When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew from this year’s presidential election and endorsed Donald Trump for president, he vowed to remove his name from swing-state ballots. At least two of those all-important swing states, Wisconsin and Michigan, have denied his request.
In Michigan, Kennedy is listed as the candidate of the Natural Law Party, which nominated him at their tiny convention in April. In Wisconsin, he and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, are listed as candidates for the We the People Party, an independent group.
When Kennedy suspended his campaign last week, he announced that he would petition swing states to keep him off the ballot in hopes that his supporters would vote for Trump, whom Kennedy endorsed:
In about 10 battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler, I’m going to remove my name, and I’ve already started that process and urge voters not to vote for me. Our polling consistently showed by staying on the ballot in the battleground states, I would likely hand the election over to the Democrats, with whom I disagree on the most existential issues.
But at least two battleground states had other plans.
Wisconsin and Michigan
In the Badger State, election officials cited Wisconsin statutes for their decision. Said Wisconsin Elections Commission Chairwoman Ann Jacobs:
The statute literally says, “Any person who files nomination papers and qualifies to appear on the ballot may not decline nomination. The name of that person shall appear upon the ballot except in case of death of the person.”
She told a commissioner who disagreed.:
You’re giving me this touchy-feely: “I feel like this shouldn’t be the law.” The law in this case is crystal clear. I don’t disagree with you — it’s weird, but I don’t see we have any discretion here.
To more clearly make her point, Jacobs took to X. She posted the statute, which states that the only way an approved candidate can be removed is by death.
Michigan’s secretary of state blamed the refusal to remove Kennedy on the small party who nominated him. Cheri Hardmon, senior press secretary for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, told the Daily Caller:
Minor party candidates cannot withdraw, so his name will remain on the ballot in the November election. Michigan Election Law requires presidential electors be selected at the fall state convention. The fall state convention must be held no later than the date of the primary. The Natural Law Party held their convention to select electors for Robert Kennedy Jr. They cannot meet at this point to select new electors since it’s past the primary.
Other Swing States
In North Carolina, another swing state, where Kennedy is also listed as the We the People Party’s nominee, at least half of the counties have already printed ballots with his name on them. The party has not filed paperwork to have him removed, so he will likely still appear on ballots in the Tarheel State.
In two other swing states, Nevada and Pennsylvania, Kennedy’s wish not to be on the ballot apparently will be heeded. He has informed them that he is no longer contesting court cases designed to keep him off the ballot.
Kennedy was able to remove his name in Texas and Arizona, in which Trump has a lead in polling. He also appears to have had success in Ohio and Florida, in which the filing deadline has not yet come. In Georgia, an administrative judge has ruled Kennedy disqualified because of discrepancies in the petition process.
