Green Party nominee Jill Stein’s recount effort is nothing more than a waste of time and energy, as many on both the left and right have noted. But now even the Green Party itself wants nothing to do with Stein.
“There are significant electoral reforms needed to make elections more democratic and more representative of the people. While we support electoral reforms, including how the vote is counted, we do not support the current recount being undertaken by Jill Stein,” a statement on the Party’s website reads.
“The decision to pursue a recount was not made in a democratic or a strategic way, nor did it respect the established decision making processes and structures of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS),” it continued.
The Party argues that Stein’s effort blurs the line between the Green and Democratic Parties given the states that Stein chose to target for a recount—Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—are those that Hillary Clinton lost. Other close races where Clinton won, like in New Hampshire, were ignored.
“As a candidate, Dr. Stein has the right to call for a recount. However, we urge the GPUS to distance itself from any appearance of support for either Democrats or Republicans. We are well aware of the undemocratic actions taken during the primaries by the DNC and the Clinton campaign. Greens cannot be perceived to be allied with such a party.”