Ruth Coppinger is looking to make a Dáil comeback.
Fresh off her re-election to Fingal County Council in Castleknock, Coppinger will be looking to win back the Dáil seat she lost in 2020.
First elected in the May 2014 by-election, Coppinger held her seat until the 2020 general election.
Coppinger will be running under the Solidarity banner in the general election, which is part of an alliance with People Before Profit.
In more recent times, Coppinger made an electoral comeback by winning a seat in Castleknock on Fingal County Council, her first time holding an electoral position since her general election loss in 2020.
Dublin West being upgraded to a five-seater at the next general election means that Coppinger has a distinct shot at regaining her Dáil seat.
Elsewhere in Dublin West, fellow Solidarity councillor John Burtchaell won a seat for the party in Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart in June, pointing to a possible well of support for left-wing candidates.
The Dublin West ballot is now fit to burst; Coppinger will join Senator Emer Currie of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil duo Jack Chambers and Lorna Nolan, 2020’s Sinn Féin poll-topper Paul Donnelly and running mate Breda Hanaphy, Green party leader Roderic O’Gorman, Labour councillor John Walsh, Aontú councillor Ellen Troy and Social Democrats candidate Ellen Murphy on the ballot.
Coppinger will be facing off against fellow Castleknock councillors Walsh and Troy.
In terms of Castleknock councillors who are vying for a Dáil seat, it was Walsh who was the most successful of the three, with his 13.7% of first preferences trumping Troy’s 11.8% and Coppinger’s 11%.
Transfer analysis of results in West Dublin points to People Before Profit/Solidarity candidates enjoying a significant amount of support from Social Democrats and Sinn Féin voters, as well as some independent voters.
Coppinger said “massive wealth is being hoarded while health, education and care services are starved of investment. Young people are forced to seek a life abroad because of unaffordable housing. The budget surplus and Apple billions could end these crises, but profit is being placed before need. The refusal to tackle the housing crisis for a decade has given oxygen to racists and the far-right.”
“We need real action, not empty words from the government on issues like Palestine and the epidemic of gender based violence. Dublin West has had a Taoiseach and two high profile ministers – we need someone who’ll hold them to account and be a voice of integrity for workers, women, young people and all those facing oppression and discrimination.”