On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s request to have his name taken off the presidential ballot in two pivotal swing states, Wisconsin and Michigan.
After switching from an independent campaign to backing Republican Donald Trump, Kennedy argued that staying on the ballot violated his First Amendment rights. However, election officials in both states indicated it was too late to make changes since early voting was already in progress ahead of the November 5 election.
State Decisions
The justices did not provide any reasoning for their refusal to accept Kennedy’s emergency appeal, although Justice Neil Gorsuch disagreed regarding the Michigan decision.
Impact on the Election
Independent and third-party candidates can significantly affect competitive races, particularly in swing states. Kennedy had previously attempted to stay on New York’s ballot, where his presence was unlikely to impact the outcome against Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, but that effort was also rejected.
Now, Kennedy is focused on withdrawing from ballots in seven key states, with Wisconsin and Michigan being the last where his name is still expected to appear.
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Legal Challenges
Despite suspending his campaign, Kennedy has encouraged voters to support him in non-battleground states like New York, maintaining that he could still reach the presidency through a contingent election.
Initially, Kennedy won a court ruling in Michigan. However, judges later concluded he missed the deadline to withdraw as a candidate for the Natural Law Party. In Wisconsin, courts decided that once candidates file their nomination papers, their names can only be removed if they pass away, and a proposal to cover Kennedy’s name with stickers was deemed impractical.
Kennedy’s name was also removed from the New York ballot after officials ruled he listed an invalid address. Lower courts consistently rejected his appeals until the matter was presented to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who ultimately sent it to the full court. Last month, the Court denied his emergency appeal, sealing the fate of Kennedy’s hopes in New York.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.