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Supreme Court rejects RFK Jr.’s request to remove himself from Michigan, Wisconsin ballots – NBC New York
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Supreme Court rejects RFK Jr.’s request to remove himself from Michigan, Wisconsin ballots – NBC New York

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an emergency challenge to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the presidential ballot in two battleground states.

Kennedy sought to withdraw from the ballot in Wisconsin and Michigan after withdrawing his candidacy as an independent and supporting Republican Donald Trump in a tight contest. He argued that keeping him in office violated his First Amendment rights.

Michigan and Wisconsin said it would be impossible to remove his name now, given that early voting will take place days before the election.

As is usual, the judges did not elaborate on their reasoning in the decision rejecting the emergency appeal. One of the justices, Neil Gorsuch, publicly dissented in the Michigan case.

The presence of independent and third-party candidates on the ballot in swing states could be a key factor in a close presidential race. The high court had previously rejected Kennedy’s separate effort to stay on the ballot in New York, where his presence was unlikely to make a difference in the race between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.

Since endorsing Trump, Kennedy has been working to get off the ballot in seven key states. Wisconsin and Michigan are the last two places expected to be mentioned.

He won the appeals court in Michigan, but the courts ultimately found that he could not withdraw his candidacy for the Natural Law Party, which wanted him to remain.

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., NBC News reported, citing two sources familiar with the plans. plans to end his presidential campaign and support former President Donald Trump.

In his dissent, Gorush pointed to lower court justices who wrote that the timing of Kennedy’s initial impeachment request was not unreasonable enough to warrant rejection.

In Wisconsin, courts ruled that qualified candidates who filed nomination papers must remain on the ballot unless they die, and that the plan to cover Kennedy’s name with stickers was unworkable.