green Party.
Democratic candidates against Biden include self-help author Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has polled as high as 20% and is set to announce his own independent race next week.
His candidacy has been considered as a potential spoiler for President Biden, who could lose votes to the far-left fans of the famed progressive philosopher.
Sure, Cornel West isn’t going to be the next President of the United States.
We all already knew that one.
But in such a tight race between Biden and Trump, the likely GOP nominee, even a couple percentage points could ruin Biden’s hopes.
And, as mentioned, if RFK Jr. can pull a couple percent away from Biden too, then it could be death by a thousand cuts.
Meanwhile, Trump seems to be surging in the Republican primary polls.
According to FiveThirtyEight polling averages, Trump is commanding a massive 55.9% of the Republican vote.
His closest competition is Ron DeSantis who is polling at 14.7%.
And if Republicans can solidify around one candidate while West and RFK Jr. chip away at Biden, the Democrats should get worried.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
