Will Nina Turner Run For Vice President With Jill Stein? Sanders Surrogate Weighs Offer From Green Party

Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator and a prominent surrogate for the Bernie Sanders campaign, was rumored to have been ejected from the 2016 Democratic National Convention last week. Those rumors did not turn out to be completely true, but Turner may still be ditching the party all on her own.

Jill Stein, a Massachusetts doctor and the Green Party's nominee for president in the 2016 election, has reportedly extended an offer to Turner to join the party's ticket as her running mate, according to Cleveland.com. Stein has been actively trying to court disillusioned Bernie Sanders supporters in the Democratic Party reluctant to jump on the Hillary Clinton bandwagon. Turner, who has become one of the faces of those Sanders supporters' plight, would seem to be the perfect ally.

Turner, 48, is a former Cleveland city councilwoman and Ohio state senator who is best known for her work to expand and protect voting-rights. She has been mentioned as potential future mayor of Cleveland. While she has previously supported Hillary Clinton, Turner jumped ship and joined the Sanders campaign last year, becoming one of his most vocal and prominent supporters.

Turner was recently at the center of controversy during the 2016 Democratic National Convention, which was often plagued by Sanders supporters disrupting the proceedings with chants and protests.

Just before former president Bill Clinton took the stage on the convention's second night, rumors began swirling on social media that the DNC had ejected Turner and revoked her credentials. Social media users discussing the supposed ejection speculated the party had acted in retaliation of Turner's criticism of the party's electoral process. Sources close to Turner refuted the story, but maintained that Turner was frustrated with her treatment by the DNC. While Turner was scheduled to speak on behalf of Sanders on day two of the convention, her speech was reportedly pulled from the schedule.

Turner and many Sanders voters might jump ship for the Green Party. Stein, who is running on a platform that includes a single-payer healthcare system and significant efforts to fight climate change, has seen an uptick in the polls in response to the statistical lack of likeability of both major party candidates.

Turner is expected to make her decision on Stein's offer within days. The Green Party's national convention in Houston begins Thursday.