January 12th, Boston, Massachusetts
Today Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein announced that she has raised enough money to qualify for federal matching funds for the 2016 presidential race.
The announcement followed an intense week of fundraising in which Stein volunteers manned virtual phonebanks and solicited support via email and Facebook appeals. Their goal was to reach a threshold of $5000 in matchable funds from at least 20 states. On Wednesday, volunteers cheered as the last seven states crossed the finish line, giving Stein a total of 21 qualified states.
Stein qualified for matching funds almost six months earlier than in the 2012 race.
Once the Federal Election Commission approves the paperwork, all donations received by Stein will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to a limit of $250 per donor.
In 2012 Stein became the most successful female presidential candidate in US history by receiving almost 469,000 votes nationwide. This tripled the Green Party vote over the previous election. So far this year, the Green Party is well ahead of 2012 in both fundraising and ballot access efforts.
“If there is anything that has been proven by the presidential race so far, it is that voters are rejecting the type of candidates typically offered by the Democratic and Republican parties.” says Stein.
“By November 2016 we will be the only campaign that has not sold out to big money and Wall Street. We will be only campaign standing up against a failing foreign policy built on militarism and a failing economic system that puts profits for the super-rich over economic security for working people. We will give millions of voters a chance to vote for a fair economy, health care for all, and a livable environment for their families. 2016 is not going to be another election year of the lesser evil – it will be the year when the greater good speaks up loud and clear in the voting booth. America desperately needs our voice in the presidential race, and we are now prepared to seize this unprecedented opportunity.”