Kennedy, West to Remain on Michigan Ballot, State Supreme Court Rules

Lansing – Michigan State Supreme Court Decisions

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled this Monday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former independent presidential candidate, will remain on the state’s ballot this fall despite suspending his campaign and endorsing Republican Donald Trump. Separately, the court chose not to consider an appeal seeking to disqualify independent presidential candidate Cornel West. This has resulted in the retention of a lower court order allowing West, a well-known liberal activist, author, and academic, to appear on the state’s Nov. 5 ballot.

Impact on the Presidential Race

The developments will significantly influence what is expected to be a close presidential race between Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, say political experts. Kennedy, having been nominated for the presidency by the Natural Law Party in Michigan, failed to demonstrate his legal entitlement to have his name removed from the ballot, the Supreme Court explained.

Kennedy’s Decision and its Fallout

Democratic-nominated Justice Elizabeth Welch argued that Kennedy had waited for “more than four months” after his nomination before requesting the Secretary of State’s office to remove his name. She further mentioned that the Natural Law Party, who opposed Kennedy’s effort to withdraw, had no alternate candidate and thus faced significant prejudice.

Two dissenting Republican-nominated justices, David Viviano and Brian Zahra, argued that the court’s order against removing Kennedy’s name from the ballot could critically affect the tight presidential race between Trump and Harris.

Cornel West’s Position

In the case of Cornel West, the Michigan Supreme Court found no compelling reason to review the questions presented for his disqualification. Complaints associated with the notarization of his affidavit of identity and allegations of fraudulent petition were not significant enough for the court to seek disqualification.

Expert Opinions

John Sellek, CEO of the Michigan-based consulting firm Harbor Strategic Public Affairs, believes that the presence of Kennedy on the ballot could hurt Trump’s chances as young Democratic-leaning voters have been switching to Harris. Similarly, David Dulio, a political science professor at Oakland University, says that West’s presence on the ballot might disadvantage Harris.

Natural Law Party Stands to Lose

Kennedy’s decision to drop his campaign and endorse Trump led to a legal battle about his name’s removal from the ballot in battleground states. Doug Dern, chairman of the Natural Law Party in Michigan, insisted on keeping Kennedy’s name on the ballot. He argued that if Kennedy’s name doesn’t stay on the ballot, the Natural Law Party could face dire consequences, potentially being “greatly harmed if not destroyed.”

An important and contentious election is therefore set to be influenced not just by the two major party candidates, but also by the decisions regarding third-party candidates like Kennedy and West. The state of Michigan will certainly be a key battleground in this unfolding drama.

Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER

The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.