Democrats attack third-party candidate Jill Stein in razor-thin race

With less than a month until the U.S. presidential election, Democrats are in a fierce competition for every vote and are now targeting third-party candidates they view as potential "spoilers."

On Friday, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the party's executive arm, launched a television ad attacking Jill Stein, the longtime Green Party candidate who has attracted some progressive voters dissatisfied with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The ad, airing in swing states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, accuses Stein of contributing to Republican challenger Donald Trump’s 2016 victory and warns, “a vote for Stein is really a vote for Trump.” This is a familiar claim Democrats have made in close races between their candidates and Trump.

The ad also features a clip of Trump saying, “Jill Stein? I like her very much,” underscoring Democrats' concern that any vote lost to third-party candidates could be critical in such a closely contested election. Stein is polling at around 1 percent, similar to independent candidate Cornel West and Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver. In battleground states, those small percentages could be decisive.

History of Third-Party Influence

Third-party candidates have long been blamed for their impact in tight elections, most famously in 2000 when Green Party nominee Ralph Nader garnered 97,421 votes in Florida, a state George W. Bush won by just 537 votes, securing the presidency.

However, third-party candidates and their supporters reject the criticism, arguing that they offer an alternative to the entrenched two-party system and provide voters with more choices. "You don’t have a democracy unless it’s competitive," Nader recently told Al Jazeera. He emphasized that third parties historically haven’t aimed to win elections outright but to introduce new agendas. With only two main parties, Nader added, “on major issues, they are very similar.”

A recent Gallup poll found that 58 percent of U.S. voters believe a third major party is necessary because Republicans and Democrats "do such a poor job" representing the American people.

Stein’s Stance on Israel

Although Stein has little chance of winning, her positions have resonated with some voters, particularly during the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, where both major parties have maintained strong support for Israel. Stein’s consistent criticism of U.S. backing for Israel has attracted new supporters this election cycle.

“The Kamala Harris campaign is looking for a scapegoat,” Stein told *The Washington Post* this week, referencing Harris's concerns about her candidacy. “They could change their policy right now. The problem is they would rather lose the election than end the genocide.”

This week, the Michigan-based Abandon Harris campaign, a Muslim group pushing to hold President Joe Biden’s administration "accountable for the Gaza genocide," endorsed Stein for president.

“Our movement is committed to ensuring that Americans, especially the Muslim-American community, recognize our responsibility in standing against oppression and using our power to stop genocide—wherever it may arise,” the group stated. “On the precipice of the election, we endorse Jill Stein.”