Rachele Fruit (born October 4, 1949) is an American activist who was the Socialist Workers Party's nominee for president of the United States in the 2024 election.

Rachele Fruit
Born (1949-10-04) October 4, 1949 (age 75)
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania[1]
OccupationPolitical activist
Political partySocialist Workers

Early life and career

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Fruit was born on October 4, 1949, in Philadelphia.[2] Her family were secular Jews and she attended Hebrew School.[3] Fruit has worked a series of jobs throughout her life, including as a meatpacker,[2] trade unionist,[4] a ramp worker for Eastern Airlines,[3] and a Walmart employee.[5] During the 1980s she resided in Baltimore before moving to Atlanta and then Miami.[3]

Activism and political candidacy

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Fruit began involving herself in politics during the 1970s, participating in protests against the Vietnam War.[3]

Elections contested

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Fruit has run for numerous offices since the 1970s.[3]

2018 Georgia gubernatorial election

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In 2018, the Atlanta Branch of the Socialist Workers Party nominated Fruit for governor of Georgia.[5] She initially ran as a write-in candidate to oppose Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams but withdrew from the election.[2][5] She campaigned on giving ex-prisoners the right to vote.[6]

2024 presidential election

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The Socialist Workers Party nominated Fruit alongside vice-presidential candidate Dennis Richter. The ticket appeared on the ballot in six states: Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.[7] Fruit and Richter expressed strong support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war and branded themselves as working-class candidates.[3][7]

Fruit received the following vote totals: Louisiana (361), Minnesota (745), New Jersey (1,316), Tennessee (985), Vermont (211), and Washington (607).

Other elections

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Fruit had her best showing ever in the 2013 Atlanta city council president election, receiving 8,598 votes and finishing second, with 19.71% of the vote, to Ceasar Mitchell Jr.[2]

Personal life

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Fruit resides in Miami, Florida.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "The "other" candidates for Dade Mayor". The Miami Herald. 1996-08-31. p. 70 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d "Rachele Fruit". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Diamond, Jillian (2024-05-17). "Sitting Down with Pro-Israel Third-Party Presidential Candidate Rachele Fruit". Baltimore Jewish Times. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  4. ^ "Join fight against Jew-hatred! SWP: Working-class alternative to Biden-Trump". The Militant. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  5. ^ a b c Crow, Gypsy (2018-11-03). "Socialist Workers Party candidate for governor visits Albany". Albany Herald. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  6. ^ "Workers need unions, break with bosses' political parties". The Militant. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  7. ^ a b Radelat, Ana (2024-05-23). "Dennis Richter running as Socialist Workers Party candidate for VP". MinnPost. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
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