Jill Stein

Jill Stein

Jill Ellen Stein (born May 14, 1950) is an American physician, activist, and perennial candidate. She was the Green Party's nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 and 2016 elections. Stein was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Highland Park, Illinois. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1973 and from Harvard Medical School in 1979. After practicing internal medicine for 25 years, Stein became more active in environmental and health movements, and entered politics to work on issues including environmental health, social justice, and grassroots democracy. Stein's political career began when she ran for Governor of Massachusetts as a Green-Rainbow Party candidate in 2002. Although she did not win, she continued to be active in state and national politics. In 2003, she co-founded the Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities, a non-profit organization advocating for environmental, health, and social justice issues in Massachusetts. Stein has also served on the board of the Greater Boston chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. In the 2012 presidential election, Stein's platform included a "Green New Deal," aimed at revitalizing the economy by transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2030, and investing in public transportation and sustainable agriculture. She also advocated for a single-payer healthcare system, free public higher education, and a financial transactions tax. Stein received approximately 0.36% of the popular vote. Stein ran for president again in the 2016 election, promoting similar policies. She received about 1% of the vote, a slight increase from 2012, but did not win any electoral votes. Stein's campaign was controversial for its stance on vaccines, with critics accusing her of being anti-vaccine, a claim she denied. She also faced criticism for her comments on Wi-Fi in schools, which some interpreted as suggesting Wi-Fi could be harmful to children's health, a stance she later clarified. After the 2016 election, Stein was involved in efforts to initiate recounts in several states, citing concerns about election integrity. These efforts were met with mixed reactions, with some seeing them as necessary for ensuring the accuracy of the election results, while others viewed them as unfounded and potentially damaging to public trust in the electoral process. Stein has been a vocal critic of both the Democratic and Republican parties, arguing that they are too influenced by corporate interests and do not adequately represent the American people. She has advocated for electoral reforms, including ranked-choice voting and the abolition of the Electoral College, to promote a more democratic and representative electoral system. Throughout her career, Stein has been involved in various environmental and social justice movements, including efforts to combat climate change, promote racial and gender equality, and oppose military interventions overseas. She continues to be an active voice in progressive politics, advocating for systemic change to address the root causes of social and environmental issues.