RFK Jr. Seeks Removal from Ballots in 10 States, Battlegrounds Resist

In a surprising turn of events, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a candidate who transitioned from the Democratic Party to run as an independent, has decided to suspend his campaign and endorse former President Donald Trump. This unexpected endorsement comes after Kennedy spent months working toward gaining ballot access across the country, claiming he would not act as a spoiler candidate.

Kennedy now expresses concern that his presence on the ballot in ten critical swing states could inadvertently hinder Trump’s chances against Vice President Kamala Harris. Consequently, he announced that he would remain on the ballot in various noncompetitive states but seek his withdrawal in seven battleground states along with three others deemed competitive.

“Our polling consistently indicated that remaining on the ballot in key states would likely hand the election to the Democrats — a party I largely oppose on fundamental issues,” Kennedy explained during his announcement.

Some states have accepted Kennedy’s withdrawal request while others maintain he must stay on the ballot. Here is a closer look at the current status of his efforts in those ten states.

In Arizona, just one day prior to suspending his campaign, Kennedy filed paperwork to withdraw his name from the ballot. The spokesperson for Arizona’s Secretary of State confirmed to CBS News that Kennedy will not appear on any ballot in the state.

In Florida, the state has approved Kennedy’s request to withdraw, as reported on the Florida Department of State’s website. Kennedy had allied himself with the Reform Party while pursuing ballot access, and minor parties had a deadline to certify their candidates the day after Kennedy suspended his campaign.

For Georgia, a recent court ruling stated Kennedy was “not qualified” to be on the ballot due to uncertainties surrounding his residency in New York. The office of the Secretary of State is reviewing this ruling and plans to make an announcement soon.

When it comes to Michigan, Kennedy’s name will still appear on the ballot. A spokesperson indicated that his name cannot be removed at this moment as he gained access through the Natural Law Party, thus avoiding the requirement to collect thousands of signatures as independent candidates normally must do.

In Nevada, Kennedy was removed from the ballot following a court order, despite missing the Aug. 20 deadline to withdraw. This decision concluded a prolonged legal struggle concerning his eligibility. His initial petition for ballot access was deemed invalid since he had no running mate when gathering signatures, a stipulation in Nevada law. Additionally, Democrats had sought to eliminate Kennedy’s name from the ballot on the grounds that his diverse party affiliations breached state regulations for independent candidates, though this lawsuit has since been dropped.

In North Carolina, Kennedy’s status is uncertain as it could be too late for him to withdraw, given that absentee ballots are set to be distributed shortly. As over half of the state’s counties had begun printing ballots, it remains unclear if the We The People Party will communicate any intention to withdraw their nomination of him.

In Ohio, Kennedy requested to withdraw on the same day he was confirmed to qualify for the ballot. The Ohio Secretary of State confirmed that Kennedy would indeed be removed. The final certification for the November ballot is due by Sept. 6.

In Pennsylvania, a judge has granted Kennedy’s request to withdraw his candidacy following a legal challenge from Democratic activists regarding the validity of his petition.

In Texas, the state confirmed Kennedy’s withdrawal on the same day he suspended his campaign, while in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Elections Commission has ruled that Kennedy’s name will appear on the ballot, citing state law which forbids a candidate who has filed nomination papers from declining the nomination unless they pass away.

With these developments unfolding, it will be interesting to see how Kennedy’s endorsement impacts former President Trump and the dynamics of the upcoming election.

Source: CBS News