Jill Stein’s third run for president with the Green Party has reignited debate over third-party candidates and their impact on elections, especially in battleground states.
Despite being considered a longshot, Stein’s campaign has gained attention due to her reliance on legal support from Republican allies, particularly in her fight for ballot access in key states like Nevada and Wisconsin.
In Nevada, Stein’s campaign is challenging a state Supreme Court ruling that removed the Green Party from the ballot, with legal representation from Jay Sekulow, who previously defended Donald Trump. Similarly, in Wisconsin, she has accepted help from a Trump-aligned lawyer to secure her spot on the ballot.
While critics, especially Democrats, argue that Stein’s candidacy could spoil the race by drawing votes away from Vice President Kamala Harris, Stein and her team emphasize that they are merely responding to efforts to exclude them from the ballot.
This interplay between major party efforts to influence third-party ballot access, combined with legal challenges from both sides, has become a flashpoint in an election where every vote in swing states could be decisive.
The use of pro bono legal support from Trump-associated lawyers has further complicated Stein’s position, with her campaign defending the need to fight for ballot access, while Democratic allies label her a potential spoiler in favor of Trump.
