It is interesting that Clyburn thinks having more democracy endangers democracy
From his op-ed
History foretells that a third-party candidacy would only serve as a spoiler and, I maintain, could fundamentally endanger our fragile democracy. That is a risk we simply cannot afford to take.
What he really means is that it endangers HIS democracy. That being the swamp dwellers hold on government.
This is the same Clyburn who wants the John Lewis Act that would prevent states from installing legitimate safeguards to ensure an honest vote ;like REAL voter ID. ;and to manipulate redistricting to the advantage of the Democrats .
A full explanation is in this 'Heritage' article
Destroying Election Integrity: The Unnecessary and Unconstitutional John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (S. 4/H.R. 4) | The Heritage Foundation
He makes debatable claims about the Ralph Nader factor in 2000 . But he goes off the rails in claiming that it was the Jill Stein vote that cost Evita 2016 .
“
Jill Stein and Gary Johnson ran third-party campaigns in 2016 that arguably siphoned off enough votes to cost Hillary Clinton the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania — and with them the presidency.”
It is a false narrative about what he says about Michigan Wisconsin and PA ;that the 3rd party factor swung the states to Trump. What was their impact on other states ? It is more likely that without them Trump would've also won Nevada, Maine, Minnesota, and New Hampshire. The failure is his presumption that every Stein and Johnson vote would've gone to Evita.
She won the popular vote nationally ONLY because California gave her a 4.2 million vote margin in the state.
As for 2024 .... it is just as ;if not more likely that Kennedy votes would go for Trump as Clueless . Greens who vote for Kennedy would likely vote for Clueless. But Trump and Kennedy share many of the same anti-establishment messages . So a good portion of the Kennedy vote would likely vote for Trump
Would anyone voting for Cornell West ever vote for Trump ? No .So his argument carries some weight .
What about a fusion No Label ticket ?
Votes could easily be siphoned from either major party candidate . That effect is unknown.
The impact of 3rd party runs will remain unknown until the vote is cast . To call having more choices undemocratic tells more about the undemocratic instincts of the Democrats .