Politics

Democrats scramble to remove socialist party candidate from ballots in key swing states

By
Jon Levine
Published Aug. 17, 2024
Updated Aug. 17, 2024, 9:45 a.m. ET

The Democratic party is scrambling to boot a fringe socialist group’s presidential candidate from statewide ballots in a pair of critical swing states.

Operatives launched two legal challenges in Pennsylvania on Aug. 8 to the nominating papers of the virulently anti-Israel Party for Socialism and Liberation‘s candidates, Claudia De La Cruz and her vice presidential running mate, Karina Garcia.

A political action committee called ClearChoice is leading the effort, with funding from Democratic moneymen like venture capitalist Ronald Conway and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. The group is also going after other pesky third-party challengers in various states, including Robert F. Kennedy.

Claudia De la Cruz, Presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, speaking at a town hall in ZAO MKE Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Claudia De la Cruz, Presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, speaking at a town hall in ZAO MKE Church on Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Getty Images
Presidential candidate Claudia De la Cruz of the Party for Socialism and Liberation speaking at a town hall meeting in ZAO MKE Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation Claudia De la Cruz says she is being targeted by Democrats. Getty Images

Insiders said even a small number of far left voters siphoned off from Harris’ coalition could be devastating in the swings.

“In a 50/50 race between Harris and Trump you don’t want anyone to be sucking even 0.2% of these votes. You don’t want to take a chance on anything,” said one Democrats who requested anonymity to speak freely about the issue. “You just can’t take any risks if you’re a Democrat.”

A similar challenge against the party is also ongoing in Georgia — though Dems suffered a setback Tuesday when Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said De La Cruz, 43, has collected a sufficient number of ballots to appear on the Peach State presidential ballot.

“The Democratic Party is afraid of democracy. Millions of people are looking for alternatives to the two parties that only serve Wall Street and the war machine, but by pursuing these lawsuits the Democratic Party wants to deny them that choice,” said De la Cruz, the PSL presidential candidate, told The Post.

Vice Presidential Candidate Karina Garcia talking with a supporter at a political event in Atlanta, standing in front of a poster
De La Cruz and her veep candidate Karina Garcia have promised an end to aid to Israel and the virtual abolition of private property. ZUMAPRESS.com
Governor Tim Walz making remarks at a campaign event after being introduced by Vice President Kamala Harris as her Vice Presidential nominee, both waving at the crowd.
Team Harris does not want pesky third-party candidates siphoning votes away from her in close swing states. Saquan Stimpson – CNP / MEGA

The PSL, has raised more than $235,000 and promises voters a radically twisted vision for America, which includes seizing the 100 largest American corporations and turning them into public property and ending all US aid to Israel. The group does not release membership numbers but claims to have “an organized presence in over 100 cities and towns” in the United States.

The party is not affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the United States which has elected multiple members to Congress and boasts more than 77,000 faithful.

The PSL will be on the ballot in California, Hawaii, Utah, Idaho, and South Carolina and is petitioning for access in more than a dozen other states, it said.

With Post wires