Cornel West jumps into 2024 race as third-party candidate
Author and speaker supported Bernie Sanders during the latter’s two presidential runs
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Activist Dr Cornel West announced his bid for the presidency on Monday under the banner of the progressive People’s Party.
Dr West entered the 2024 race via a campaign video released on Twitter; a campaign website for the Harvard- and Princeton-trained philosopher laid out a left-leaning platform that includes popular progressive planks like support for Medicare for all.
“I am running for truth and justice and as a candidate for president of the United States in the People’s Party. I want to reintroduce America to the best of itself – the dignity, courage, and creativity of precious everyday people. Join our movement for priceless poor and working people of all colors here and abroad,” declares a statement on Dr West’s website.
In the video, he adds: “I come from a tradition where I care about you. I care about your quality of life.”
“I care whether you have access to a job with a living wage, decent housing. Women having control over their own bodies.”
His campaign will likely win some supporters on the Bernie Sanders-aligned left, but at the same time will run up against the same structural obstacles that have hamstrung other third-party presidential bids and dissuaded many serious candidates from running at all.
Evidence of that was already breaking across Twitter in immediate response to Dr West’s announcement. “Elevate this thing Dr. West,” wrote former Sanders surrogate Nina Turner.
As a third-party candidate, Dr West will face a steep climb in terms of securing funding for his bid, which will require a small army of staffers and volunteers as well as a budget for advertising. He’ll also need to worry about securing his name on the ballot in as many states as possible — one of the main hurdles that sealed the fate of rapper Ye when he ran for president in 2020.
The People’s Party, founded by former Sanders campaign staffer Nick Brana, has stoked controversy on the American left for its support of running candidate outside of the Democratic Party, which the organisation’s founders argue is too hostile to progressive values to ever allow a truly left-leaning candidate like Mr Sanders to win its presidential nomination.
Dr West’s bid comes as another progressive, Marianne Williamson, has also sought to provide a left-leaning alternative for voters over President Joe Biden, though Ms Williamson is running as a Democrat.
Concerns about the president’s age have haunted Mr Biden, who is 80, since 2020 and show no signs of abating; polls indicate that a majority of Democrats would prefer that the president would step aside and not run for reelection in 2024.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments