Wisconsin Supreme Court Blocks Democrats’ Effort to Remove Jill Stein From Ballot

In a significant victory for voter choice, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court rejected a petition on Monday filed by Democrats seeking to remove Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein from the ballot this fall. The court's decision is a major setback for Democrats, who fear Stein could siphon crucial votes away from Vice President Kamala Harris, potentially aiding Republican nominee Donald Trump in securing the pivotal swing state.

The petition, brought by David Strange in his capacity as Deputy Operations Director-Wisconsin for the Democrat National Committee, argued that the Green Party should be disqualified from the ballot. Democrats cited concerns over the party's eligibility, noting that the Green Party had no candidates for state office and lacked officeholders in Wisconsin who could nominate presidential electors.

• Court Ruling: The Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to take up the case, stating that “the petitioner is not entitled to the relief he seeks,” effectively keeping Stein on the ballot.

• Impact on Election: With Wisconsin being a crucial battleground state, Democrats are concerned that Stein could pull enough votes from Harris to swing the state in Trump's favor, repeating the outcome of the 2016 election.

• Stein’s Response: Jill Stein celebrated the ruling as a win against what she describes as the “anti-Democratic Party’s war on democracy and voter choice,” criticizing the Democrats for trying to undermine democratic processes.

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton lost Wisconsin to Trump by a narrow margin of 22,748 votes, while Stein received 31,072 votes in the state. The fear among Democrats is that a similar scenario could unfold in 2024, jeopardizing Harris's chances of winning Wisconsin and potentially the presidency.

Stein took to social media to emphasize the importance of her candidacy, declaring, “Big win against the anti-Democratic Party’s war on democracy and voter choice! Wisconsin voters still have an anti-genocide, pro-worker, climate action choice this year!”

As the election season intensifies, this ruling underscores the ongoing battle over ballot access and the pivotal role that third-party candidates can play in shaping electoral outcomes. Share this article and subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on the latest developments in the 2024 election.