Published on November 21, 2023, 10:27 pm

Renowned scholar and activist Cornel West, who recently elected to break away from the Green Party to run as an independent candidate, has gathered some criticisms from his left-wing peers. There is a significant worry that he may inadvertently fracture President Joe Biden’s support base by drawing votes away.

Several Democrats have openly criticized West, contemplating if he is adhering to the precedent set by Ralph Nader. Nader’s third-party candidacy in 2000 was largely believed to have siphoned enough left-leaning votes from Al Gore, leading George W. Bush to victory in that year’s presidential election.

While Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., acknowledged West’s extensive career and academic prowess, she voiced apprehension about his bid for the presidency. She highlighted the tangible risk of a potential Republican presidency and the precarious state of President Biden’s slim margin of electoral votes.

In a similar vein, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., commended West for his public speaking skills but emphasized the high stakes involved in this year’s election cycle — particularly if Donald Trump is nominated as the Republican candidate. He added there is a compelling need to shield democracy by resisting Trump and extending support to President Biden.

In response to such concerns, Cornel West vehemently disputed the assumption that he could take votes away from President Joe Biden. In an interview conducted in June, he contended that no candidate should assume ownership over votes and must instead strive to earn them.

Attempting to allay Democratic worries during another interview in summer, West surmised most of those voting for him would likely have abstained rather than vote for Biden.

In addition, he asserted that his campaign would only draw a very small fraction of votes from both major parties while mainly targeting voters who feel alienated from these parties or don’t usually participate in elections at all.

However, lately ,West has intensified his criticism against the Democratic Party. During a July interview on Hannity, he explicitly accused Biden of committing “crimes against humanity” towards African Americans. He also berated the party for endorsing politicians who failed to address key issues such as militarism, poverty, and white supremacist practices.

In his campaign video, West avowed that his presidential focus would lie on pertinent matters including living wages, adequate housing, reproductive rights, universal healthcare, and effective action towards climate change. He added that he would be running his campaign under the banner of “truth and justice.”

Initially having launched his campaign as a People’s Party candidate then transitioning to the Green Party primarily due to ballot access issues, West has now decided to run as an independent candidate – expectedly fraught with hurdles.

According to Peter Daou, West’s Campaign Manager, one principal obstacle lies in procuring ballot presence in all 50 states. Specifically navigating through every state’s unique ballot access rules presents itself as a daunting task.

Richard Winger, an expert in ballot access and advocate for minor political parties noted: “There is nobody in 100 years who has run for president outside the major parties…who didn’t mix methods.”

At this unpredictable crossroad of American politics where trusted news meet real news from a Christian worldview,it is imperative to stay informed about these developments. Remember that each vote counts in making our democracy stronger and more representative for all.