Progressive lawmakers are expressing concerns about Cornel West’s third-party bid, fearing that a figure they admire could harm President Biden’s chances in 2024.
Earlier this year, West launched a campaign with the Green Party to bring more leftism into the election cycle. By challenging both the Democratic and Republican establishments, he has raised the stakes of being a spoiler in the upcoming election.
Now, as the possibility of former President Trump securing the Republican nomination becomes more likely, progressives are voicing their worries.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told The Hill last week, “I think he has a very long record of service and academic thought leadership… right now, given the Electoral College, it’s very difficult to square the very real threat of a Republican presidency… with the risk of giving up the very small margin of electoral votes needed to ensure that President Biden wins.”
Up until recently, left-leaning lawmakers didn’t feel the need to voice any concerns about West. When he first announced his presidential bid in June, he did so with the grassroots People’s Party without much attention. Democrats weren’t applauding him, but they also weren’t criticizing him. There seemed to be little cause for concern in Congress.
The shift came when West changed his affiliation to the Green Party a few weeks later. This move reminded Democrats of 2016 when third-party nominee Jill Stein received enough votes to potentially contribute to Trump’s advantage in certain states.
What sets West apart from Stein is his revered status within the progressive movement and his goodwill among sitting members of Congress for his activism on behalf of working-class people.
Concerns are growing among progressives about the potential damage West’s bid could cause to Biden’s re-election campaign.
Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass), a prominent member of the Progressive Caucus, acknowledged West as a “thoughtful guy.” However, he didn’t hold back when it came to criticizing his third-party bid. “The stakes are too high this year, especially if Trump is the nominee… I just wish he wasn’t doing it,” McGovern said.
Moderate Democrats have quickly framed West as a potential spoiler running a self-serving campaign. They have been the most vocal against possible challengers to Biden and third-party bids.
On the other hand, progressives are often critical of the two-party system and have been hesitant to discourage West or other progressives from running for president. They embrace intra-party primaries and outside bids when it aligns with their progressive agenda.
This anxiety surrounding West reflects the broader concerns Democrats have about Biden’s approval rating, Trump’s influence in the Republican Party, and the desire for a different Democratic nominee.
Defenders of West’s candidacy believe strongly that it’s important to let voters decide in an open election. They argue against labeling him as a spoiler candidate and remind lawmakers that votes are earned, not given.
As Cullen Tiernan, a progressive activist based in New Hampshire, said, “Too many of these lawmakers have changed from ‘we will push Biden left,’ to now ‘we will endorse anything he does.’… Who are you serving by trying to eliminate voices from a democratic process?”
Cheyanne Daniels contributed to this report.