Democrats accuse Cornel West campaign of accepting illegal in-kind contributions

Democrats are accusing Republican operatives of boosting the campaign of Independent presidential candidate Cornel West in North Carolina and Arizona, as ballot access fights rage in key swing states.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) last week claiming West’s bids in Arizona and North Carolina took illegal in-kind contributions from Republican-aligned groups.

The complaint alleges that West’s campaign took on about $240,000 worth of petitioning services provided by two GOP-aligned groups, Wells Marketing LLC and the staff of Blitz Canvassing.

“The West campaign has publicly stated it is not paying any firm for the ballot petition services these firms are providing, while it is simultaneously accepting the benefits of those services,” the complaint reads. 

“This series of illegal in-kind contributions are being paid for either by the corporate entities providing these services or by an unidentified third party,” it continues. “Because the campaign has failed to comply with its disclosure obligations under the law, the true source of the funding of its ballot access program remains hidden.”

Specifically, the DNC claims that West’s campaign violated Arizona law by allowing the canvassers to work on their behalf without paying them or authorizing their work with the FEC, therefore making the free work an illegal in-kind contribution. The Justice for All Party, backing West, committed the same violation in North Carolina, the DNC claims.

The North Carolina Board of Elections denied the Justice for All Party’s ballot application at a meeting last week. Democrats on the elections board claimed the group misled members of the public into signing petitions.

A group of West backers sued the state board on Monday, claiming it improperly denied the party’s application and that West should be placed on the ballot.

The attorneys behind that suit also have previous ties to Republican politics, previously representing the Republican National Committee and other GOP-aligned groups. It is unclear if the suit has any direct Republican backing.

Arizona’s ballot access deadline is next month, with the West campaign site listing its attempt to get on the ballot as “in progress.” The site also claims that West has achieved ballot access in North Carolina, despite its denial last week.

West stood by his campaign ballot efforts in a statement to The Hill, affirming that those who collected signatures in Arizona and North Carolina were volunteers.

“This was courageous and visionary leadership,” West said. “And yet, we still encountered unwarranted and unfounded legal challenges and then a smear campaign trying to say that somehow we’ve been manipulated.”

“We’re simply trying to speak our truth and seek justice and gain access to the ballot box,” he continued. “And we shall continue to do so.”

Third-party campaigns, particularly that of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have been an X factor in the 2024 race, with both Democrats and Republicans fearing such candidates could siphon votes from their candidates.

Updated at 4:06 p.m. EST.