The Wisconsin Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to block Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein from appearing on Wisconsin ballots. 

As Wisconsin Public Radio reported, this decision effectively clears the way for Stein to be included on the November 5 ballot in a state known for its extremely close election margins.

The unsigned order, issued on Monday by Wisconsin's high court, comes just one day before the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) is scheduled to meet and certify candidates for the upcoming election.

The DNC had filed a petition for original action last week, urging the court to intervene and order the WEC to disqualify the Green Party from the presidential ballot by August 27.

Democratic Challenge To Green Party Candidacy

The DNC's petition argued that Stein and her running mate, Butch Ware, should be legally barred from appearing on Wisconsin's November ballots. Their reasoning centered on the claim that the Green Party lacks the necessary statewide office holders or state legislative candidates required to nominate presidential electors in the state.

Democrats expressed concern about the potential impact of Green Party candidates on progressive causes in tight races. Wisconsin has a history of razor-thin election margins, with both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections being decided by less than 23,000 votes.

The legal challenge by the DNC followed earlier complaints filed with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which were dismissed on technical grounds. This prompted the Democrats to escalate their efforts to the state's highest court.

Green Party Response And Republican Support

In response to the Democrats' legal maneuvers, Green Party representatives have characterized the lawsuit as frivolous and politically motivated. They argue that the Democrats are exploiting a gap in Wisconsin's election code regarding how minor parties should select electors.

Pete Karas, an elections chair for the Wisconsin Green Party, expressed his disapproval of the Democrats' actions, stating:

I don't think the Democrats should have brought this forward in the first place. They were really disenfranchising voters from voting who they felt they wanted to be president and voting their conscience.

The Green Party has also indicated its intentions to field candidates in more Wisconsin races in the future, particularly targeting competitive districts in 2026.

Republican Party Intervention And Celebration

Interestingly, the Republican Party of Wisconsin sought to intervene in the case on behalf of the Green Party. Following the Supreme Court's decision, the Wisconsin GOP celebrated the ruling, with Party Chair Brian Schimming issuing a statement:

For years, Democrats have silenced and disenfranchised Wisconsin voters by removing inconvenient candidates from the ballot. This time around, their undemocratic schemes have failed. If Democrats hope to win over voters, they will have to do so through earnest persuasion instead of disqualification.

The involvement of the Republican Party in supporting the Green Party's ballot access highlights the complex political dynamics at play in this battleground state.

Implications For November Election

The inclusion of Jill Stein on the Wisconsin ballot could potentially impact the outcome of the presidential race in this crucial swing state. In 2016, Stein garnered about 31,000 votes in Wisconsin, while Donald Trump's margin of victory over Hillary Clinton was less than 23,000 votes.

With the 2020 election being even closer, with Joe Biden edging out Trump by less than 21,000 votes, the presence of third-party candidates on the ballot takes on added significance. Political analysts will be closely watching how Stein's candidacy might affect voter choices and potentially influence the final results.

Additional Ballot Challenges Under Review

As the Wisconsin Elections Commission prepares to meet, they are set to review two other challenges seeking to bar minor party candidates from the November ballot. One complaint, filed by Republicans, aims to disqualify Shiva Ayyadurai, while another from Democrats seeks to remove Cornel West from the ballot.

Despite ending his campaign last week, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to appear on the Wisconsin ballot, according to WEC materials that found his petition to be valid.

In conclusion, the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision not to hear the challenge against Jill Stein's candidacy has significant implications for the upcoming presidential election. The Green Party's inclusion on the ballot adds another dimension to an already closely watched race in this battleground state. With other minor party candidates also facing challenges, the final composition of Wisconsin's presidential ballot remains a topic of intense interest and debate among political observers and strategists.