Democracy thrives on diverse voices. It's time for third-party candidates to be heard to.
Who is Running
Cornel West
Independent Party
When West announced his presidential bid in June 2023, he sought to run on the People’s Party line, before pivoting to seek the Green Party nomination. Months later, he abandoned the party process altogether to run as an independent. The progressive scholar and his running mate, professor and activist Melina Abdullah, have sought support from disaffected Democrats who oppose Biden’s support for Israel’s military operation in Gaza.West has said he would pressure Israel into agreeing to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to withdrawing from Palestinian territory. He’s also said he would cut off all US aid to Ukraine and push to abolish NATO. He’s pledged to enact free health care for all US residents. West has also said he would discontinue all oil and gas leasing projects on federal lands. He is committed to the payment of reparations to all Black US residents.
Jill Stein
Green Party
Stein originally served as Cornel West’s campaign manager during his brief stint as a Green Party candidate. But shortly after he switched to an independent run, Stein stepped forward to seek the Green nomination herself. Her campaign has largely focused on combatting President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s war effort in Gaza. In April, she was arrested at a protest at Washington University in St. Louis amid a nationwide series of boycotts calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.Stein has proposed a climate policy that goes further than progressive Democrats’ “Green New Deal,” pushing the US to achieve zero carbon emissions on a faster timeline. She has pledged to withdraw US support for Israel and Ukraine. She’s in favor of guaranteed free public education from pre-K through college. Stein has also said she would cancel all medical debt as well as double the number of Supreme Court justices and subject them to 18-year term limits.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Independent Party
The Kennedy family scion first entered the race in April 2023, challenging President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary. But that October, seeing his path to overtake Biden blocked, he switched to an independent run. Kennedy, along with running mate Nicole Shanahan, has sought to appeal to voters dissatisfied with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He frequently accuses Biden and former President Donald Trump of increasing government spending, prolonging US involvement in foreign conflicts and enacting policies beneficial to large corporations. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Kennedy drew national attention for spreading false information about the coronavirus, vaccines and public health measures.Kennedy has promised to withdraw US support for Ukraine and has pledged to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. He’s vowed to end the “chronic disease epidemic.” He’s also said he would enact a five-year lobbying ban on former government officials. And Kennedy has pledged to sign on his first day in office an executive order stating that “any government official who lies” would lose their job.
Chase Oliver
Libertarian Party
Oliver secured the Libertarian nomination after seven rounds of voting at the party’s convention in May 2024. He overcame efforts to block his candidacy by a growing party faction that fielded candidates willing to embrace far-right positions on issues such as immigration and transgender care. Oliver, who visited all 50 states ahead of the Libertarian convention, was sharply critical of Donald Trump’s and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to court Libertarian voters earlier this yearOliver has called for simplifying the pathway to citizenship for immigrants and expanding work visas. He’s pledged to withdraw the US from all foreign conflicts, including cutting support for Ukraine and Israel. He’s in favor of eliminating the Federal Reserve. He’s committed to federally decriminalizing marijuana use and pardoning all nonviolent drug offenders and has said he would push Congress to decriminalize possession and use of all drugs.
