Judges in Michigan and North Carolina have recently greenlit former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy’s appeal to have his name removed from the 2024 ballots, marking a surprising turn in the race as he aligns with Donald Trump.
After suspending his campaign, Kennedy endorsed Trump, sparking backlash from his Democratic family members. Despite asking his supporters to still vote for him where his name appears, he intends to step back in swing states to avoid unintentionally aiding Vice President Kamala Harris in the election.
In North Carolina, Kennedy’s appeal came just as absentee ballots were set to be mailed out. An appeals court intervened last minute to ensure his name would be removed. Similarly, a Michigan court ruled the same, disregarding initial hesitance from state officials to act beyond the deadline.
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Political experts suggest that Kennedy’s supporters, largely anti-establishment voters, may opt to stay home rather than choose between Trump and Harris. While Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson plans to appeal the Michigan ruling, North Carolina officials have yet to decide whether to challenge their court’s decision.
The urgency is evident; North Carolina law states that absentee ballots must be dispatched at least 60 days before Election Day, leaving limited time to create new ones. State Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton criticized the court’s decision, hinting at political motivations behind it.
Both court rulings overturned earlier denials of Kennedy’s requests. The implications of Kennedy’s withdrawal from the ballot remain uncertain, as it could swing votes towards either Trump or Harris, depending on how each campaign adapts.
Recent polls show a tight race, with Trump leading Harris in North Carolina by just 0.6% and in Michigan by about 2%. The stakes are high; in 2020, Trump won North Carolina by fewer than 75,000 votes, while Biden clinched Michigan by around 154,000 votes. Every vote will certainly matter.
In a related development, a judge in Wisconsin denied Kennedy’s request to block his ballot inclusion, although further discussions are slated to happen soon.