The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will remain on the state's presidential ballot despite his dropping out and requesting that his name be removed, Reuters reported. Kennedy, an independent, withdrew from the race last month and later endorsed former President Donald Trump.
A lower court had already ruled that Kennedy should be removed, but the state's high court reversed that decision in a ruling on Monday. Kennedy's name will appear on the ballot alongside Trump and the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, in November.
This could impact Trump's chances as voters who don't like Harris may erroneously choose Kennedy as an alternative. "This is the Democrat machine at work," conservative commentator Benny Johnson said on X, formerly Twitter, echoing the suspicions of many.
🚨Michigan Supreme Court intervenes to thwart RFK Jr. retirement from race, ruling his name must appear on Michigan ballot
This is the Democrat machine at work. pic.twitter.com/4DRSINCxaR
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 9, 2024
This battle over Kennedy's place on the ballot is not unique to Michigan. The Hill reported that as of Tuesday, voters will be able to choose Kennedy in 21 states, including Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin, even though he dropped out of the race.
So far, Kennedy's bid to be removed has been successful in important battleground states like Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, and 12 others. Another 13 states have yet to decide, while just one, Mississippi, didn't include Kennedy in the first place.
Christopher Thrasher, who often works with third-party campaigns as a ballot access consultant, acknowledged that having the former candidate on the ballot is a problem. "If a candidate is on the ballot, someone will vote for them regardless," Thrasher noted.
"The primaries showed as much this year on both sides. How many votes is anyone’s guess at this point," Thrasher added.
This is problematic for Kennedy who dropped out of the race due to concerns that he was siphoning votes from Trump, which would give Democrats a de facto win if people continue to cast votes for him. Kennedy left the Democratic Party over disagreements with their attacks on free speech and the continued funding of the war in Ukraine, among other issues.
While Democrats hope that Kennedy's name will misdirect some voters, the truth is that RFK may be the GOP's secret weapon. According to the Daily Wire, Kennedy is bringing voters concerned about public health on board with Trump.
Trump tapped Kennedy to be part of his transition team with this subject in mind. The former president lauded Kennedy for his "decades of work as an advocate for the health of our families and our children" at an Arizona rally after Kennedy announced his endorsement.
“Nobody’s done more. Millions and millions of Americans who want clean air, clean water, and a healthy nation have concerns about toxins in our environment and pesticides in our foods," Trump praised Kennedy.
"That is why today, I’m repeating my pledge to establish a panel of top experts working with Bobby to investigate what is causing the decades-long increase in chronic health problems and childhood diseases, including autoimmune disorders, autism, obesity, infertility, and many more. We want every child in America to grow up and to live a long and healthy life," Trump said.
The 2024 election is littered with obstacles for both candidates, including intentional stumbling blocks like the ballot. Kennedy's name may remain if Democrats can get away with it, but it may not be enough to salvage Harris' campaign.
