The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will remain on the state’s ballot, despite his attempts to have his name removed after ending his independent presidential campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump. The court stated that Kennedy did not show entitlement to relief and reversed a previous decision by the Michigan appeals court to remove him from the ballot. Kennedy was nominated by the Natural Law Party, and the party chair’s opposition to his withdrawal played a role in the court’s decision.
Kennedy had hoped to push his supporters towards Trump after endorsing him last month, but the decision to keep him on the ballot undermines this strategy. Kennedy has been trying to remove his name from battleground states to maximize support for the Republican nominee, particularly in states like Michigan that could play a significant role in the election outcome. A recent CNN poll showed Kennedy had 4% support in Michigan despite suspending his campaign, with Vice President Kamala Harris leading in the state.
The legal battle over Kennedy’s name on Michigan’s ballot has been settled after various court decisions. Kennedy lost an initial ruling in the Michigan Court of Claims but then won an appeal in the Michigan Court of Appeals before ultimately having the decision overturned by the state Supreme Court. Absentee voting in Michigan is set to begin on September 26, with ballots for overseas and military voters required to go out by September 21.
The decision to keep Kennedy on the ballot could have implications for the election outcome in Michigan and other closely contested states. Kennedy’s support, even though in single digits, could still play a role in determining the results. Kennedy has urged his supporters to back Trump regardless of the state they live in, indicating his continued efforts to influence the election. The ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court ends Kennedy’s legal battle to be removed from the state’s ballot, allowing voters to decide his fate in the upcoming election.
