Left-wing academic Cornel West announced Thursday he was no longer running for president as a member of the Green Party and would now be running as an independent—marking the second time since announcing his presidential run in June the controversial candidate has switched his affiliation.
Cornell West announced Thursday he would be running for president as an independent, leaving the ... [+]
West posted a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, announcing the party change, saying people “want good policies over partisan politics” and that he’s running as an independent “to end the iron grip of the ruling class and ensure true democracy.”
His team gave little explanation for his departure from the Green Party, saying in a statement that “the best way to challenge the entrenched system is by focusing 100% on the people, not on the intricacies of internal party dynamics,” the New York Times reported.
He has billed himself as a populist alternative to the two-party system—which he has challenged throughout his career as a left-wing activist and philosophy professor.
West first announced his presidential bid in June, at the time registering as a member of the People’s Party, saying he would prioritize fighting to end poverty by providing a “living wage” for all, healthcare for all and guaranteed housing.