By Cornel West For President Campaign
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
[Lansing, Michigan] — In a decisive victory for democratic principles and voter choice, the West/Abdullah campaign announced today that the Michigan Court of Claims has affirmed Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Melina Abdullah’s right to appear on the November ballot. The court ruled against technical challenges from the Democratic Party, solidifying the campaign’s position in the upcoming presidential election.
Dr. Cornel West commented on the victory, saying, “This ruling is not just a legal victory—it is a moral victory for everyone who believes in the sanctity of the democratic process. Our campaign submitted over 26,000 signatures, significantly more than required, which the court recognized as a legitimate expression of the people’s will. We are grateful for this affirmation and promise to continue championing the rights of all voters.”
Dr. Melina Abdullah added, “Today’s decision reinforces that our voices, representing transformative justice and equity, belong in the national dialogue. We will not be silenced by procedural barriers and will keep pushing forward to create a more inclusive and just America.”
Elh Shine, lead volunteer in Michigan, also spoke on the campaign’s community efforts: “We represent the voices of all the individuals who signed ballot access petitions in good faith believing their signature would be honored by the state. This legal battle was about the worth of each individual voter in the state of Michigan and whether they matter to the state.”
The West/Abdullah campaign continues to gain traction nationwide, advocating for systemic changes and a platform that addresses the pressing issues facing all Americans. With this legal hurdle cleared, the campaign is focused on expanding its reach and preparing for the general election.
The West/Abdullah campaign has the signatures and minor party nominations it needs to get on the ballot in 18 states. This includes 7 of the battleground states: Michigan, Georgia, Minnesota, Florida, Wisconsin and North Carolina. For more info, see our ballot access map.
About Dr. Cornel West
Dr. West, affectionately known to many as Brother West, is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary.
Dr. West is the former University Professor at Harvard University, Professor Emeritus at Princeton University and the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. In Philosophy from Princeton University. He has written 20 books and he is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. He delivered the historic Gifford lectures at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in Spring 2024.
Dr. West enters the 2024 Presidential contest at a time in which he describes a national crisis of moral bankruptcy and spiritual obscenity driven by a derelict duopoly of both major parties that equally places profits over people and the planet. West asserts that running as an Independent candidate affords him the opportunity and duty to deliver policy prescriptions incorporated by and for the people, instead of political parties beholden to corporations and special interest groups who feel no solidarity with poor and working-class people of all races, gender identities, and age groups.
The Cornel West Campaign to empower poor and working people everywhere stands at a pivotal moment in history, committed to being a true campaign for people around the globe. Our aim is and will always be to unite in solidarity with movements of truth and justice, who seek a choice beyond empire, white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, and the confines of the corporate-dominated two-party system.
About Dr. Melina Abdullah
Melina Abdullah is Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA’s College of Ethnic Studies, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter – Los Ángeles and Black Lives Matter Grassroots, where she is also Director. She is a leader in the California Faculty Association (the faculty union), both locally and statewide, and mama of three. Dr. Abdullah earned her Ph.D. from University of Southern California in Political Science and her B.A. from Howard University in African American Studies. Abdullah has authored numerous articles and book chapters. Known by the moniker, Doc Melly Mel, she is creator, host, and producer of the radio programs Move the Crowd on KPFK 90.7 FM and This Is Not a Drill! on KBLA Talk 1580, and is a recognized expert on race, gender, class, and social movements. In April 2024, Abdullah was announced as vice-presidential pick for Dr. Cornel West in his run for president of the United States on a platform of “Truth, Justice, and Love.” She is the first Muslim to run for the vice-presidency.
Learn more about Cornel West at CornelWest2024.com.
Learn more about Dr. West’s Policy Pillars at CornelWest2024.com/Platform.
