Democrats are under scrutiny for using legal maneuvers to remove third-party candidates from the ballot in Georgia, as part of a broader effort to safeguard Vice President Kamala Harris’ electoral prospects. This action highlights a troubling contradiction between their claims of defending democracy and their efforts to limit voter choice.
On September 13, 2024, two Fulton County Superior Court judges ruled to exclude Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz from Georgia’s ballot. The lawsuit brought by Democrats cited alleged paperwork issues as the basis for the removal. Although Green Party candidate Jill Stein also faced a challenge, she will remain on the ballot. Both West and De la Cruz plan to appeal the decision.
The ruling followed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s previous approval for West, an independent candidate, and De la Cruz, a nominee from the Party of Socialism and Liberation, to be on the ballot. Raffensperger has criticized “partisan activists” for attempting to skew the election process. His position emphasizes the right of voters to choose their candidates without interference.
De la Cruz had previously celebrated Raffensperger’s decision as a “victory for democracy,” arguing that the Democratic Party’s actions aimed to suppress third-party options. She accused Democrats of not wanting to face competition from a socialist campaign that purportedly offers genuine solutions to issues faced by working-class voters.
This legal battle mirrors recent attempts by Democrats in other states to block third-party candidates. In August, they succeeded in removing West from Michigan’s ballot due to challenges over his notarized affidavit. Similar attempts have been made in Wisconsin and Nevada. Democrats also fought to keep Robert F. Kennedy Jr. off the New York ballot, although Kennedy’s name will appear on the ballots in key swing states despite his withdrawal.
Former Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich criticized the Democrats, suggesting they act like a “cartel” by trying to both remove and retain Kennedy on ballots to manipulate the election process. Kucinich argues that this dual strategy reveals a lack of genuine commitment to democratic principles.
