Big blow to Trump: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s name to stay on the Michigan presidential ballot

The Michigan Supreme Court decided on Monday that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s name will be listed on the state's presidential ballot on November 5th, despite his protests. The majority decision overturns a Michigan Court of Appeals opinion released on Friday, which stated that there was no justification for Kennedy's name to remain on the ballot, a move Kennedy made when he halted his campaign and endorsed former Republican President Donald Trump.

According to the court's order, Kennedy has not shown an entitlement to this extraordinary relief. Based on the idea that some voters who were aware of Kennedy's endorsement might have supported Trump more if his name was not on the ballot, the decision is perceived as potentially benefiting Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris at Trump's expense.

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It is impossible to tell if the majority decision was 5-2 or 4-3 due to how the court issued its unsigned order. The orders only indicate that the Republican nominees Justices Brian Zahra and David Viviano wrote dissenting opinions, and the Democratic nominee Elizabeth Welch wrote a separate concurring opinion. On the court, which is included in the nonpartisan ballot but whose justices are chosen by the two major political parties at state conventions, Democratic nominees have a 4-3 advantage. After the Michigan Supreme Court declined to reverse a previous Michigan Court of Appeals decision in the West case on Monday, the decision permits clerks to finalize the ballot with Kennedy's name and independent candidate Cornel West remaining on it, along with candidates for president.

Welch expressed her disagreement with the Court of Appeal's conclusion that candidates for president were not subject to a state law provision that prevents certain candidates from withdrawing from the race in her concurring remarks. Welch disapproved of the Court of Appeal's conclusion that Kennedy's delay in filing his appeals had not damaged his case.

When the plaintiff made his request, the defendant faced a deadline for ballot printing that was two weeks away, wrote Welch. No provision in law supports Benson's denial of Kennedy's request to have his name removed from the ballot, according to Zahra and Viviano's dissenting remarks. Now countless Michigan voters may be deluded and deceived into casting their ballots for a candidate who has no intention to hold the office, wrote the dissenting justices.

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Kennedy had qualified for the presidential ballot in Michigan after being nominated by the Natural Law Party, and the deadline for minor political parties to hold nomination conventions had already passed.

FAQs

Why is the name of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. still listed on the ballot for Michigan?
Even though he asked for his name to be removed after his campaign was suspended, the Michigan Supreme Court denied his request.

How might this decision affect the election?
Kennedy's name remaining on the ballot could benefit Vice President Kamala Harris by swaying voters who would have supported Trump.