The independent candidate needs a VP pick to gain access to the ballot in a number of states.
Cornel West is running as an independent candidate and faces significant challenges in his campaign for the White House. | Francis Chung/POLITICOCornel West tapped university professor and prominent Black Lives Matter activist Melina Abdullah to be his running mate on his long-shot presidential bid.
Since getting in the race, West has switched parties twice, leaving the People’s Party and the Green Party to ultimately run as an independent. The switch mandates an expensive and difficult process to get his name on the ballot in 50 states and Washington, DC. Officially choosing his vice president allows him to start collecting petition signatures to get on the ballot in about 20 states.
Abdullah, who is also an organizer of grassroots and local Black Lives Matter chapters, said she “was not expecting the phone call that I got last week at all, like it was the furthest thing from my mind. And then he and his wife Annahita asked and immediately my heart just soared.” As a practicing Muslim, Abdullah also spoke of the auspiciousness of her announcement on Eid, the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramandan. She talked openly about her faith, using a similar approach to West’s on the campaign trail. West is a Christian and the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary.The announcement was a major milestone for West’s campaign but was not without issue.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Woman Who Sued Black Lives Matter Leader Is Cornel West's Vice PresidentMelina Abdullah was named as West's running mate on Wednesday.
Read more »
Cornel West announces Melina Abdullah as VP pickWest announced in October that he was running as an independent.
Read more »
Cornel West Announces Running Mate Melina AbdullahCornel West, a prominent activist and author, announces his running mate, Melina Abdullah, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, as he seeks to gain ballot access in more states.
Read more »
Independent Cornel West taps professor Melina Abdullah as presidential running mateAlexandra Marquez is a politics reporter for NBC News.
Read more »
Cornel West to announce running mate for independent 2024 campaignIndependent candidates like West need a VP pick to qualify in some states.
Read more »
Independent Presidential Candidate Cornel West to Announce Running MateIndependent presidential candidate Cornel West is set to announce his running mate on Tavis Smiley's radio show. This move comes as independent candidates aim to gain ballot access in several states and the District of Columbia.
Read more »