10
Loading video...
By Mandy Taheri
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
As Democrats look to flip key Pennsylvania House seats in their bid to regain control of the chamber, a dispute has emerged over Green Party candidates seeking spots on the November ballot, and reports of actors potentially paying people to collect signatures for them.
The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) says some candidates seeking ballot access in the state lack the party's endorsement, prompting questions about the campaign's strategy. Andrew Tupone, who is running as a Green Party candidate for the state's 7th Congressional District, told PunchBowl News that he was not being recruited to run and said he did not pay petition circulators, despite circulating claims. Newsweek has not independently verified that any of the candidacies are part of a politically motivated effort to influence the race.
Democrats have raised concerns that a third-party bid could siphon votes from their nominee and are seeking answers about who may be supporting the candidacy if not the Green Party.
Read More on Politics
Jenna Kaufman, campaign manager for Democrat Bob Brooks’ campaign, said in a press release sent to Newsweek, “It appears that Republicans are once again pursuing a desperate scheme to meddle in this race because Ryan Mackenzie can’t stand on his own record.”
The statement continued, “Voters deserve to know who is paying for this effort and whether Ryan Mackenzie and his Republican backers are involved.”
Third-party candidates seldom win federal office, but they can play an outsized role in close races by attracting voters who might otherwise back one of the major parties. Green Party candidates drawing support from major party nominees is particularly of concern in battleground elections, like Pennsylvania, where a handful of votes can determine the outcome of highly competitive contests. The race comes as Democrats seek to win back control of the House, while Republicans aim to defend their majority.
Newsweek has reached out to the Pennsylvania Democratic, Republican, and Green Party groups for comment via email on Thursday, as well as the Green Party, Democratic, and Republican candidates.
What To Know
Tupone has submitted signatures to run as a Green Party candidate in a race against Democrat Brooks and GOP Representative Ryan Mackenzie. He was previously a registered Republican in 2025 and has repeatedly voted in GOP primaries over the years, according to PunchBowl News.
He told the outlet that no one recruited him to run, and he even initially switched his voter registration to Democrat before settling on the Green Party.
“People are fed up with both parties and over 9,000 voters want to see another option on the ballot,” he told PunchBowl News.
...
However, earlier this week, the GPPA said several candidates who have not been endorsed by them are petitioning to appear on the ballot with the Green Party affiliation, in a statement published in the Pike County Courier.
The party wrote, “Several of those listed as the committee to fill vacancies were unaware that their name was included on the candidate petitions. Some individuals explained they received a random phone call requesting to help but could not recall from whom or for what exact purpose,” adding that “Circulators encountered in the field indicated that they were being paid to collect signatures for the Green Party but could not explain by whom.”
The party noted that some candidates had only recently changed their affiliation to the Green Party, “after lifelong affiliation as independents, Democrats, or Republicans. Some of them may have voted in the 2026 Primary Election," which has raised concern among some Democrats and Green Party members.
The statement ended, “It is apparent that an effort to achieve ballot access in an un-transparent manner is underway and that some unendorsed candidates have chosen to appear as representing the Green Party. The GPPA is warning the electorate of the commonwealth and is disclosing this information it has discovered.”
...
Tim Runkle, the co-chair of the state’s Green Party, told PunchBowl the party isn’t backing Tupone, who is running as a Green Party candidate. Regarding petitioners who were reported paid, Runkle told the outlet, “They said they signed a non-disclosure with whoever it is that was paying them to circulate petitions.”
Robert Speel, associate professor of political science at Penn State Behrend, told Newsweek he was unaware of who is funding the candidates or whether the effort is politically motivated, but noted that “it would not surprise me if some Republicans are behind the effort to get a candidate on the ballot with a Green Party label in an attempt to divert left-of-center votes away from the Democratic candidate in the district.”
In Pennsylvania’s 8th District, another candidate, Leila Hazou, has filed with the FEC to run as a Green Party candidate. She previously ran as a Green Party candidate in the 2024 Senate race.
Signature requirements for third-party candidates in Pennsylvania vary by district and election cycle. In congressional races, candidates generally must gather thousands of signatures to qualify for the ballot, typically between 4,000 and 5,000.
What's Next?
Third-party and independent congressional candidates in Pennsylvania have until August 3 to submit nomination papers and signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball both rate the GOP-held seats in Pennsylvania's 7th and 8th districts as toss-ups.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines