Federal Judge Blocks Cornel West From Pennsylvania Ballot

Cornel West, the progressive presidential candidate, will not appear on Pennsylvania’s ballot after a federal judge ruled there was not enough time to reverse his exclusion from the race. Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan ruled that Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt’s actions likely violated West’s First Amendment rights but chose not to put West back on the ballot with Election Day rapidly approaching.

Ranjan explained that mail-in voting is already underway, with over one million ballots distributed and more than 137,000 returned. The court was concerned that altering the ballot at this stage could cause confusion and disrupt the election process. Ranjan cited previous Supreme Court rulings that discouraged judicial intervention in state elections so close to the actual vote.

The decision also drew attention to the unequal treatment of minor-party candidates in Pennsylvania. West’s campaign was required to pay a $4,200 filing fee, a requirement not imposed on Republicans or Democrats. Ranjan suggested this might be unconstitutional but ruled that the court could not change election rules with so little time before the vote.

In response to the ruling, West’s campaign announced plans to appeal. Campaign spokesman Edwin DeJesus described the court’s decision as a direct assault on voter choice and democracy, stating that Pennsylvania voters deserve to see all candidates on the ballot.

This case is part of a larger national effort by Democrats to block third-party candidates like West from gaining ballot access in key states. Democrats worry that West’s candidacy could pull votes from Kamala Harris, particularly in battleground states like Pennsylvania. The legal battles are expected to continue in the weeks leading up to Election Day.