Democrat President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign has faced a significant setback with the announcement of prominent left-wing activist and academic Cornel West running for president as a third-party candidate.
West officially launched his 2024 campaign on Monday, revealing his candidacy under the People’s Party, dealing a blow to the Democrats.
In a statement, West expressed his platform:
“I am running for truth and justice as a presidential candidate for the People’s Party to reintroduce America to its best self. I am committed to fighting against poverty, mass incarceration, wars, and ecological collapse, while advocating for housing, healthcare, education, and living wages for all.
“My intention is to reintroduce America to its greatest qualities—the dignity, courage, and creativity of everyday people. I invite everyone, regardless of color or nationality, to join our movement in support of the priceless poor and working-class individuals, both domestically and internationally.”
West’s policy platform encompasses various areas:
Government reform: Combat corruption, establish a genuine democracy, eliminate money from politics, and ban corporate lobbying. Enact term limits in Congress and transition to hand-counted paper ballots.
Social and economic justice: Ensure quality education, housing, a living wage, and paid leave for all. Address inflation, support unions, and expand Social Security. Repair infrastructure and provide student debt forgiveness.
Healthcare and well-being: Guarantee universal healthcare, including comprehensive coverage for dental, vision, hearing, mental health, substance abuse, and long-term care. Lower drug prices and eliminate medical debt.
Foreign policy and defense: Bring back troops, redirect military funds to American communities, support veterans, cease foreign military aid, close bases, dissolve NATO, and advocate for global nuclear disarmament.
Civil rights and liberties: Secure equal rights for all Americans, restore free speech, press freedoms, and net neutrality. End surveillance, the war on drugs, and mass incarceration. Protect reproductive rights, oppose central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), regulate artificial intelligence, and break up large technology corporations.
Environmental sustainability: Combat pollution in food, water, and air. Address climate change and transition to regenerative agriculture. Eliminate oil and gas subsidies, cease drilling on public lands, and invest in clean energy.
In separate news, ABC reported that Mike Pence has officially filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to launch his presidential campaign in 2024. Pence’s bid adds him to a crowded Republican primary field that includes former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, widely regarded as a strong contender for the Republican nomination.
I am running for truth and justice as a presidential candidate for the People’s Party to reintroduce America to the best of itself – fighting to end poverty, mass incarceration, ending wars and ecological collapse, guaranteeing housing, health care, education and living wages for… pic.twitter.com/u3NYGUbG1S
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) June 5, 2023