We The People Party Secures Legal Victory in North Carolina, Ensuring Ballot Access for 2024 Elections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2024 – In a significant victory for democracy and voter choice, We The People Party of North Carolina has successfully defended its right to participate in the 2024 elections. The Superior Court of Wake County ruled in favor of We The People, rejecting the North Carolina Democratic Party's (NCDP) attempts to challenge the party's legitimacy and ballot access.
We The People was represented by their Vice Chair and Counsel, Ryan Rabah; lead litigator and election law specialist, Oliver Hall, from the Center for Competitive Democracy; and Melissa Cowan from More Voter Choice Fund. Hall deftly argued the legal team’s positions against the baseless claims presented by the NCDP before the Honorable Justice Keith Gregory.
“We are pleased but not surprised by the Court’s ruling,” said Hall. “There was no basis in fact or in law for NCDP’s claims and their lawsuit was a transparent attempt to suppress voter choice in North Carolina by blocking a party from the ballot despite its full compliance with all applicable requirements. The Court got it right.”
The ruling comes after a prolonged battle in which Democratic-funded groups like the Clear Choice PAC and the North Carolina Democratic Party challenged We The People Party’s legitimacy at every step of the certification process. This attempt to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and We The People’s other candidates from the ballot is the latest in an unprecedented and brazen ballot suppression campaign from the Democratic Party.
The court's decision affirms that We The People Party of North Carolina has met all statutory requirements under North Carolina law and recognizes the party's commitment to providing an independent third-party option for voters. This victory ensures that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Nicole Shanahan for Vice President, Jeff Scott for North Carolina Senate District 40, and Mark Ortiz for Rowan County Commissioner, will appear on the ballot in the upcoming elections.
“Our objective has always been clear: to establish a new political party that offers North Carolinians an alternative to the corporate-controlled two-party system and to nominate candidates who share our core values, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.," said We The People Counsel Ryan Rabah. "This ruling is not just a win for our party," Rabah continued, "but a victory for every voter who believes in a more representative and inclusive democracy, and another resounding defeat of the Democratic Party’s nationwide ballot suppression lawfare tactics."
Jeff Scott, We The People’s candidate for NC State Senate (District 40) added, "The Judge today preserved the rights of voters in North Carolina to associate under their First Amendment rights and vote their candidates of choice. Voters are the gatekeepers, not the administrators.”
“Today the voices of tens of thousands of NC voters were validated and the perseverance of ‘We The People’ prevailed,” stated Party Chair Ceara Foley. We The People Party extends its gratitude to its legal team, supporters, and all those who stood by its side during this critical challenge. The party remains committed to advocating for policies that reflect the needs and aspirations of all North Carolinians.
Media Inquiries:
Email: info@wethepeoplenc.com
Phone: (980) 263-9293
Contact: Ryan Rabah, Esq., Vice Chair, We the People