Despite dropping his independent presidential bid last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is still likely to appear on the ballot in several key battleground states.
Officials said RFK Jr. will appear on the ballot in Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada because he did not withdraw his candidacy in time.
“He's leaving to support the two-party system, which goes against the very reason he was our candidate in the first place.”
RFK Jr. was set to be the Michigan candidate for the Natural Law Party, which has already nominated him and, since the primary is over, cannot remove him from the running. Axios Reported.
“His name will remain on the ballot in November's election because minor party candidates cannot withdraw,” said Sheri Hardmon, a senior spokesperson for Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
“The Natural Law Party held a convention to choose its electors. [RFK Jr.]Because the primary election has already concluded, we cannot meet at this time to select new electors.”
Natural Law Party leader Doug Darn is unhappy with Kennedy, arguing that despite helping to raise the party's profile, he is likely to undermine the party's future.
“(The Natural Law Party) had been out of the spotlight for decades, but (Kennedy) brought it to the national attention,” Dern said. Bridge Michigan By email.
“He wants to leave in support of a two-party system, which goes against the very reason he was our candidate in the first place. If he leaves, it will weaken our chances of keeping our voting rights.”
According to state law, for the Natural Law Party to appear on Michigan's ballot in future elections, Kennedy would need to raise at least $24,679 in votes in this year's election, Bridge Michigan argued — a threshold that Kennedy, who endorsed former Republican President Donald Trump for president this year, may not meet.
The Wisconsin State Elections Commission reached a similar conclusion.
Last Friday, the day he stopped campaigning, RFK Jr. requested that his name be removed from the Wisconsin ballot, but the WEC voted 5-1 on Tuesday to reject the request, arguing that candidates cannot withdraw their nominations after they have applied to appear on the ballot. Wyckoff Reported.
Republican Robert SpindellThe WEC vice-chair was the only dissenting vote.
Some WEC members expressed concern about including RFK Jr. on the ballot and introduced a motion to remove him from the ballot, but the motion failed 3 to 3. Green Party candidate Jill Stein will also remain on the ballot.
RFK Jr. will also likely appear on the ballot in Nevada, where state law requires candidates to withdraw their names from the ballot within seven business days of the filing deadline. Nevada Independent To comply with the law, RFK Jr. would have had to withdraw his candidacy by August 20, three days before he was scheduled to stop campaigning, according to reports.
The Nevada Independent and Bridge Michigan noted that lawsuits could force or allow states to remove Kennedy's name.
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