A Michigan judge ruled Tuesday that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. must remain on the state's presidential ballot.
Kennedy, who dropped out of the race earlier this month to endorse former President Trump, said he was seeking to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states where his presence on the ballot could take votes away from former President Trump. He plans to remain on the ballot in blue and red states.
Michigan and Wisconsin, key purple states in the Midwest, rejected Kennedy's attempt to remove his name from the ballot, citing state laws regarding a candidate or nominee withdrawing.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections said it was too late for Kennedy to back out because ballots had already begun printing. Kennedy filed suit to have his name removed.
Kennedy filed a similar lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) in the Michigan Court of Claims after her attempt to have him removed from the ballot was rejected.
A judge ruled Tuesday that Kennedy will appear on Michigan's ballot in November. The Associated Press reported.
While Kennedy's candidacy may not dramatically change the 2024 presidential election, her decision to drop out could potentially turn the tide in states such as Michigan, where the margin between Trump and Vice President Harris is already very slim.
The Hill/DDHQ election tracker currently shows Harris with a slight lead over Trump in Michigan.
Kennedy said Tuesday. On Fox News He wants his name removed from ballots in battleground states so as not to “hinder or harm” Trump.
He was successfully removed from the ballot in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
But a rejected effort could be dangerous for Trump.
