She just doesn’t have the votes. Green Party candidate Jill Stein is running for president, again. As a progressive, the Green party’s platform is appealing with values that prioritize grassroots democracy, social justice, and ecological wisdom — leftist ideals to say the least. But the fact is, talk is talk, and Stein does not have the votes to become president and enact these values into policy, nor does she have the necessary backing in Congress. To be even more clear, there is not a single Green senator, representative, governor, nobody, not a Green to be seen in federal or state government positions. Out of the 519,682 elected offices across the country, only 139 are locally-elected Greens. Don’t let Stein’s third run charm you, and here’s why.

Saying No to Stein

Jill Stein has no experience in elected office, apart from campaigning, and she doesn’t know how many members of Congress there are, despite being in the periphery of politics since 2012. Furthermore, her lack of institutional knowledge reflects a larger issue within the Stein campaign — the Green Party has no power in Congress — meaning they have no effective means to pass crucial legislation the next president needs to pass to protect our reproductive and voting rights or make progress in the climate crisis. 

The Greens can’t and haven’t accomplished much outside few and far between pop-up local or state candidates, and like Libertarians to Republicans, Green candidates devalue “big tent” Democratic support, further extending a one-party rule mandate in Texas where margins will be extremely tight this year. It would be one thing if this party had widespread, national acclaim, or even enough votes to put her on the ballot in every state. In 2024, Stein will only appear on half of U.S. ballots, so once again: they are just not in a place to effectively produce the change progressive or Green voters want to see. A vote for yet another Stein “spoiler campaign,” (in the context of this neck at neck election) will be a vote to the void, or worse, a vote for Republican interests. But don’t just take it from us, Republican operatives worked to get her on ballots across the nation. 

Why Should I Withhold my Vote for Stein? 

A third party vote could be a useful tool once and when people build a movement around it, but without a parliamentary or multi-party system, young voters can instead find their voice in the progressive movement. One of the movement's growing tools is the diverse leadership at the Texas Progressive Caucus. The caucus’ issues and platforms include boosting renewable energy, legalizing cannabis, and no pay for any Congress member during a government shutdown. As opposed to Greens, the Texas Progressive Caucus has influenced major parties, including initiating Texas Democrats as the first major state party calling for peace in the Middle East. 

Progressives are some of the most diverse voters, and we invite you to be part of a movement that has changed a major party and continues to grow exponentially. There’s no pipe dream here. Its roots go back before the New Deal, with farmers in rural Texas who wanted to fight against big agricultural corporations. And while they still attract farmers and populist alike, they’ve expanded to demanding corporate interests leave more spaces too – like healthcare, energy, and national defense. It’s really simple, people first policies over profits.

Forward with Harris

You already know she won’t win, but that’s not the point. If your goal is pushing forward progress, you still shouldn’t vote Green, as they don’t have the means. Furthermore, Trump’s Project 2025 isn’t some distant agenda; it’s a nation-changing pandora’s box that only you, your friends, family, and neighbors’ votes can close for good. You can do that by joining the big tent this election and voting Harris-Walz, with a vision that puts people first and is grounded in real, lasting change — with political backing to match. From affordable homes to fair wages, accessible healthcare, and protecting families, they’re fighting to create a future where everyone can thrive — and you can help create it by not voting Green Party.

What’s Next

• Early Voting continues until Friday, November 1st! Don’t forget to build your voting plan using our voter navigation website, GoVoteTexas.org, now available in Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, and Hindi to fill in the TX SOS' purposeful gap!
• Do you want to be part of the change or on the sidelines? Learn more about the Texas Progressive Caucus on the Happy Hour.
• Join the advocates of progress! Congressman Greg Casar on the Happy Hour.